"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Without an overriding priority there would be no way to settle a dispute when two commandments appeared to conflict. Thus, for example, we see that some Pharisees would even go so far as to set love of God and love of one's parents in opposition. They did this, not for God's sake, but to provide an easy way out of the responsibility toward one's parents. They gave the appearance of giving priority to honoring God. But their overarching principle was actually based on their egos. They knew the letter of the law, but that letter proved more than able to bring death rather than life, when in the wrong hands.
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
Putting God first was indeed the correct answer. It wasn't merely a matter of degrees, or a balancing act. Rather all one's love, with one's entire entire, soul, mind, and strength, ought to belong to God. But what then of one's neighbor? Would not such all-consuming love for God cause neglect for our duty toward others? For this reason, Jesus did not stop by mentioning love of God, even though, properly understood, it was sufficient.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.
Or, as in another Gospel, the "second is like it" (see Matthew 22:39). The greatness of these commandments exists when they are upheld together in harmony with one another. One cannot love God, whom one cannot see, while neglecting those creatures whom he has created in his own image and likeness. Indeed, one cannot even benefit God by loving him. God already possesses all perfections. He commands us to love him precisely so that we can become free, as he is free, to love others. We become like what we love. So, in truly loving God, we must become like him in his selflessness toward his creatures. Without love of neighbor our love for God can slip into subtle forms of idolatry, in which we worship God, not as he is, but rather as we wish him to be. Love for neighbor gives a concrete reality to the externality and otherness that is even more true of God himself. It isn't necessarily convenient, or what we would decide if left to us. Therefore love of neighbor can help purify us of idolatry.
It is, however, also possible to love our neighbors poorly. We do this when we encourage them to settle for less than all God has for them, when we act as enablers of sinful behavior, like people providing alcohol to addicts. It is often easier for us to help and encourage others toward their immediate goals, even if those goals are harmful. We still see the reward of momentary satisfaction. And we are free to look away when the resultant self-destruction begins to spiral out of control. This is why it is not any love of neighbor whatever to which we are called. Rather, we must love them as God loves them, that is, unto himself. He, the Lord our God and Lord alone, is the goal of our lives and theirs. Only in remembering this do we love in a way that is worthy of the name.
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
It was the perfect obedience of Jesus that proved to be worth more than all offerings and sacrifices, both fulfilling them and surpassing them. Because he perfectly brought together in himself love of God and love of humanity we now set aside that whole former sacrificial economy in favor of the one sacrifice of the lamb of God. And not only that, but as we share in the fruit of his sacrificial love we become like him. We in turn becoming offerings to God for the sake of the world.
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 (see Romans 12:1).
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