--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jesus taught that \"the great and first…" description: "\"“Jesus taught that \"the great and first commandment is to love God completely, totally, and unreservedly -- with all one's heart, with all one's soul, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/alexander-strauch-18713_love_jesus-taught-that-the-great-and-first-co_2222929.jpg" --- # Jesus taught that "the great and first commandment is to… ![“Jesus taught that "the great and first commandment is to love God completely, totally, and unreservedly -- with all one's heart, with all one's soul, and with all one's mind (Matt. 22:37-38; Mark 12:28-34). The sum of all God's commandments and all religious service is love for God. It is the…” quote by Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/alexander-strauch-18713_love_jesus-taught-that-the-great-and-first-co_2222929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/alexander-strauch-18713_love_jesus-taught-that-the-great-and-first-co_2222929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/alexander-strauch-18713_love_jesus-taught-that-the-great-and-first-co_2222929.jpg) > ““Jesus taught that "the great and first commandment is to love God completely, totally, and unreservedly -- with all one's heart, with all one's soul, and with all one's mind (Matt. 22:37-38; Mark 12:28-34). The sum of all God's commandments and all religious service is love for God. It is the believer's first priority. It is the reason we were created. Nothing in life is more right, more fulfilling, and more rewarding than loving God our Creator and Savior.”” [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The core message is that loving God wholly is the highest command and purpose of life, surpassing all other duties. **In simple terms:** Loving God completely is life's highest purpose. Key Takeaway Prioritize love for God above all. Themes faith purpose love Mood devout reflective Type scriptural inspirational When to use this quote - personal devotion - worship - ethical decision making - life purpose - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology spirituality moral hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does complete love for God shape daily choices? - What challenges arise when love for God conflicts with societal expectations? A Different Perspective May overlook other responsibilities or relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commandment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment/) [Commandment Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment-love-902800/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [First priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-priority/) [God Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-commandments-638417/) [Great Commandment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-commandment-527619/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-god/) [Loving god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-god/) ## Related quotes > [The first great commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, might, mind and strength; and the second was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/the-first-great-commandment-was-to-love-the-lord-our-god-with-all-our/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [This feeling of accountability, which is encompassed by the first great commandment to love God, has been described by some as 'obedience to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-l-cook/this-feeling-of-accountability-which-is-encompassed-by-the-first/) [Quentin L. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-l-cook/) > [“Remember always this great commandment that Jesus left for us in Matthew 7:1–2:   “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 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Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [Fr. Amphilochios, the geronta or elder on the island of Patmos when I first stayed there, would have been in full agreement. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kallistos-ware/fr-amphilochios-the-geronta-or-elder-on-the-island-of-patmos-when-i/) [Kallistos Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kallistos-ware/) > [ “The commandment, 'Love thy neighbour as thyself', is the strongest defence against human aggressiveness and an excellent example of the unpsychological \[expectations\] of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-commandment-love-thy-neighbour-as-thyself-is-the-strongest/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## More by Alexander Strauch > [“Here is a Christian so committed to the well-being of other Christians, especially new Christians, that he is simply burning up inside to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/here-is-a-christian-so-committed-to-the-well-being-of-other/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“the New Testament offers more instruction regarding elders than on other important church subjects such as the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Day, baptism, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/the-new-testament-offers-more-instruction-regarding-elders-than-on/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“First, the Bible says that an elder must be of irreproachable moral character and capable in the use of Scripture because he is “God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/first-the-bible-says-that-an-elder-must-be-of-irreproachable-moral/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“This is in no way to imply that love ignores or condones sin. 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It is surprising, because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/what-is-both-surprising-and-depressing-is-the-sheer-prayerlessness/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“If you are going to bore people, don’t bore them with the Gospel. Bore them with calculus, bore them with earth science, bore them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/if-you-are-going-to-bore-people-don-t-bore-them-with-the-gospel-bore/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“You don’t have to be a preacher or have years of training to use your home to love and serve people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-preacher-or-have-years-of-training-to-use-your/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“If Paul did not love the Corinthians, he would walk away from them and let them flounder in their own cesspool of sin. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/if-paul-did-not-love-the-corinthians-he-would-walk-away-from-them-and/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“Good shepherds love their sheep and spare no effort when leading them to green pastures and clear water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/good-shepherds-love-their-sheep-and-spare-no-effort-when-leading-them/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“Leaders who think that growth in grace comes by knowing the Word of God without doing it will produce congregations of passive Christians which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/leaders-who-think-that-growth-in-grace-comes-by-knowing-the-word-of/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“The work of feeding and tending sheep is hard work, arduous work, and love for the sheep alone will not do it; you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/the-work-of-feeding-and-tending-sheep-is-hard-work-arduous-work-and/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [“The nature of Christian love is to do the will of God. 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The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The second commandment that Jesus referred to was not to love others instead of ourselves, but to love them as ourselves. Before we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-warner/the-second-commandment-that-jesus-referred-to-was-not-to-love-others/) [Jim Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-warner/) > [“The eleventh commandment of art: thou shalt not be boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-m-driscoll/the-eleventh-commandment-of-art-thou-shalt-not-be-boring/) [W.M. Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-m-driscoll/) > [“128. Matthew 22:36-37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-jackson/128-matthew-22-36-37-love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-heart-and/) [Lois Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-jackson/) > [Righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteous-marriage-is-a-commandment-and-an-essential-step-in-the/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [“It is highly significant, perplexing to say the least, that we have been bound for thousands of years to a commandment that hardly anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/it-is-highly-significant-perplexing-to-say-the-least-that-we-have/) [Alice MIller, The Drama of the gifted child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/) > [Loving your neighbour as much as yourself is practically bloody impossible? You might as well have a commandment that states,'Thou shalt fly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/loving-your-neighbour-as-much-as-yourself-is-practically-bloody/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Now we must remark, that there are two parts in the Commandment-the first forbids the erection of a graven image, or any likeness; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/now-we-must-remark-that-there-are-two-parts-in-the-commandment-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Your very eyes. How they have always been for me the command to obey, the inviolable and beautiful commandment. No, no, I'm not telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walser/your-very-eyes-how-they-have-always-been-for-me-the-command-to-obey/) [Robert Walser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walser/) > [“Superficially, the Fourth Commandment can be regarded as a kind of life insurance for old people, which was perhaps necessary in biblical times but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/superficially-the-fourth-commandment-can-be-regarded-as-a-kind-of/) [Alice MIller, The Drama of the gifted child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/) [Browse all 211 Commandment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Jesus taught that \"the great and first commandment is to love God completely, totally, and unreservedly -- with all one's heart, with all one's soul, and with all one's mind (Matt. 22:37-38; Mark 12:28-34). 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