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Bible verse
Matthew 22:37
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
What it means
When asked which command matters most, Jesus points to wholehearted love for God with everything we are. Not a corner of our lives, but our affections, our thinking, our will, all turned toward the One who made us. This is not a burden but a homecoming, for we were created to belong to Him. We cannot love like this on our own, so Jesus draws us in first, pouring His love into us. Loving God fully becomes possible because He loved us fully at the cross.
Matthew 22:37 at a glance
| Reference | Matthew 22:37 |
|---|---|
| Book | Matthew |
| Chapter to read it in | Matthew 22 |
| Topic | love |
| Passages linked to it | 9 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Mark 12:29-30
- Luke 10:27
- Deuteronomy 6:5
- Deuteronomy 10:12
- Mark 12:33
- Deuteronomy 30:6
- 1 John 5:2-5
- Hebrews 10:16-17
- Romans 8:7
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where do I find Matthew 22:37?
It is in Matthew, in Matthew 22. Reading the whole chapter shows who is speaking, to whom, and why.
What other passages go with Matthew 22:37?
Readers most often set it beside Mark 12:29-30, Luke 10:27, Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 10:12. Each is listed under Read it in context.
How can I pray Matthew 22:37?
Read it slowly once, then say it back to God in your own words, one phrase at a time. Stop on the phrase that stays with you and stay there. You can also ask the family of God on The Living Bread to pray it with you.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see Matthew 22:37 and you know every person there by name. We bring you Matthew 22:37, love. Teach us to love one another, as you have loved us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read all of Matthew 22 today, not only the one verse.
- Write Matthew 22:37 where you will see it, and read it aloud at the start and end of the day.
- Tell one person what this verse means to you, and ask what verse has carried them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read it, pray it, live it
On The Living Bread you can read the whole chapter, save this verse, ask Simon to explain it, pray it over your life, and share it with someone who needs it today.
