Scripture reveals that all of God's law flows from two inseparable loves: vertical devotion to God and horizontal love for people.
Scripture on Matthew 22114
Matthew 22:37-40
New Testament
"Jesus replied: '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. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Deuteronomy 6:5
Old Testament
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
Leviticus 19:18
Old Testament
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
1 John 4:20-21
New Testament
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
Romans 13:8-10
New Testament
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except for the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments... are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
The Bottom Line
You cannot separate loving God from loving people—they're one command lived two directions.
Try Today
Identify one person you've avoided or held distance from, and take one concrete step toward them today—a text, a conversation, or an act of service.
Prayer
Jesus taught us that authentic prayer begins with surrender to these two commands (Matthew 22:37-40).
Father, I confess that I often compartmentalize—loving You in worship but withholding love from the people around me. You see through that. Give me a heart so full of Your love that it spills over into genuine care for others, especially those I find hard to love. Show me who needs my love today, and give me the courage to act. I surrender my preference for distance over closeness. In Jesus' name, Amen.
📚 Read Matthew 22:34-46 to see Jesus in dialogue with the religious leaders about what truly matters.
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