…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge…
— Ephesians 3:18-19

Scripture says that the Law and the Prophets bear witness to Christ, to the righteousness of God. [Rom.3:21] Jesus said: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Mar.12:30-31] “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” [Mat.22:40] These commandments bear witness to the love of Christ. Let’s look at the first one, which, as Jesus said, is the greatest. It is also interesting that Greek has 4 different words for love: agape, storge, philia and eros.

WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Parental love [storge]. In this love the care of our Heavenly Father, our Dad, is revealed. How does Dad love us and care for us? “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” [Rom.8:32] The Lord, too, as the good Shepherd, cares for us: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” [Jhn.10:10] Dad gave His Son. The Son gave His life.

WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
Brotherly love, the love of friends [philia]. In this love Jesus’ self-sacrifice and devotion are revealed. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” [Jhn.15:13] It is written that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” [Pro.18:24] That is our Lord. What [who] can separate us from the love of Christ? [Rom.8:35]

WITH ALL YOUR MIND
Perfect love, the love of the Spirit and the Mind [agape]. In this love the freedom the Lord has given us is revealed. It is a love that sets free. “Perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment [condemnation].” [1 Jhn.4:18] This love has set us free from fear and condemnation. “For the law of the Spirit of life [of love and freedom] in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death [of fear and condemnation]“. [Rom.8:2]

WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
Passionate love [eros]. In this love the strength of Christ’s love is revealed, the love of a bridegroom and husband. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify… that she should be holy and without blemish” [Eph.5:25-27] Jesus loved us so much that He sacrificed Himself to wash us and sanctify us with His blood.

May we be rooted and established in the love of Christ.