Matthew 22:34-46

Good News Translation

The Great Commandment^(A)

³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, ³⁵ and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. ³⁶ “Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

^37 (B)Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. ^39 (C)The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ ^40 (D)The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

The Question about the Messiah^(E)

⁴¹ When some Pharisees gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴² “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose descendant is he?”

“He is David's descendant,” they answered.

⁴³ “Why, then,” Jesus asked, “did the Spirit inspire David to call him ‘Lord’? David said,

⁴⁵ If, then, David called him ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be David's descendant?”

⁴⁶ No one was able to give Jesus any answer, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.