Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and love people as we do ourselves.
All the other commandments God gives flow from loving him and our neighbors in this way.
Compassion lives out the greatest commandment by responding to God’s heart for our vulnerable neighbors and loving them by meeting their needs.
Matthew 22:36-40: What Is the Greatest Commandment?
In Matthew 22:36, a Pharisee asks Jesus a question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus has a simple answer for him.
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.” — Matthew 22:37-40, NIV
As followers of Jesus, the greatest commandment is this: Love God with everything in us, and love our neighbors as we do ourselves.
The Great Commandment: The Foundation of Every Command God Gives
But aren’t these two commandments? Yes — but they’re also inseparable: You can’t love God without loving your neighbor. And you can’t love your neighbor without loving God. Let’s dig a bit deeper together.
Why did the Pharisee ask Jesus about the greatest commandment? He and the other Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus — to get him to say something heretical or against the law.
This question was a common debate of the time. After all, Jewish law recognized 613 commandments in the Torah, so leaders often argued over which ones were more important. The Pharisees thought this was a no-win situation for Jesus. No matter how he answered, he was bound to upset someone.
But Jesus understood the truth: Every law, every teaching and every other commandment points back to love — for God and for people. These two commands come together to build a foundation on which the entire “Law and the Prophets” rest (Matthew 22:40).
If we truly love our heavenly Father with everything in us and love our neighbors as we do ourselves, we will naturally fulfill everything God intended in his commandments.
For example, one of the Ten Commandments is “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, NIV). If we love God, we’ll put him first — no other “god” or idol will do. Another commandment is “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16, NIV). If we love our neighbor, we’ll have no desire to lie about them or purposefully hurt them.
If we love God and people, we’ll naturally follow our Father’s commandments. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 22:40.
Love God & Love Your Neighbor: What Does It Mean to Love?
In Matthew 22:36-40, the Greek word for “love” is agape. That’s significant because agape refers to love that’s unconditional, selfless and sacrificial.
We’re not commanded to love based on feelings — we’re commanded to love by choice, regardless of circumstance or if it’s given back. This is the same love God has for us.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8, NIV
Love God
Matthew 22:37 tells us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. And that kind of love often requires choice.
With our hearts, we must choose to treasure God, putting him before other people and our possessions. With our souls, we must choose his ways over our own, living and breathing for him. And with our minds, we must choose to align our thoughts with his, studying and meditating on his Word.
We must choose to love God and follow him, even when it’s hard. Even when others don’t follow. Even when things happen that we don’t understand. But our love for him isn’t one-sided — we can trust that God loves us far more deeply than we can imagine, and he’s working on our behalf, even when we don’t see it.
Love Your Neighbor
Loving our neighbor — anyone God places in our path — takes choice too. It means choosing to show others kindness, mercy and compassion regardless of who they are, what they’ve done, where they’re from or even how they’ve treated us.
Matthew 22:39 says we must love our neighbors as we do ourselves. So we must love them with the same kind of unconditional love we desire.
Learn more about what the Bible says about loving your neighbor.
Everyday Ways to Live Out the Greatest Commandment
Loving God and loving people are daily practices. Here are some simple ways you can live out the greatest commandment in your day-to-day life.
Love God
Spend time with him: Each day, set aside some dedicated time for your heavenly Father. Pray and talk to him. Turn on some music and worship him. Read his words in the Bible. As you grow closer to God, your love will grow too, aligning your heart with his.
Place him above your personal desires: Instead of choosing what you believe is best for you or what you want, ask God what he wants. Choose to seek him before making decisions both big and small. You can also ask him for the strength to choose obedience even when it’s hard or uncomfortable. He’s faithful to give it.
Choose his truth over your thoughts: When negative thoughts come, stop and think: What does God say? Let his Word shape your perspective, especially when feelings try to pull you in another direction. For example, when thoughts come like, “God isn’t with me” or “I’m alone,” remember that his Word says he never leaves you (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Practice gratitude: At the end of each day, take a moment to think about what God has done for you. Then, thank him. Gratitude shifts your eyes back to him, even in the chaos of life. As you remember what he’s done, you begin to see just how much he cares for you. And as you see God’s heart, your own heart leans toward him, deepening your love for him.
Love Your Neighbor
See people as God sees them: Everyone is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). All are deeply loved and valued in his eyes.When we practice seeing others this way, we’re compelled to treat them as such, showing them love, kindness, patience and grace.
Offer practical help: When we see others as God sees them, their suffering will hurt us too. To love is to show compassion, acting to help those in need. It might look like sharing a meal, donating to a ministry or simply sharing a kind word. But when we help the vulnerable, we reflect God’s heart in the most tangible way.
Share the gospel: The greatest act of love is to introduce the neighbors around you to Jesus. By sharing the gospel, you’re offering hope, forgiveness, purpose and eternal life, pointing them to the one who can transform their lives forever.
Engage in justice and mercy: Love calls us to stand with the oppressed and defend the vulnerable. Micah 6:8 (NIV) says “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Justice reflects God’s heart for what is right, and mercy reflects his heart of compassion. When you walk in both, you embody his character, becoming a voice of hope for those who feel unseen and unloved. There are many ways to engage in justice and mercy. For example, you could stand up for a co-worker who’s being mistreated. You could post about issues affecting neighbors around the world on social media. Or you could even support ministries serving the impoverished.
Explore other ways to love your neighbor today.
How Compassion Embodies the Greatest Commandment
At Compassion, the greatest commandment is at the foundation of our ministry. In love for our heavenly Father, we respond to his heart for the vulnerable. And in love for our vulnerable neighbor, we enter their suffering and meet needs to bring hope and comfort.
Responding to God’s Heart for the Vulnerable
“‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” … “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:35-36 & 40, NIV
Jesus says that when we care for the least of these, we do so for him. And as he shared in the Greatest Commandment, to love him is to love our neighbor.
At Compassion, we work to serve the most vulnerable of our neighbors: children living in extreme poverty. We express our love for God by serving the children he treasures, alleviating their suffering and empowering them as they grow, all in partnership with his Church.
“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” — Matthew 18:5, NIV
Meeting the Needs of Our Suffering Neighbors
The suffering of children grieves the heart of God. And because we feel the same grief, we’re compelled to act.
Compassion steps in to meet children’s needs — mind, body and soul — so they can overcome poverty and thrive as disciples of Jesus. In partnership with thousands of local churches around the world, we offer the essentials children need to grow into who God created them to be.
For example, Compassion empowers churches to offer:
The hope of the gospel: Every child hears the gospel and experiences Jesus’ love for them through the care of pastors, teachers and staff who know their name.
Protection from abuse: Children are surrounded by loving adults trained in child protection who keep them safe and teach them to advocate for themselves.
Care for their health: Children are monitored for malnutrition, receive regular checkups and have access to medical care when they’re sick or hurt.
Education: Each child receives a quality education through tutoring, tuition assistance, school supplies and beyond, helping them reach for their dreams.
Relief after disaster: When disaster strikes, children have access to emergency aid, such as safe water, shelter and trauma counseling.
This whole-child care helps children overcome poverty and become all God created them to be. It’s the great commandment in action: loving God by loving the vulnerable children he holds close to his heart.
Jesus makes the greatest commandment clear: Love God with everything in you, and love your neighbor as yourself. When we choose this sacrificial, wholehearted love, every other command God gives falls into place. And as we live it out daily, we reflect his heart to a world in need of his compassion.