What Is the First Commandment? 7 Powerful Amazing Truths Explained
What is the first commandment? In the Ten Commandments, the first commandment is found in Exodus 20:3: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” In simple terms, God commands His people to recognize Him alone as God and give Him first place in their worship, loyalty, and devotion.
There is another answer you may hear, and it is important to understand why.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment in the Law, He taught that we should love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. He called this the “first and great commandment” in Matthew 22:37–38.
These teachings do not contradict each other.
Exodus commands exclusive devotion to God. Jesus explains what wholehearted devotion to God looks like: loving Him completely.
Understanding that connection gives us a much richer answer than simply memorizing the first item in a list.
What Is the First Commandment in the Bible?
When someone asks what is the first commandment in reference to the Ten Commandments, the direct answer is:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3 (KJV)
God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel after delivering them from Egypt.
The first commandment establishes the foundation for everything that follows: God’s people are to belong to Him and worship Him rather than giving divine allegiance to other gods.
It isn’t merely about putting God somewhere near the top of a priority list.
It is about recognizing that God alone is God.
That distinction shapes how we understand worship, obedience, love, trust, and faithfulness throughout Scripture.
What Does the First Commandment Mean?
The simplest meaning is:
Worship God alone and allow no rival to take the place that belongs to Him.
When exploring what is the first commandment, it helps to see that the command reaches beyond outward religious behavior.
It concerns loyalty.
It concerns worship.
It concerns trust.
And ultimately, it concerns the direction of the heart.
A person might never bow before a carved statue yet still allow something else to become the controlling center of life.
The first commandment therefore invites an uncomfortable but valuable question:
What has first place in my heart?
Why Did God Give the First Commandment?
The context of Exodus matters.
Before giving the commandments, God reminds Israel that He brought them out of Egypt and slavery.
The commandments therefore appear within the story of God’s relationship with His people.
When asking what is the first commandment, we shouldn’t separate Exodus 20:3 from that larger setting.
Israel lived among cultures that worshiped many gods. Exclusive loyalty to the Lord distinguished their worship.
The first commandment established that relationship clearly.
They weren’t to divide their ultimate devotion among competing gods.
They belonged to the God who had delivered them.
What Does “No Other Gods Before Me” Mean?
This phrase can be misunderstood.
It doesn’t mean that people may worship other gods as long as God is ranked number one.
The command calls for exclusive worship and allegiance to God.
That means the first commandment isn’t:
God first, another god second, another third.
Rather, God alone is to receive worship as God.
This helps clarify what is the first commandment actually asking from believers.
It isn’t merely asking for slightly more religious attention.
It demands undivided spiritual allegiance.
Is the First Commandment About Putting God First?
Yes, but “putting God first” needs to be understood carefully.
The phrase is useful when it means that God holds the highest place in our worship, love, obedience, and trust.
However, Christian life isn’t simply a checklist where we spend one hour with God and then move on to unrelated priorities.
Faith is meant to shape everything else.
Your relationships.
Your decisions.
Your ambitions.
Your use of money.
Your work.
Your private thoughts.
Your treatment of other people.
Your response to success and disappointment.
So when Christians ask what is the first commandment for everyday life, a practical answer is that nothing should receive the worship, trust, or devotion that belongs to God.
What Did Jesus Say Was the First Commandment?
This is where many readers become confused.
In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked which commandment in the Law was greatest.
He answered by pointing to the command to love God with your whole being, drawing from Deuteronomy 6:5. He then identified love for one’s neighbor as the second commandment and said the Law and Prophets depend on these two teachings. Bible Gateway
In the KJV, Matthew 22:37–38 reads:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Jesus then says:
“This is the first and great commandment.”
This gives another important dimension to what is the first commandment.
The Ten Commandments begin with exclusive loyalty to God.
Jesus describes the greatest commandment as wholehearted love for God.
These ideas naturally belong together.
Exodus 20:3 vs. Matthew 22:37: Are They Different?
They occur in different biblical contexts.
Exodus 20:3 gives the first of the Ten Commandments: have no other gods before God.
Matthew 22:37–38 records Jesus answering a question about the greatest commandment in the Law: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
So if someone asks:
“What is the first of the Ten Commandments?”
The answer is Exodus 20:3.
If someone asks:
“What did Jesus call the first and greatest commandment?”
The answer is wholehearted love for God.
This distinction is one of the most important things to understand when researching what is the first commandment, because both passages commonly appear in discussions of the subject.
How Are the Two Teachings Connected?
The connection is love expressed through loyalty.
If God alone deserves worship, then our devotion cannot ultimately belong to another god.
If we truly love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind, that love should shape what we worship, trust, value, and obey.
The first commandment establishes God’s unique place.
Jesus’ teaching shows the wholehearted nature of our response.
Together, they point toward a relationship with God that is neither divided nor superficial.
This makes what is the first commandment much more than a question for Bible trivia.
It becomes a question about what occupies the center of a person’s life.
What Does It Mean to Love God With All Your Heart?
The heart in biblical language reaches beyond temporary emotion.
Loving God wholeheartedly means that devotion to Him isn’t merely external.
You may attend church, know biblical language, or follow religious routines while your deepest desires are centered elsewhere.
Wholehearted love invites sincerity.
It means wanting God to shape what you value and who you are becoming.
When considering what is the first commandment, this inward dimension matters because true worship isn’t merely about appearances.
It involves the heart.
What Does It Mean to Love God With All Your Soul?
Loving God with your soul communicates deep personal devotion.
Faith isn’t meant to occupy one isolated compartment of life.
It reaches into identity, purpose, hope, and the direction of your life.
This doesn’t mean Christians will never struggle with doubt, distraction, disappointment, or spiritual dryness.
It means they continually return their deepest allegiance to God.
Understanding what is the first commandment therefore involves more than knowing the right words.
It asks where our deepest loyalty rests.
What Does It Mean to Love God With All Your Mind?
Christian faith does not ask believers to stop thinking.
Loving God with your mind includes allowing truth to shape your thinking, studying Scripture thoughtfully, seeking wisdom, challenging false assumptions, and bringing your decisions under God’s direction.
Your thoughts influence your choices.
Your choices influence your habits.
Your habits influence the direction of your life.
That’s why the mind belongs in a discussion of wholehearted devotion.
When Jesus describes the greatest commandment, love for God involves the whole person.
Why Is the First Commandment So Important?
The first commandment establishes the foundation for our relationship with God.
Before questions about possessions, truthfulness, relationships, or other areas of obedience, there is the fundamental question of who is God in your life?
That’s why understanding what is the first commandment helps make sense of the commandments that follow.
If God isn’t recognized as God, obedience can easily become nothing more than rule-keeping.
But when obedience grows from love and reverence, commandments are understood within a relationship.
The first commandment therefore deals with the source from which faithful living flows.
What Is Idolatry?
Biblically, idolatry includes giving worship to something other than God.
Ancient idolatry often involved visible images and pagan deities.
Those examples remain important, but Christians have also long used the language of idolatry more broadly for things that receive an ultimate devotion that belongs to God.
That could involve money.
Status.
Success.
Power.
Approval.
Possessions.
Relationships.
Personal ambition.
Even something good can become spiritually unhealthy when it begins occupying a place it was never meant to hold.
This is where what is the first commandment becomes surprisingly relevant to modern life.
Modern Idols May Not Look Like Idols
Most people reading this article probably don’t have a pagan shrine in their living room.
That doesn’t automatically settle the question.
A modern idol may look respectable.
Career success can become an identity.
Money can become security.
Popularity can become a measure of worth.
A relationship can become the source from which someone expects ultimate meaning.
Achievement can become something a person cannot imagine living without.
Technology can consume attention that was once available for prayer, relationships, rest, and reflection.
The point isn’t that money, relationships, work, achievement, or technology are inherently evil.
The deeper question is whether something created has begun demanding the devotion that belongs to the Creator.
10 Signs Something May Be Taking God’s Place
When reflecting on what is the first commandment, these questions can help with honest self-examination.
1. What do I believe I absolutely cannot be happy without?
2. Where does my mind automatically go when I feel insecure?
3. What controls most of my decisions?
4. What am I most afraid of losing?
5. Whose approval determines how I feel about myself?
6. What receives my strongest emotional attachment?
7. What am I willing to compromise my convictions to obtain?
8. Where do I look for ultimate security?
9. What consistently pushes prayer and worship to the edges of my life?
10. What would be hardest for me to surrender to God?
These aren’t a mechanical test for determining someone’s spiritual condition.
They are reflection questions designed to reveal where our trust and devotion may be drifting.
How to Keep the First Commandment Today
Understanding what is the first commandment should eventually lead to practice.
Start with worship.
Recognize God for who He is rather than treating Him only as someone to approach when you need something.
Make Scripture part of your regular life.
Prayerfully examine your priorities.
Ask God to reveal competing loyalties.
Practice gratitude rather than allowing possessions to define your worth.
Make decisions based on faith and conviction instead of approval alone.
Let your love for God influence how you treat people.
And when you recognize that something has taken too much control of your heart, return to God rather than hiding from Him.
Keeping the first commandment isn’t about creating an image of spiritual perfection.
It is about continually directing worship and loyalty toward God.
Does Putting God First Mean Ignoring Family or Work?
No.
Putting God first doesn’t mean neglecting legitimate responsibilities.
Christian devotion should influence how faithfully we fulfill them.
Loving God can shape how you treat your spouse.
It can influence how patiently you raise children.
It can shape your honesty at work.
It can affect how you handle money.
It can change how you respond to people who cannot benefit you.
This is another reason what is the first commandment shouldn’t be reduced to “religious activities come before everything else.”
The deeper idea is that loyalty to God shapes everything else.
The First Commandment and Loving Your Neighbor
Jesus didn’t stop after identifying love for God as the greatest commandment.
He immediately added love for one’s neighbor.
This connection prevents devotion to God from becoming merely private or abstract.
Love for God should influence how we treat people.
Patience.
Mercy.
Truthfulness.
Generosity.
Forgiveness.
Justice.
Compassion.
Humility.
These don’t replace devotion to God. They are among the ways faith becomes visible in everyday relationships.
Jesus’ answer in Matthew 22 therefore gives what is the first commandment both a vertical and relational context: love God supremely, and let that love shape how you treat your neighbor.
12 Short Reflections on Putting God First
These are original reflections inspired by the biblical theme, not quotations from Scripture.
1. Putting God first means letting His truth speak louder than your fear.
2. Worship begins when the heart stops asking created things to do what only God can do.
3. Loving God deeply changes what we call success.
4. A crowded schedule can still contain an empty spiritual life; make room for what matters eternally.
5. Whatever controls your identity can quietly begin controlling your worship.
6. Faithfulness often begins with small decisions nobody else notices.
7. Putting God first isn’t giving Him one part of your life; it’s inviting Him to shape every part.
8. Gratitude loosens the grip of things we are tempted to worship.
9. Loving God isn’t proven by words alone but by the direction of a life.
10. The heart becomes freer when created things are allowed to remain created things.
11. God’s place in your life cannot be measured only by how often you speak about Him.
12. True devotion doesn’t make us care less about people; it teaches us to love them more faithfully.
A Simple Prayer to Put God First
Heavenly Father,
You alone are God, yet my attention and affection can become divided.
Show me anything I have allowed to take a place in my heart that belongs to You.
Teach me to love You with my whole heart, soul, and mind.
Help me trust You more than money, success, approval, comfort, or control.
Let my love for You shape my decisions, relationships, ambitions, and everyday habits.
When I drift, draw me back.
When my priorities become confused, give me wisdom.
When fear makes me cling to something other than You, strengthen my faith.
Help me worship You sincerely and love others faithfully.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Bible Passages Related to the First Commandment
A fuller study of what is the first commandment becomes easier when several passages are read together.
Exodus 20:1–3 gives the setting and first commandment.
Deuteronomy 5:6–7 repeats the command.
Deuteronomy 6:4–5 calls God’s people to wholehearted love.
Matthew 22:36–40 records Jesus’ teaching about the greatest and second commandments.
Mark 12:28–31 provides a parallel account.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6 discusses the confession of one God in a context involving idols.
1 John 5:21 closes with a warning to keep away from idols.
For the central biblical passages in context, you can read Exodus 20 and Matthew 22 together at Bible Gateway.
That is the single outbound link in this article.
What Is the First Commandment? A Simple Answer for Children
If a child asks what is the first commandment, you can explain it simply:
“The first commandment teaches us that God alone should be our God. We should love, worship, and trust Him above everything else.”
For older children, explain that this doesn’t mean family, friends, hobbies, or dreams are bad.
It means we shouldn’t treat any of those things as if they were God.
You could ask:
“What does it look like to put God first today?”
That turns memorization into a practical conversation about faith.
Common Misunderstandings About the First Commandment
One misunderstanding is that the command simply means “God should be number one on my to-do list.”
It goes deeper than scheduling.
Another is that idolatry is only an ancient problem involving statues.
Scripture’s warnings about misplaced worship still invite believers to examine their loyalties.
A third misunderstanding comes from seeing Exodus 20:3 and Matthew 22:37 as competing answers.
They answer related but slightly different questions.
Once that distinction is clear, what is the first commandment becomes much easier to understand.
The Ten Commandments begin with exclusive allegiance to God, while Jesus identifies wholehearted love for God as the greatest commandment in the Law.
FAQs About What Is the First Commandment
What is the first commandment?
If you are asking what is the first commandment of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:3 says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” It calls God’s people to worship and serve Him alone.
What is the first commandment according to Jesus?
Jesus taught that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. His answer is recorded in Matthew 22:37–38 and draws from Deuteronomy 6:5.
Is the first commandment “You shall have no other gods before me”?
Yes. That is the first of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3. It establishes exclusive devotion to God.
Why did Jesus say loving God was the first commandment?
Jesus was answering a question about the greatest commandment in the Law. He identified wholehearted love for God as the first and greatest, then connected it with loving one’s neighbor.
Are Exodus 20:3 and Matthew 22:37 contradictory?
No. Exodus 20:3 is the first of the Ten Commandments, while Matthew 22 records Jesus answering which commandment is greatest. Exclusive worship of God and wholehearted love for God reinforce one another.
What does “no other gods before me” mean?
It means God alone is to receive worship and ultimate allegiance. It should not be understood as permission to worship several gods as long as God is ranked first.
Why is the first commandment important?
When people ask what is the first commandment, its importance becomes clear from its position: it establishes who deserves worship and ultimate loyalty. That relationship with God provides a foundation for understanding the commandments that follow.
What are examples of modern idols?
Money, status, success, approval, relationships, power, comfort, or possessions can function like idols when they receive ultimate trust or devotion. The issue isn’t simply possessing or enjoying something; it is the place it occupies in the heart.
How can I put God first every day?
Begin with prayer and Scripture, examine your priorities, make choices consistent with your faith, practice gratitude, worship God sincerely, and allow your relationship with Him to shape how you treat others.
What is the second greatest commandment?
Jesus said the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. He connected love for God and love for neighbor closely in Matthew 22:37–40.
Where is the first commandment found in the Bible?
The first of the Ten Commandments is found in Exodus 20:3 and repeated in Deuteronomy 5:7.
What is the easiest way to remember the first commandment?
A simple summary is: Worship God alone and put no rival in His place. If someone asks what is the first commandment Jesus called greatest, remember: love God with your whole being.
Final Thoughts
So, what is the first commandment?
In the Ten Commandments, it is:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3
And when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He taught us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
Together, these teachings reveal something deeper than a rule to memorize.
God calls for wholehearted devotion.
The first commandment asks us to consider what receives our worship, trust, loyalty, and deepest affection.
That makes the question what is the first commandment deeply personal.
It asks not only, “Can I recite the command?”
It also asks:
“What truly has first place in my life?”
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