A Living Bread Hub
Love
The Bible says God is love (1 John 4:8), and that He proved His love by giving His Son for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8, John 3:16). We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and Jesus makes sacrificial love for one another the mark of His people (John 13:34). True love, as Scripture describes it, is patient, kind, and enduring (1 Corinthians 13).
Key verses about love
What Jesus taught about love
Jesus made love the defining mark of His people: 'by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another' (John 13:35). He summed up the entire law as loving God with all you are and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). He loved to the very end, washing even His betrayer's feet, and He commanded love that reaches enemies (Matthew 5:44). And He defined love at its fullest: 'greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13).
Examples of love in the Bible
- The Good Samaritan crossed every barrier to love a wounded stranger at real cost (Luke 10).
- The father of the prodigal ran to his returning son and threw a feast, love that would not keep score (Luke 15).
- Ruth bound herself to Naomi in loyal love: 'whither thou goest, I will go' (Ruth 1:16).
- Jonathan loved David as his own soul and protected him at his own expense (1 Samuel 18-20).
- Jesus washing feet took the servant's towel for the very men who would abandon Him (John 13).
How to grow in love, practically
- Love God first; every other love grows healthy out of that root.
- Love in deed and truth, not merely in words (1 John 3:18).
- Be patient and kind, and keep no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13).
- Forgive freely, because you have been forgiven so much (Ephesians 4:32).
- Love the unlovely and even the enemy; that is the love that looks like Christ (Matthew 5:44).
- Ask the Spirit to grow love in you; it is the first fruit He bears (Galatians 5:22).
Where to go from here
You do not have to walk this alone
Pray, hear how Christ met someone else, ask anything, or find people near you.
Ask for prayerAsk SimonFind a churchPeople also ask
- What does the Bible say about love?
- The Bible says God is love (1 John 4:8), describes love as patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13), and calls us to love one another as Christ loved us (John 13:34).
- How does God show His love?
- Supremely at the cross: God gave His Son for us while we were still sinners (John 3:16, Romans 5:8), an everlasting love nothing can separate us from.
- What is the greatest commandment?
- To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
