Matthew 22:37 — King James Version (KJV) (2026-09-16)

Historical lead-up

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus in a time of intense questioning and challenge from the religious leaders of His day. They were trying to trap Him with difficult questions about the law and the commandments. This particular moment occurs in Jerusalem, shortly before His crucifixion, where Jesus is teaching the people about the heart of God’s commands.

Why this verse was written

This verse was written to clarify the essence of God’s law. Jesus was addressing a Jewish audience familiar with the commandments and the teachings of the Torah. By stating this commandment, He aimed to redirect their focus from mere rule-following to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God, emphasizing love as the foundation of faith.

True meaning

In this verse, Jesus emphasizes the importance of loving God with every part of our being—heart, soul, and mind. The heart represents our emotions and desires, the soul signifies our very essence and life, and the mind encompasses our thoughts and understanding. By calling us to love God in this comprehensive way, Jesus is inviting us into a holistic relationship with Him, where every aspect of our lives is devoted to Him.

Living it today

To live out this verse today, we can start by examining our priorities and ensuring that our love for God is central in our lives. This might mean setting aside time for prayer, worship, and studying Scripture. In our relationships, we can reflect this love by treating others with kindness and respect, recognizing that our love for God should inspire us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Daily, we can ask ourselves how we can express our love for God through our actions and decisions.

What follows

The verses that follow reinforce the significance of Jesus’ commandment. He states that this is the first and greatest commandment, highlighting its foundational role in our faith. He then introduces the second commandment, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves, showing that love for God and love for others are intrinsically linked. Finally, Jesus notes that all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments, reminding us that our entire spiritual life is rooted in love—both for God and for those around us.