Loving God and Loving People

Loving God and Loving People

In Matthew 22, we see the religious leaders of Jesus’ day trying to trip Him up with hard questions. One of the questions asked of Him was this:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  

In an effort to trap Jesus, this Pharisee asked Him something designed to expose ignorance or false teaching or anything else they could hold against Jesus and His ministry.

But Jesus was ready. 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  

Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

Such a succinct, truthful answer did the opposite of what the religious leaders had hoped for. It didn’t discredit Jesus. It validated that He was who He said He was. He didn’t get cornered. He didn’t get flustered. He simply and without wavering, clarified the foundation of everything.

What was Jesus saying?

Loving God with our whole hearts and loving others as we love ourselves—these two things are more important than anything else. They are the foundation of life as a believer. Not being right. Not obtaining possessions or wealth. Not having everything in life just the way we want. Loving God. Loving people. 

But here’s the thing— the only way we can ever love people well is if we first devote ourselves to loving God and allow ourselves to be loved by Him. How? Like any relationship, there are ways to facilitate growth:

- Spend time in His Word

- Have honest conversations with Him

- Reflect on His character every day 

As your love for God grows and grows, your heart for people often will, too. Showing love for God looks like doing what He commands—and that includes loving the people around us the way that God loves us.

The great news? God loves you so much. He loves you right now. And He is inviting you to know and experience His love today.