Matthew 22:34-40

The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a]

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]

40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:34-40 In-Context

32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”“The son of David,” they replied.

Cross References

• 1. S Acts 4:1
• 2. Luke 7:30; Luke 10:25; Luke 11:45; Luke 14:3
• 3. Deuteronomy 6:5
• 4. Leviticus 19:18; S Matthew 5:43; Matthew 19:19; Galatians 5:14
• 5. Matthew 7:12; Luke 10:25-28

Footnotes

• [a]. Deut. 6:5
• [b]. Lev. 19:18