What is the first of the two great commandments according to Matthew 22?

The first of the two great commandments, as stated in Matthew 22, is indeed to love the Lord your God with all your heart. This command emphasizes the importance of devotion and love toward God as the foundation of faith and spiritual life. It highlights that the commitment to God should encompass one's entire being—heart, soul, and mind.

This commandment reflects the core tenets of the faith and establishes a clear hierarchy of love, placing God first in the believer's life. Loving God completely enables believers to fulfill their purpose and guides their actions in accordance with His will. This command is often related to the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:5, which has been fundamental in both Jewish and Christian traditions.

The other options, while valuable in their own right, fall under the broader context of what it means to live out the first commandment. Loving one's neighbor, believing in Jesus, and recognizing God's sovereignty are all expressions of the love that stems from placing God first, but they do not represent the essential directive of prioritizing God Himself in one's heart.