When a religious expert tried to trap Jesus with the question, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus didn’t debate or divide. He went straight to the foundation of faith: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–39, NLT)
These two commands, Jesus said, summarize all of Scripture. Everything God asks of us flows from these two loves. The Great Commandment is not simply another rule among many; it’s the root from which true faith grows.
Love God Completely
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, the ancient Shema, which Israel recited daily: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” To love God with your heart means to give Him your desires and affections. To love Him with your soul means to devote your whole being to Him. To love Him with your mind means to think His thoughts, believe His truth, and pursue wisdom rooted in Him. Loving God isn’t partial or occasional. It’s total. It’s about aligning every part of your life (emotions, ambitions, thoughts, and actions) with the heart of God.
Love Your Neighbor Sacrificially
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He adds Leviticus 19:18: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In one sentence, Jesus ties love for God to love for people. You cannot claim to love the Creator while despising His creation.
In Luke 10, when a lawyer tries to justify himself by asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. The shocking point? Your neighbor isn’t defined by geography, ethnicity, or convenience. Your neighbor is anyone in your path who needs mercy. The Samaritan didn’t stop because it was easy. He stopped because love compelled him. He risked his safety, gave his money, and sacrificed his time. Love always costs something.
The Gospel Motivation
Morality alone won’t drive this kind of love. It either makes you proud of your good deeds or crushed by your failures. Guilt won’t motivate it either. It only leads to shame and self-pity. The only true motivator is the gospel itself.
We are the beaten traveler on the road: broken, helpless, and unable to save ourselves. Jesus is the true Good Samaritan. He saw us, stopped for us, and gave everything to rescue us. Only when you understand that Jesus loved you at your worst can you begin to love others at their worst.
Living the Great Commandment
At West B, we are a Great Commandment people. Loving God and loving others isn’t optional; it’s fundamental. The Great Commandment isn’t a slogan or a sentiment; it’s a way of life that reflects the heart of Jesus.