Matthew 22:34-40

New International Reader's Version

The Most Important Commandment

³⁴The Pharisees heard that the Sadducees weren’t able to answer Jesus. So the Pharisees got together. ³⁵One of them was an authority on the law. So he tested Jesus with a question. ³⁶“Teacher,” he asked, “which is the most important commandment in the Law?”

³⁷Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) ³⁸This is the first and most important commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) ⁴⁰Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments.”

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Matthew 22:34-40

New International Version

The Greatest Commandment^(A)

³⁴Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,^(B) the Pharisees got together. ³⁵One of them, an expert in the law,^(C) tested him with this question: ³⁶“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a]^(D) ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]^(E) ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”^(F)