Topical Bible: Love to God: The First Great Commandment

◄ Love to God: The First Great Commandment ►

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The concept of love to God as the foremost commandment is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, serving as a foundational principle for believers. This commandment is explicitly articulated in the Scriptures, emphasizing the primacy of devotion to God above all else.

Biblical Foundation

The commandment to love God is first introduced in the Old Testament, specifically in the Shema, a central declaration of the Jewish faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This passage underscores the totality of commitment required, encompassing heart, soul, and strength, indicating that love for God should permeate every aspect of one's being.

In the New Testament, Jesus reaffirms this commandment as the greatest. In the Gospel of Matthew, when asked about the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus responds: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38). Here, Jesus not only reiterates the Shema but also expands it to include the mind, highlighting the intellectual dimension of loving God.

The Nature of Love to God

Love to God is characterized by a deep, personal relationship with the Creator, marked by reverence, obedience, and worship. It is not merely an emotional affection but a deliberate choice to prioritize God above all else. This love is demonstrated through adherence to His commandments, as Jesus states in John 14:15: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" . Obedience is thus a tangible expression of love for God.

Furthermore, love to God involves trust and faithfulness. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises believers to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" . Trusting God wholeheartedly is an integral aspect of loving Him, reflecting a reliance on His wisdom and guidance.

Implications for Believers

The commandment to love God has profound implications for the life of a believer. It calls for a reorientation of priorities, where God is placed at the center of one's life. This love influences decisions, actions, and relationships, guiding believers to live in a manner that honors God.

Moreover, love to God is intrinsically linked to love for others. Jesus pairs the commandment to love God with the commandment to love one's neighbor, stating, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’" (Matthew 22:39). This connection suggests that genuine love for God naturally extends to love for others, reflecting God's love through acts of kindness, compassion, and service.

Challenges and Encouragement

While the commandment to love God is clear, believers may face challenges in fully living it out due to distractions, temptations, and the cares of the world. However, Scripture provides encouragement and guidance. Romans 8:28 assures believers that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose" . This promise offers hope and motivation to remain steadfast in love for God, trusting in His sovereign plan.

In summary, love to God as the first great commandment is a central tenet of the Christian faith, calling for complete devotion and obedience. It shapes the believer's relationship with God and others, serving as a guiding principle for a life that honors the Creator.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 22:38
This is the first and great commandment.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First and Great Commandment
... Hear ye, then, O Gentiles, and O house of Israel, hear ye, then, this day, this
first and great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the first and great commandment.htm

On the First Commandment
... 316 Q. How does the First Commandment help us to keep the great Commandment
of the love of God? A. The First Commandment helps ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 30 on the first.htm

Cix. Jewish Rulers Seek to Ensnare Jesus.
... is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30 And ^a Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all ... a 38 This is the great and first commandment. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cix jewish rulers seek to 3.htm

"And this is his Commandment, that we Should Believe on the Name ...
... conjoin and make one of, as here faith and love are made ... The first is, John 10:18,
"I lay down my life ... and that which makes all commandments given by God to us ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i and this is.htm

The Tables Turned: the Questioners Questioned
... transforms, the law. Supreme and undivided love to God is not only the great,
but also the first, commandment. In more modern phrase ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the tables turned the questioners.htm

Of the Person to whom the Two Precepts Concerning the Love of God ...
... said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxiii of the person to.htm

First Commandment
... Do you love Him above father or mother, the wife of ... until man understood that he
must recognize God alone, and ... not right that He should have the first and only ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/first commandment.htm

The First General Epistle of John
... are often repeated such as "truth," "love," "light," "In ... being born of God," "abiding
in God," etc.; and ... it's appearance before the end of the first century in ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the first general epistle of 2.htm

The Beauty and Excellency of this World Consists, not Only in the ...
... and the moral law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great commandment. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter i the beauty and.htm

The Christian's Fellow Man
... Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study iv the christians fellow.htm