Together in Christ: 'The Right Angle of Love' — Matthew 22:39-40

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Blessed Christmas!

Our prayer is that the presence of Jesus be with you and fill you with hope, peace, and love!

 Read More
[Jesus continued his answer to the expert in religious law about the most important commandment:] "A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
— Matthew 22:39-40 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus made clear that there was a right angle to love. We must reach up in love to God, reach out to our neighbor with love, and share our love with those our lives touch. If we love God, then we will love our neighbors. We will offer that love regardless of their race, culture, language, social status, or political preferences. [1] After all, God didn't send Jesus only to save us, but also to save our neighbors - whether close or distant geographically or culturally. [2] We are to love our neighbors whether they are deserving of our kindnesses or not. We remember that God loved us and sent Jesus to save us when we were "utterly helpless" and "sinners" and "still [God's] enemies." [3]

Our love for our neighbors means we will care for them in practical and even costly ways. [4] More than just talking about loving our neighbors, we are to share fellowship, encouragement, help, and support with them in tangible ways. [5] Our commitment to love our neighbors will help us act toward our neighbors and react positively to them. We won't need any law to teach us what is correct in any situation because our love will lead us to treat them as we want to be treated. [6] If we love God, we will love our neighbors. [7] The truth is straightforward and clear! We will love our neighbors because God wants that from us and has already lavished His love upon us!

[1] Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Revelation 7:9-12.
[2] John 3:16-17.
[3] Romans 5:6-11.
[4] Luke 10:33-35.
[5] James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18.
[6] Matthew 7:12; Romans 13:8-9; Galatians 5:14.
[7] 1 John 4:19.

Today's Prayer

Holy Spirit of the living and true God, please pour divine love into my heart [A] so that I can love others with a holy, pure, willing, sacrificial, helpful, and practical love. Lord Jesus, use me to be Your hands and display Your heart toward those who are lost, lonely and looking for hope. I ask for these gifts of grace to bless others in Your name, O God. Amen.

[A] Romans 5:5.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

37 Related Resources by Heartlight

Boils Down to Love
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"[After Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God, he continued:] "A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The....."
Family to Those Who Are Alone
Article by Bill Sherrill
Are we really to be family to those who don't have family? We've got to show the world that we will actually love them way we claim we will.
Back to Basics
Article by Rubel Shelly
Isn't it about time to get rid of the fluff and get back to the basics? Rubel Shelly uses the recent world series and a few Casey Stengel stories about the early days of the Mets to remind us that the we need to get back to the basics of what we do as believers: love God and love each other.
The Center of God's Will
Article by Tom Norvell
Is this really a safe place? Tom Norvell reminds us that the safest place is in the center of God's will and that means loving God and loving people.
See All 37 Related Resources about Matthew 22:39-40

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 22:39-40 NLT — [Jesus continued his answer to the expert in religious law about the most important commandment:] "A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, November 22, 2025

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Author Unknown:
"More light than we can learn, more wealth than we can treasure, more love than we can earn, more peace than we can measure, because one Child is born."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Do Good: Be Joyful, Prayerful, and Thankful'
"See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful...."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Isaiah 7:14
"Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see him who was born King of the Jews, for we by...."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Moved by the Spirit' (Lk. 2:27-32)
"Moved by the Spirit, [Simeon] went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon..."

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Together in Christ