Matthew 22:34-40

International Children’s Bible

The Most Important Command

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

³⁷ Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and 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.”