What Does Matthew 22:37-40 Mean?
Matthew 22:37-40 describes Jesus answering a test question from a religious expert about the greatest commandment in the Law. He quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, saying we must love God with all our heart, soul, and mind - and love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus says all of Scripture hangs on these two commands.
Matthew 22:37-40
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Matthew
Genre
Gospel
Date
circa 80-90 AD
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- Jesus sums up all God's commands in love.
- Loving God fully shapes how we love others.
- True faith is shown in love, not just rules.
Context of the Greatest Commandment Question
Right before Jesus gives the two greatest commandments, He’s being tested by religious leaders who are trying to trap Him with difficult questions.
First, the Pharisees and Herodians ask if it’s right to pay taxes to Caesar, hoping to accuse Him either of rebellion or disloyalty to God. Then the Sadducees challenge Him with a tricky question about marriage after the resurrection, trying to make the idea of eternal life seem absurd.
When a lawyer steps up and asks which command is the greatest, it’s not a friendly conversation starter - it’s another attempt to trip Jesus up, but He responds with clarity and authority, summarizing the entire law in two simple commands.
The Heart of the Law: Jesus Unites the Shema and the Command to Love Others
Jesus’ answer was deeply rooted in Israel’s most sacred traditions, combining two commands that were often treated separately at the time.
The first command, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,' comes from Deuteronomy 6:5, part of the Shema - a daily prayer every faithful Jew recited, declaring loyalty to God above all else. The second, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' is from Leviticus 19:18, a practical call to treat others with fairness and compassion, especially within the community. By placing them side by side, Jesus showed that true devotion to God goes beyond rituals or beliefs and is reflected in how we treat people daily.
Jesus didn’t invent new rules - He revealed that loving God and loving people are two sides of the same coin.
This was more than a summary of the Law. It was a radical invitation to view love as the lens for all of God’s commands, preparing the way for later teachings on mercy, forgiveness, and inclusion.
The Simple, Radical Heart of Faith: Love God, Love People
Jesus’ answer cuts through religious complexity, showing that true faith isn’t about following endless rules but about wholehearted love for God and genuine care for others.
Matthew includes this moment to highlight Jesus as the one who fulfills and clarifies God’s message - something this Gospel emphasizes again and again. By saying all the Law and the Prophets 'depend' on these two commands, Jesus teaches that everything God has ever said points to love: loving Him above all, and loving our neighbor as ourselves - with no exceptions.
This timeless truth still challenges us today: if our religion doesn’t lead us to love God with honesty and serve others with kindness, we’re missing the point.
The Double Command in the Writings of Paul: Love Fulfills the Law
This same two-part command that Jesus highlighted appears again in the letters of Paul, showing how early Christians understood it as the heart of faithful living.
In Romans 13:8-10, Paul writes, 'Owe no one anything, except to love each other… Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law,' and in Galatians 5:14, he says, 'For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”' By pointing back to these commands, Paul shows that following Jesus isn’t about strict rule-keeping but about living in a way that honors God and serves others through love.
Love isn’t just one command among many - it’s the goal all of God’s instructions were leading toward.
Just as Jesus rooted His teaching in the law and the Prophets, Paul shows that love fulfills God’s original intent - connecting the message of the Old Testament with the new life offered through Christ.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I used to think being a good Christian meant checking off spiritual boxes - going to church, reading my Bible, avoiding the big sins. But when I really sat with Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-40, it hit me: God isn’t looking for perfect performance. He’s looking for my heart, my attention, my love - whole and undivided. Love is not only for Him in private prayer. It also influences how I treat the barista who messed up my order, the neighbor I’d rather avoid, and the family member who always pushes my buttons. It’s humbling - and honestly, a little convicting - because I realize how often I love conditionally, or not at all. But there’s hope: every time I fall short, I’m reminded that Jesus fulfilled these commands perfectly, and He’s helping me grow. Now, instead of guilt, I feel purpose - love isn’t a burden, it’s the heartbeat of a life that matters.
Personal Reflection
- When I say I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind, what does that actually look like in my daily choices - especially when no one’s watching?
- Who is someone I find hard to love, and how can I treat them as myself this week - not perfectly, but with one small act of kindness?
- If all of God’s commands hang on love, where am I focusing on rules instead of relationship - with God or others?
A Challenge For You
This week, pick one practical way to express love to God and one way to love a specific person in your life. For God: set aside five minutes each day to talk to Him, without asking for things, but thanking Him and listening. For your neighbor: do one unnoticed act of kindness - send a text of encouragement, cover a coworker’s task, or forgive someone without bringing up the past.
A Prayer of Response
God, I want to love You with everything I am - my heart, my soul, my mind. But I admit, I hold back. I get distracted, selfish, tired. Help me love You more fully, not out of duty, but because I see how much You love me. Help me love others the way You do - not only the easy ones, but also the difficult, the different, and the forgotten. Show me what that looks like today. Let my life be shaped by these two simple, powerful commands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Matthew 22:34-36
Sets the scene: a lawyer tests Jesus by asking which commandment is greatest, leading to His profound answer.
Matthew 22:41-46
Jesus turns the tables by questioning the Messiah's identity, showing His authority beyond human testing.
Connections Across Scripture
Mark 12:28-31
Parallel account where Jesus gives the same two commandments, emphasizing their centrality in Mark's Gospel.
Luke 10:25-27
A similar exchange where a lawyer affirms the commandments, and Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
John 13:34-35
Jesus gives a new command to love one another, fulfilling and deepening the law of love.