Title: Loveology: The Work of Love

Pericope: Matthew 22:37-38

Text: Matthew 22:34-36

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38 NIV

Chesed: Chesed describes God's “faithful love” within covenant relationship.

Exodus 34:6: "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding inlove [chesed] and faithfulness.'" 

Psalm 136:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love [chesed] endures forever." 

Psalm 23:6: "Surely your goodness and love [chesed] will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the Lord’s great love [chesed] we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 

Micah 7:18: "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy [chesed]." 

1. Love builds the foundation of relationship with God - “‘Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God…

1. Love transforms - …with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…

1. Love levels the playing field - …this is the first and greatest commandment.”’

The Shema - Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Duet. 6:4-5 NIV



Old Covenant - Loving God is the central commandment and is directly connected to complete devotion to obeying the law. The covenantal love relationship between God and Israel is defined by their adherence to the Torah.

New Covenant - Loving God is still the central commandment but transforms in Christ. The new covenant doesn’t discard God’s law but reorients how it operates. Jesus, like the Torah, is the full expression of God’s heart and perfect will. Therefore, Love for God is now expressed through full devotion to Jesus.