What is the Greatest Commandment? Matthew 22:34-40

The Greatest Commandment

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

As we have said, the Pharisees and Sadducees were diametrically opposed in their theology, or teaching about God.  The Sadducees were liberal in their exposition of the Law, and believed only what they could see not in the supernatural.  The Pharisees focused on the Law of Moses. and taught strict adherence a literal interpretation of the Law. However they often added laws of their own in additional to the 613 they found in the Old Testament.  

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

"This question was also planned to trap Jesus. In asking Jesus to choose one great commandment, they hoped to make Jesus show neglect for another area of the law."

An expert in the Law, was also called a scribe.  

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

"The Rabbins reckoned up 613 commandments of the law; and distinguished them into the greater and the lesser. These later they thought might be neglected or violated with little or no guilt.” (Trapp)

Though he was trying to trap Jesus it is well known that there was a lot of debate over which commandments were most important in the rabbinic circles.  I.e. Circumcision, the Sabbath, Purification and Sacrifices

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

Rather than bring up one particular law, Jesus gives them the essence of obedience to all the laws, the love of God.  "Heart" in this case means "will".  "Soul" means inner part of us and in particular our emotions.  "Mind" has to do with our reason and rationality.  It is not enough to think the right thoughts about God, or have the right feelings toward God, but we need the heart to put it into practice.  

Now we know that since we are in bondage to sin, we can never do this perfectly.  

38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 

"It is the "first" and greatest of all; first, not in "order of time," but of "importance; greatest" in dignity, in excellence, in extent, and duration. It is the fountain of all others. All beings are to be loved according to their excellence. As God is the most excellent and glorious of all beings, he is to be loved supremely. If he is loved aright, then our affections will be directed toward all created objects in a right manner." (Barnes)

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

Notice the second one is a summation of all the other laws, as it relates to the love of others.  But Jesus and the bible give us a lithmus test for how to love others.  We should love them in the same way we would love ourselves.  This is not to suggest narcissism, but assumes that one has a proper understanding of their own worth in God's eyes. 

"This doesn’t mean that we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else; it means that in the same way we take care of ourselves and are concerned about our own interests, we should take care and have concern for the interests of others." (Guzik)

Of course, there are many people who don't love themselves at all.  They might have not received love as a child, or worse yet suffered abuse from loved ones or other authority figures they should have been able to trust.  Without experiencing what the love of God is like, it is hard to love oneself.  

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

"Moses summed up all in the ten commandments, to which, truly interpreted, all the precepts of Scripture are reducible. Christ here brings the ten to two.” (Poole)

Why do you suppose Jesus tried to simplify the all of the commandments in this way?  What part of you do you have the hardest time loving God with?  Your heart? Mind? Soul?  Why is it important to have all three?  Which one do you think is most lacking in the church today?  Can you say without a shadow of a doubt that God's loves you unconditionally and you are his most prized posssession? What would your life be like if you loved others unconditionally like God loves you?  Do you think your life would be better or worse?  Where do you need to grow in your love for others?  Can this possibly be a resulting of not experiencing that kind of love from God for yourself? 


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