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Atomic Bible
Matthew 22:34-40·~1 min

The Greatest Commandment

The Pharisees gather after hearing that Jesus has silenced the Sadducees.

A34nd when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together.

An expert in the law tests Jesus with a question.

35One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question:

He asks which commandment is greatest in the Law.

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

Jesus names love for the Lord with heart, soul, and mind.

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

Jesus says this is the first and greatest commandment.

38This is the first and greatest commandment.

He adds a second commandment: love your neighbor as yourself.

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

Jesus says all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

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

Section summaryAfter the Sadducees are silenced, an expert in the law asks which commandment is greatest. Jesus names love for God with the whole person and love for neighbor as the second like it, and he gathers the Law and the Prophets under those two commands.
Role in the chapterThis section turns from dispute to summary. Jesus answers the question by naming love as the governing pattern of the Law, first toward God and then toward neighbor.