The Greatest Commandment
The One Thing That Changes Everything

Matthew 22:34-40

"If you get this one thing right, everything else will fall into place. But if you miss this… you’ve missed it all."

A TRAP FOR THE TRUTH

The Pharisees were scheming again.

They had just heard Jesus silenced the Sadducees like thunder stilling a storm. And they didn’t like it. Not one bit.

So, they regrouped. Whispering in corners. Plotting their next move. A lawyer steps forward—a man trained not just in law, but in manipulation.

He wasn’t there to learn. He was there to trap.

“Teacher,” he says, lips curled in feigned respect. “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
(Matthew 22:36)

And there it is.

The bait.

If Jesus says one law is greater than the rest, they’ll accuse Him of ignoring the law of Moses. If He says they’re all the same, they’ll say He’s avoiding the truth.

But Jesus doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t fall for their trap.

Instead, He gives them—and us—the most powerful, earth-shaking truth ever spoken.

LOVE IS THE LAW

“Jesus said to him,
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Matthew 22:37–40)

Boom.

There it is. The whole law, the entire foundation of the prophets, the very purpose of existence—summed up in one word: LOVE.

Let that sink in: The Creator of the universe has revealed the highest call on your life—and it’s not success, popularity, or even religious performance.

It’s love.

A DANGEROUS KIND OF LOVE

Now, don’t misunderstand. Jesus isn’t talking about soft, sentimental, Hallmark-card love.

He’s not talking about the “I love tacos and puppies” kind of love.

He’s talking about a dangerous love.
A costly love.
A love that demands your entire being.

“Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart,
ALL your soul,
ALL your mind.”

This isn’t part-time affection or weekend worship. This is total surrender. Heart, soul, mind—every fiber of your being bent in devotion to the One who made you.

But let me ask you something:

How many of us are trying to love God with a piece of our heart while keeping the rest for ourselves?

How many of us give God Sunday mornings but not Monday afternoons? How many of us give Him 10% of our income but not 100% of our desires?

Jesus doesn’t want a corner of your life. He wants the throne.

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE: LOVE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

In the early church, something wild began to happen.

Rome didn’t fear Christianity because of its doctrines. They didn’t tremble at theology. They had gods and philosophers aplenty.

But they couldn’t ignore the love of Christians.

Roman Emperor Julian wrote in frustration:

“These godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours as well.”

When plagues hit, Romans fled. Christians stayed.
When infants were abandoned, Christians adopted them.
When slaves were abused, Christians called them brothers.

Why?

Because they didn’t just preach love—they lived it. And the world had never seen anything like it.

That’s the kind of love that flips empires.

BIBLICAL WITNESS: THE SAMARITAN’S LOVE

Jesus didn’t just teach the Great Commandment—He illustrated it.

In Luke 10, a lawyer again tries to justify himself. “Who is my neighbor?” he asks.

And Jesus tells a story that still pierces hearts today.

A man beaten, stripped, left for dead.

A priest passes by. A Levite passes by.

But then… a Samaritan. A despised outsider. He stops. He stoops. He gives. He risks. He pays.

He loves.

“Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

Because the second commandment—“Love your neighbor as yourself”—is not optional. It’s not cultural. It’s proof that the first commandment is real.

You can’t truly love God and despise the people made in His image.

LOVE IS HOLINESS

Some people think holiness is about rules, checklists, and spotless behavior.

But real holiness is love in action.

1 John 4:20 says:

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar…”

Let’s be honest—some of us are great liars in church clothes.

We say we love God, but we hate people who vote differently, think differently, look differently.

We praise God in tongues, but curse our neighbor with sarcasm and slander.

Jesus didn’t say, “They will know you’re My disciples by your miracles.”
He said, “They will know you by your love.” (John 13:35)

If your theology doesn’t lead to love, it’s not holy—it’s hollow.

CORRIE TEN BOOM

Corrie ten Boom was a Christian who helped hide Jews during the Holocaust. She was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.

Years later, after the war, she was preaching forgiveness in Germany when a man approached her—the very SS guard who had abused her and her sister in the camp.

He smiled and extended his hand. “Will you forgive me?” he asked.

Corrie froze. She knew she couldn’t do it. But silently, she prayed, “Jesus, help me.”

And in that moment, she felt God’s love surge through her. She took his hand and forgave him.

That’s not human love.

That’s heaven’s love—the kind that flows through us when we surrender.

HOW TO LOVE WITH EVERYTHING

Let me break this down.

1. Love God With Your Heart

That means your desires, your affections, your emotions.
What do you long for? What captures your imagination? Is it Jesus, or is it success, comfort, lust, fame?

2. Love God With Your Soul

This speaks to your identity, your devotion, your spirit.
Are you anchored in Christ, or are you tossed by the opinions of others?

3. Love God With Your Mind

That’s your thoughts, your reasoning, your worldview.
Do you filter your thinking through Scripture or through social media?

4. Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Let me get in your business:

• Can you love the addict who smells like the street?

• Can you love the politician on the other side?

• Can you love the spouse who wounded you?

Because if we say “yes” to the first commandment but “no” to the second, we’re not living the Great Commandment—we’re living a great lie.

THE WARNING: LOVELESS RELIGION KILLS

Jesus didn’t get crucified because He lacked truth. He was killed because He loved radically.

And some of the most dangerous people in the Gospels were those who knew Scripture but didn’t know love.

You can tithe, fast, and serve—and still miss the point if your heart is cold.

1 Corinthians 13:2:

“If I have all knowledge… but do not have love, I am nothing.”

If your theology doesn’t make you love God more and love people better—it’s not Gospel. It’s a counterfeit.

THE PROMISE: LOVE NEVER FAILS

1 Corinthians 13:8 says:

“Love never fails.”

Nations fall. Empires crumble. Prophecies will cease. But love endures.

Why?

Because God is love. (1 John 4:8)

When you love like Jesus, you walk in His power. His peace. His presence.

You don’t need to chase signs and wonders—become one by loving with everything you’ve got.

LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS… THEN LOVE MORE

I’m not asking you to feel something.
I’m asking you to live something.

Let this be the year you stop playing church and start being the church.

Let this be the year your life becomes a sermon—not just in truth, but in love.

The command hasn’t changed.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

And if you get this right… everything else will follow.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, we stand in awe of Your love—a love so fierce it tore the veil, crushed the grave, and calls us by name.

Forgive us for making Christianity about everything except love. Cleanse our hearts of pride, religion, prejudice, and fear. Teach us to love You with our entire being—and to love our neighbor even when it hurts.

Holy Spirit, flood our hearts right now. Transform our thinking. Renew our minds. Let us become walking testimonies of the Great Commandment.

We don’t want shallow faith. We want deep, dangerous, world-changing love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LOVE IS THE MARK OF THE MASTER

You want to know who really walks with Jesus?

Don’t look at their gifts.

Look at their love.

Because real revival doesn’t start in stadiums—it starts in hearts full of love.

Now go.

Love God.

Love people.

And watch the world change.