Matthew 22:34-40

New Century Version

The Most Important Command

³⁴ When the Pharisees learned that the Sadducees could not argue with Jesus’ answers to them, the Pharisees met together. ³⁵ One Pharisee, who was an expert on the law of Moses, asked Jesus this question to test him: ³⁶ “Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?”

³⁷ Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and most important command. ³⁹ And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.”