Matthew 22:36-40
Amplified Bible
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”(A) 37 And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’(B) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’(C) 40 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
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Matthew 22:36-40
English Standard Version
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, (A)“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And (B)a second is like it: (C)You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 (D)On these two commandments depend (E)all the Law and the Prophets.”
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John 13:34-35
Amplified Bible
34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you [a]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
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- John 13:34 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
John 3:3-7
Amplified Bible
3 Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.(A) 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’
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John 3:3-7
English Standard Version
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is (A)born (B)again[a] he cannot (C)see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (D)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 (E)That which is born of the flesh is (F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[b] 7 (G)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[c] must be born (H)again.’
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John 14:15-17
Amplified Bible
15 “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
Role of the Spirit
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
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- John 14:16 Gr Paracletos, one called alongside to help.
John 14:15-17
English Standard Version
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 (A)“If you love me, you will (B)keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another (C)Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even (D)the Spirit of truth, (E)whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and (F)will be[b] in you.
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- John 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7
- John 14:17 Some manuscripts and is
John 14:21-23
Amplified Bible
21 The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.
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John 14:21-23
English Standard Version
21 (A)Whoever has my commandments and (B)keeps them, he it is who loves me. And (C)he who loves me (D)will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and (E)manifest myself to him.” 22 (F)Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it (G)that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, (H)“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and (I)we will come to him and (J)make our home with him.
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John 14:26
Amplified Bible
26 But the [a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.(A)
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- John 14:26 Gr Paracletos, one called alongside to help.
John 14:26
English Standard Version
26 But the (A)Helper, the Holy Spirit, (B)whom the Father will send in my name, (C)he will teach you all things and (D)bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
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1 John 5:3-4
Amplified Bible
3 For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey]. 4 For [a]everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].
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- 1 John 5:4 Lit everything that is. John uses the Greek neuter to underscore the fact that everyone who has been born again, regardless of gender or age, is victorious over the world.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Amplified Bible
5
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6
[a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:6 One of the ancient rabbis said that all the essence of the Torah (Law) depends on this verse.
Proverbs 3:5-6
English Standard Version
5 (A)Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and (B)do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways (C)acknowledge him,
and he (D)will make straight your paths.
Matthew 6:33
Amplified Bible
33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
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Matthew 6:33
English Standard Version
33 But (A)seek first (B)the kingdom of God and his righteousness, (C)and all these things will be added to you.
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Matthew 16:24
Amplified Bible
Discipleship Is Costly
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
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Matthew 16:24
English Standard Version
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him (A)deny himself and (B)take up his cross and follow me.
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Matthew 28:18-20
Amplified Bible
18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
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Matthew 28:18-20
English Standard Version
18 And Jesus came and said to them, (A)“All authority (B)in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 (C)Go therefore and (D)make disciples of (E)all nations, (F)baptizing them (G)in[a] (H)the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them (I)to observe all that (J)I have commanded you. And behold, (K)I am with you always, to (L)the end of the age.”
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- Matthew 28:19 Or into
Ephesians 6:10-18
Amplified Bible
The Armor of God
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having [a]tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),(A) 15 and having [b]strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].(B) 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [c]shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.(C)
18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [d]God’s people.
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- Ephesians 6:14 Lit girded your loins, a phrase often found in the Bible, is an urgent call to get ready for immediate action or a coming event. The phrase is related to the type of clothing worn in ancient times. Before any vigorous activity the loose ends of clothing (tunics, cloaks, mantles, etc.) had to be gathered up and tucked into the wide band worn around the midsection of the body. The band (usually about six inches wide) also served as a kind of pocket or pouch to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things. Gird up your mind or gird up your heart are examples of variants of this phrase and call for mental or spiritual preparation for a coming challenge.
- Ephesians 6:15 A reference to the Roman soldiers’ shoes which were studded with hobnails to give them stability on the battlefield.
- Ephesians 6:16 Here the Greek word refers to the large Roman soldiers’ shield designed to protect the entire body. It had an iron frame and was covered in several layers of leather. When soaked in water before a battle the shield could put out the fiery missiles thrown at them by the enemy.
- Ephesians 6:18 Lit the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18
English Standard Version
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, (A)be strong in the Lord and in (B)the strength of his might. 11 (C)Put on (D)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against (E)the schemes of the devil. 12 For (F)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (G)the rulers, against the authorities, against (H)the cosmic powers over (I)this present darkness, against (J)the spiritual forces of evil (K)in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore (L)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in (M)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, (N)having fastened on the belt of truth, and (O)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, (P)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up (Q)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all (R)the flaming darts of (S)the evil one; 17 and take (T)the helmet of salvation, and (U)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying (V)at all times (W)in the Spirit, (X)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, (Y)keep alert with all perseverance, making (Z)supplication for all the saints,
Read full chapterCopyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
