Matthew 22:38

Matthew 22:38 declares the supreme importance of the commandment Jesus just cited: to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind. This verse serves as a powerful summary of divine priority and the foundation of all righteous living.

Context

This declaration comes amidst a series of challenges to Jesus' authority and wisdom in Jerusalem during the final week before His crucifixion. Following attempts by the Sadducees to trap Him, a lawyer, described as a Pharisee in Matthew 22:34, approaches Jesus with a crucial question: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36). This was a common point of debate among Jewish rabbis, who meticulously categorized the 613 commandments of the Torah. Jesus' response, drawn directly from the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:5, elevates loving God above all else, and verse 38 emphatically pronounces its preeminent status.

Key Themes

• Supreme Priority of Love for God: The phrase "first and great" underscores that this commandment is not merely one among many, but the foundational and most significant of all. It establishes the absolute priority of one's relationship with God.
• Holistic Devotion: While the verse itself doesn't repeat the components of love (heart, soul, mind), it implicitly refers back to them from Matthew 22:37. This signifies that love for God must engage every aspect of a person's being – emotions (heart), life force/will (soul), and intellect (mind). Some parallel accounts, like Mark 12:30, also add "strength," emphasizing physical and energetic commitment.
• Foundation of All Law and Prophets: As Jesus further explains in Matthew 22:40, this commandment, along with the second (love your neighbor), encapsulates the entire Law and the Prophets. All other commands flow from and are fulfilled by these two.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek words used for "first" (πρώτη, prōtē) and "great" (μεγάλη, megalē) are significant. Prōtē implies not just chronological order, but also preeminence and supreme importance. Megalē reinforces this, denoting something of immense magnitude, power, and significance. Together, they leave no doubt about the unparalleled standing of this commandment in God's eyes and for human conduct. It is the chief, supreme, and most weighty directive.

Significance and Application

Matthew 22:38 calls believers to a radical reorientation of their lives around God. It teaches that true spirituality begins not with rituals or rules, but with an internal, all-encompassing love for the Creator. For us today, this means:

• Prioritizing God: Our deepest affections, thoughts, and energies should be directed towards Him. This affects our choices, time, and resources.
• Authentic Worship: True worship stems from this heartfelt love, not mere obligation.
• Motivation for Obedience: Understanding this commandment as the "first and great" one reveals that obedience to God's will is ultimately an expression of our love for Him, echoing sentiments found in John 14:15: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

This verse challenges us to constantly evaluate if our love for God truly holds the "first and great" position in our hearts and lives, as it is the wellspring from which all genuine faith and righteous action flow.