“…now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the GREATEST of these IS LOVE.” (1 Corin. 13:13) Why do you suppose that love is the greatest? “ Love NEVER fails…” (verse 8) It also says, “If I do not have love, I am NOTHING.” (verse 2) and also, “Love DOES NOT delight in evil…” (verse 6)
The kind of love the bible is speaking of is not the human form of subjective love but it is God’s Love, agapē love “the highest form of love” “the love of God for man and of man for God” This Love embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of SEEKING THE BEST FOR OTHERS unselfishly. For example, ”…God so loved the world that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
Jesus taught us about the first and the greatest Commandment. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus about this “love,” “…the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘LOVE the Lord your God with ALL YOUR HEART SOUL AND MIND.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:34-40)
The greatest of these is love for the first and greatest commandment all the Law and Prophets are summed up or suspended on this powerful Love.
-Bill Stockham