To be saved is to love God

Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is. He answered: "...“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The first commandment (Matthew 22:37) Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, a part of the “Hear, O Israel”: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might". The Hebrew is me'od, "might/muchness," and is like an all-consuming action. This was already the central confession of Israelite faith, recited daily and would have been well understood by His audience.

The second commandment (Matthew 22:39, "love your neighbor as yourself") quotes Leviticus 19:18: "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge... but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD."

But what does it mean to love Him? Jesus and His apostles answer with one voice: to love the LORD is to keep His commandments. Not as a way to earn His favor, but as the very shape that love takes. To serve Him is to do His will, not your own or what you "feel" — and His will is His instruction, His Law.

This module follows that thread through Jesus' own teachings, and shows the original Greek and Hebrew behind the key words. Tap any highlighted term for more information and to explore.