Matthew 22:34-40 - The Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:34-40

34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a Law scholar, asked him a question, testing him. 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 The whole Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

Mark 12:28-34

28 And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Seeing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"

29 Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'

31 The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32 The scribe said to him, "Truly, Teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.