What Does the Bible Say About Sacrificial Love?

John 15:13 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 ESV / 49 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 3:16 ESV / 48 helpful votes

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

1 John 4:8 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 32 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

John 13:35 ESV / 15 helpful votes

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 John 4:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes

We love because he first loved us.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 John 4:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

2 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Philippians 2:1-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

Ephesians 3:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Romans 12:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 John 5:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

John 13:34-35 ESV / 7 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

1 John 4:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ...

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

1 John 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 3:14 ESV / 1 helpful vote

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

Ephesians 5:28 ESV / 1 helpful vote

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

34 Bible Verses about Sacrificial Love

John 15:13 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Romans 5:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 49 helpful votes

1 John 3:16 ESV / 48 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV / 44 helpful votes

1 John 4:8 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 32 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 18 helpful votes

John 13:35 ESV / 15 helpful votes

1 John 4:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

1 John 4:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

2 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Philippians 2:1-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Ephesians 3:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Romans 12:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

1 John 5:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

John 13:34-35 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

1 John 4:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 12:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 John 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 3:14 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Ephesians 5:28 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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34 Bible Verses about Sacrificial Love

John 15:13 ESV / 97 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 49 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:16 ESV / 48 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:8 ESV / 34 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 13:35 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:1-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 3:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 5:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 13:34-35 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:14 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:28 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

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Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

John 15:13 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Romans 5:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 49 helpful votes

1 John 3:16 ESV / 48 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV / 44 helpful votes

1 John 4:8 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 32 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 18 helpful votes

John 13:35 ESV / 15 helpful votes

1 John 4:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

1 John 4:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

2 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Philippians 2:1-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Ephesians 3:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Romans 12:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

1 John 5:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

John 13:34-35 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

1 John 4:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 12:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 John 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 3:14 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Ephesians 5:28 ESV / 1 helpful vote