What Is the First Commandment Really About?

Dr. Jeremiah opens with the scribe’s question from Mark 12:28‑30, asking Jesus which commandment is most important. Jesus responds with the familiar love command, but adds a fourth element—mind—highlighting that devotion must touch every part of us.

Love With All of You

He explains that loving God “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” is not a checklist but a call to bring the whole self into a single, focused relationship with the Creator. The passage invites listeners to examine whether their devotion is truly total.

Examples of Devotion in Scripture

"If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:21)

Dr. Jeremiah points to Daniel’s daily prayers in Babylon, the Israelites’ first‑fruit offering, and Jesus’ command in John 14 as concrete ways that believers can demonstrate a wholehearted love. These stories raise the question of how we can make God first amid life’s demands.

The Temptation to Separate “Me” and “God”

He warns against compartmentalizing life into a “me” bucket and a “God” bucket, noting that such division can create friction between personal plans and God’s will. The challenge is to recognize that everything comes from God and to offer all of it—time, resources, will—without reservation.

What Comes Next?

Dr. Jeremiah invites listeners to explore how to live out this devotion in everyday choices, leaving the deeper exploration for the full audio.