The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 22:37–40, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus said this in response to the scribes and Pharisees, who asked about the greatest commandment in the Law. Love for the unseen God is proven by love for our visible neighbor. How can someone truly love the invisible God if they neglect the people they can see?
Yet Jesus also said in Matthew 10:37, “Anyone who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of Me.” At first glance, this teaching seems to tell children not to love their parents and parents not to love their children. Of course, that interpretation is mistaken. Jesus would not contradict His own teaching. In one teaching He says love for God is shown by love for others; in another He says love for God must come before love for parents or children. Earlier reflections noted that Jesus brings a “sword” into the world. Again, Jesus does not mean to cause disorder, fighting, or bloodshed, but separation.
If we look closely, Matthew 22:37–40 and Matthew 10:37 show harmony. Jesus teaches His disciples to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind. This is not about ordering love in a priority list. Rather, love for God is primary, first, even singular. When someone loves God with all their heart, soul, and mind, that love will inevitably overflow to others—children, parents, siblings, friends, and colleagues.
Thus, when a husband loves his wife, that love is not merely human affection but flows from his love for God. Children who love God with all their heart, soul, and mind will honor their parents. Conversely, parents who love God fully will love their children. Both parents and children show their love primarily to God, and from that, springs healthy love between them.
However, the reality on the ground shows disharmony in family relationships—between husband and wife and between parents and children. Disharmony can also occur in friendships, companionships, and Christian fellowship. Instead of nurturing love, relationships may fracture, disputes may continue without end, and separation may become unavoidable. This condition can indicate that one party, both parties, or many parties do not truly love God.
Separation between the righteous and the defiled is inevitable. Between sin and holiness, between sanctity and evil, separation will occur over time and through life events. When someone truly loves God, no matter how difficult the problems, that love will not destroy relationships within family, fellowship, or friendship. Instead, defective love for God becomes the source of broken relationships. Therefore, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. That love will radiate toward others — to wife and husband, to children and parents, and to siblings, friends, and companions.