Matthew 22:38
“This is the first and great commandment.”
What does Matthew 22:38 mean?
Jesus is wrapping up his teaching about the greatest commandment, which is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. By calling it "first and great," he's saying this isn't just one rule among many, but the foundation that everything else rests on. When you genuinely love God, other good things naturally follow, because your whole life becomes oriented toward him rather than toward self-interest or fear. If you're struggling to figure out what matters most or how to live well, this points you back to the simplest and deepest truth: relationship with God comes first.