Let us look at the Biblical passages on the two greatest commandments:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].” ~Deuteronomy 6:5 AMP
“And [Jesus] replied to him, ‘You shall love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.” ~Matthew 22:37-39 AMPC
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:30-31 AMP
“He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” ~Luke 10:27 WEB
The First Commandment
You shall love the Lord your God:
- with all your heart
- with all your soul
- with all your mind
- with all your strength
Love God with All Your Heart
Our heart is “the seat of affections and passions; the seat of the will; intentions.” [W]
Love comes from God because He is love.
“He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.” ~1 John 4:8 WEB
We can respond to God’s love because He first loved us.
“We love Him, because He first loved us.” ~1 John 4:19 WEB
God’s love is sacrificial.
“By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world that we might live through Him. And this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” ~1 John 4:9-10 WEB
“See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know Him. Beloved. now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him just as He is. Everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” ~1 John 3:1-3 WEB
God’s love draws us nearer to Him.
“One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” ~Psalm 27:4 AMP
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
Love God with All Your Soul
Our soul is our “essence, principle part, internal power for goodness or evil.” [W]
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whateer is valued more than the Lord].” ~Matthew 6:24 AMP
“Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” ~Proverbs 16:3 AMP
“One who says, ‘I know Him,’ and doesn’t keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him. But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps His word. This is how we know that we are in Him: he who says he remains in Him ought himself also to walk just like He walked.” ~1 John 2:4-6 WEB
“This is love that we should walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.” ~2 John 1:6 WEB
Love God with All Your Mind
Our mind is the “intellectual or intelligent power in man, the power that conceives, judges or reasons.” [W]
“In the New Testament, the Greek word phroneo is often translated ‘mind’ and most often refers to a person’s understanding, views, or opinions.” [GQ]
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so tht you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” ~Roomans 12:1-2 WEB
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all you and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13 WEB
“But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.” ~Psalm 1:2 AMP
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” ~John 4:24 WEB
Love God with All Your Strength
Our strength is “our maintenance of power, confidence.” [W]
“I love You fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength.” ~Psalm 18:1 AMPC
“Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:16 WEB
“The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, reval Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].” ~John 14:21 AMP
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.” ~Ephesians 2:10 WEB
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ~Philippians 4:13 WEB
“For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey].” ~1 John 5:3 AMP
The first commandment sums up the first four of the Ten Commandments, which are about our relationship with God:
- You shall have no other gods before Me
- You shall not make an idol for yourself
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy
When we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we place Him before all other gods, choosing to honor Him, His name, and His day.
It is in Christ and through Christ that we receive and give God’s love.
“If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” ~Colossians 3:1-3 WEB
The Second Commandment
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love is the fruit of the Spirit of God, which empowers us to love others.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” ~Romans 12:1-2 WEB
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” ~John 14:15 WEB
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first love us. If a man says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from Him, tht he who loves God should also love his brother.” ~1 John 4:18-21 WEB
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
“For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and the dood, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet our friends, what more doyou do than others? Don’t even the tax collectores do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” ~Matthew 5:43-48 WEB
The second commandment sums up the last six of the Ten Commandments:
- Honor your father and mother
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
- You shall not covet
God loves us, and when we return His love by loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we become transformed by His love. This transformation leads us to love others with pure love and to obey the above commandments.
“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and whatevre other commandment there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.” ~Romans 13:8-10 WEB
It is by Christ’s righteousness, hidden in His love, that we receive and give love to God and others.
“If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” ~Colossians 3:1-3 WEB
“[For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God].” ~Colossians 2:2-3 AMP
And whatever we do unto Him is received and remembered as a gift of love from our heart to His.
“Whetever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” ~Colossians 3:23-24 NASB
“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” ~Hebrews 6:10 NASB
Prayer
Lord, we adore, praise, exalt, and glorify Your Name because You are worthy. Lord, we confess that Your love transforms us through the righteousness of Christ, and in Him, we are hidden. Lord, we give thanks for Your righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Lord, we choose this day to love, honor, and obey You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Recommendations
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References
What is the Mind, Biblically Speaking? Published by Got Questions. Retrieved March 14, 2025, from What is the mind, biblically speaking? | GotQuestions.org
94 Bible Verses about Two of the Greatest Commandments. Published by Open Bible. Retrieved March 11, 2025, What Does the Bible Say About Two Of The Greatest Commandments?
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:3-17 NASB.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. [W] http://www.webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
12 thoughts on “Prayer for the Two Greatest Commandments”
I have never heard (or read) these verses expanded on in this way. You have really created depth and new understanding. Just like my tag line:
Love God.
Love People.
It’s that simple.
Love God and love people sums it up, Barb.
Lisa, this was a beautiful breakdown of the commands and how they correspond with one another. Having just read Matthew 22:37-39 on Monday, I so appreciated this post which dug deeper into these words of Jesus. May I give Him all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength for all my days. Blessings!
I resonate with your prayer, Joanne! Lord, we desire to love You with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength.
So grateful for the grace of a new heart and the indwelling Spirit’s power that creates the desire to follow these two great commandments!
Yes, Michele! As new creations, empowered by the Spirit of God, we are able to follow His two greatest commandments.
Lisa, I enjoyed your discussion here on the two great commandments. God asks us to be committed to Him fully with every part of our being, and when we are, we can love others well. He also doesn’t ask us to do something He hasn’t done-He is completely committed to loving us, so much so He gave His only Son to redeem us.
So true, Donna! We follow Christ’s example by loving God (our heavenly Father) and loving others.
When we break it down, Love is always at the center. It’s not as complicated as it’s made out to be. Thanks for sharing this, Lisa!
So true, Lisa, love is at the center of everything!
Lisa, thanks for sharing these scriptures. It is true, if we really love God and others above ourselves, we will not be breaking any of the commandments!
Love is the greatest gift we have both received and given, Jerralea.