Matthew 22:34-40 - The Greatest Commandment

³⁴ Now the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, and so they had a meeting. ³⁵ And one of their number, an expert in the law, to tempt Him, asked, ³⁶ "Teacher, what sort of command is greatest in the law?"

³⁷ And He answered him, "'You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind.' ³⁸ This is the greatest command, and is first in importance. ³⁹ The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as you do yourself.' ⁴⁰ The essence of the whole law and the prophets is packed into these two commands."

²⁸ Then one of the scribes, on hearing them arguing, came up, and since he saw that Jesus had answered them properly, he asked Him, "What sort of command is the first of all commands?"

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

³¹ And this is the second, 'You must love your neighbor as you do yourself.' No other command is greater than these."

³² Then the scribe said to Him, "Indeed, Teacher, you have properly said that He is one by Himself, and there is no other but Him, ³³ and to love Him with one's whole heart, one's whole understanding, and one's whole strength, and to love one's neighbor as one loves himself is far more than all the burnt-offerings and sacrifices."

³⁴ So Jesus said to him, as He saw that he had answered thoughtfully, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one ventured to ask Him any more questions.