In Matthew 22, verses 34-40, a lawyer among the Pharisees challenges Jesus Christ to name the greatest commandment of the law, expecting a single answer. Instead, He provides two commandments, revealing a profound unity between them. He declares that the first Great Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This command demands absolute, wholehearted devotion to God. He then presents the second, to love your neighbor as yourself, which is constrained by human nature to an equality with self-love. These two commandments are inseparable; they form one law in two parts, essential for fulfilling God's purpose of bringing disparate parties into unity. Jesus Christ emphasizes that on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets, indicating that they are the foundational principles from which all other laws and teachings depend. The first commandment directs love toward God, while the second directs it toward fellow humans, paralleling the relationship between Christ and the church, and among brethren. Neglecting either undermines the process of achieving oneness with God. Loving God requires loving others, and loving others is a sign of true love for God. Breaking either commandment results in disunity with both God and man, halting progress toward spiritual harmony and eternal life.

In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus declares the foundation of all commandments, saying, '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.' This directive encompasses the entirety of our devotion to God, involving fear, service, obedience, and worship of the great Creator. Worship, defined as intense admiration, adoration, honor, and devotion, shapes our response to God. If we hold great respect for someone, it alters our behavior; similarly, our respect and response to men or things should be directed toward God. The command leaves no room for other gods, as the true understanding of Exodus 20:3 is, 'You shall have no other gods in place of Me.' This principle is central, affecting every area of life, thoughts, and actions, forming the very foundation of what we are becoming.

The First Great Commandment lays the foundation for all others, establishing the source of one's values. If this source is not rooted in Almighty God, it sets one up for certain moral and spiritual failure, as no other source can compare to His standards. This commandment is the most frequently broken due to constant pressure from the world to adopt its values, creating a war within the mind over which way to choose. Disloyalty to God through choosing worldly values is idolatry, a sin that can easily ensnare if one is not vigilant. God introduces Himself as the Creator, to whom everything owes its existence—every breath, every drop of rain, every plant, and every animal. His handiwork, power, and character are evident everywhere, surpassing any human beauty, talent, or skill. He demands exclusive loyalty, with no other gods in place of Him, not even the self, which often takes precedence. Worship of Him involves the highest respect, admiration, obedience, and devotion, guiding every response to His will. The source of one's values determines who is sovereign in life. Submitting to worldly values, even under the justification that everyone else is doing it, reveals idolatry, as it shows loyalty to the ruler of this world rather than to God. True loyalty to Him, as agreed upon at baptism, keeps one on the straight and narrow, preventing the sin of idolatry. This loyalty shapes character, forging it through the choices made under the pressures of old habits and worldly compulsions.

God's love, as defined in this discussion, is a willful direction toward mankind, involving doing what is best for them, not merely what they desire. This love is reflected in benevolence, kindness, sympathy, and generosity, as God deals with us individually while pursuing a grand, philanthropic plan to elevate humanity into His Kingdom. True love originates from God, and as we exhibit it, we take on the nature of our Father, demonstrating that we are born of Him. Those who fail to reflect this love do not truly know God, regardless of their knowledge. The world often misunderstands love, seeing it as deep devotion, sexual passion, or mere enjoyment of activities, while God's love surpasses these limited definitions. His love is proven by the world He has provided, the patience He shows, and most profoundly, by sending His Son as a sacrifice for our reconciliation with Him. Even when we were ignorant and opposed to His way, He loved us and desired the best for us. We are called to love one another as God loves us, laying down our lives for the brethren, just as He laid down His life for us. By actively using this love in our relationships, it is perfected in us, and we grow in His nature, becoming bold in His presence as we mirror His character. Perfect love casts out fear, and though we may struggle with apprehensions in this world, we must work to perfect our love, faith, and trust in God, knowing He will help us. Jesus Christ taught that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, submitting all our faculties to His will and devoting ourselves to glorifying Him. This love is shown directly through obedience to the first four commandments, which involve having no other gods, rejecting idols, honoring His name in all aspects of life, and keeping the Sabbath as holy time for spiritual refreshment and service. The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves, extending this love to all—family, friends, countrymen, and even enemies. We show this love by not harming our neighbor in body, property, or reputation, by seeking their good, and by being tender and kind, even when their actions do not warrant it, without condoning sin. Attaining God's nature requires keeping His commandments with active faith, trust, and obedience, drawing close to Him through prayer, fasting, and study. Love of God produces a desire to live His way, and His commandments are not burdensome but essential boundaries that train us to become like Him. True love in the heart is reflected in our way of living, showing that we belong to Him. Above all, we must put on godly love, forgiving others as He has forgiven us, uniting all aspects of His calling and opening our minds to emulate Him.