What was the first commandment. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Its newness is its being founded upon Jesus, in whose blood the new covenant is made. This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. This Old Covenant, like the new, was intimately related to love.
Love is the ultimate foundation of both the old and new covenants.
It is the death of Jesus that is distinctive about the New Covenant. Here we see that love is an attribute of God our Father. Love is the beginning of the Father's plan of salvation. His love is universal, embracing the whole world. It is gentle and merciful, active and powerful.