Why is love considered the greatest commandment?

In the teachings of Christ, love is elevated above all commandments because it encapsulates the heart of God's moral law. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus states that the greatest commandment is to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind. The second is like it: to love one’s neighbor as oneself. This shows that all other laws hinge upon these principles of love. Furthermore, Galatians 5:14 reinforces this notion, affirming that the entire law is fulfilled in one command: to love your neighbor as yourself. Thus, love becomes the foundation from which all ethical behavior flows, making it the greatest commandment.