What Does Matthew 22:39-40 Mean?
Matthew 22:39-40 describes Jesus giving a simple yet powerful answer when asked about the greatest commandment. He says to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, and that this rule - along with loving God - is the foundation of all God’s teaching. This is not about rituals or religious performance. It is about real, everyday love in action. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 22:39-40
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 People
Key Takeaways
- Love God completely and love others as yourself.
- True faith is shown through love, not rules.
- All Scripture is fulfilled in loving action.
Context of Matthew 22:39-40
Right before Matthew 22:39-40, a lawyer tests Jesus by asking which commandment is the greatest.
Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 - love God with all your heart, soul, and mind - and then adds a second, equally important one from Leviticus 19:18: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' He says all of God’s teaching hangs on these two commands.
This moment comes after Jesus faces tough questions about taxes and resurrection, showing that real faith isn’t about clever debates but about love in action.
Why 'Love Your Neighbor' Is Second and How All Scripture Hangs on These Commands
Jesus calls loving your neighbor 'second' not because it’s less important, but because it flows directly from loving God.
In Leviticus 19:18, the command to 'love your neighbor as yourself' was given in a section about everyday holiness - how to treat workers fairly, not to hold grudges, and to avoid gossip. Loving others was not about feelings. It meant acting with justice and kindness in real life. Jesus elevates this verse to the same level as loving God, showing that how we treat people reflects how we truly honor Him.
The phrase 'on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets' means every rule, prophecy, and teaching in the Old Testament finds its purpose in love. It’s like a foundation: if you don’t have love for God and others, religious acts like sacrifices or rituals miss the point. Matthew’s version highlights this summary more clearly than the parallel accounts in Mark 12:28-31 or Luke 10:25-28, where the focus is slightly more on personal obedience than the sweeping claim about all Scripture.
All of God’s teaching isn’t about rules piling up - it’s about love shaping every relationship.
This teaching cuts through religious performance. It reminds us that faith isn’t measured by how much we know or how strict we are, but by how much love we show. The next question Jesus asks - about whose son the Messiah is - continues this theme, challenging people to see that true relationship with God goes beyond titles to real, living connection.
How Loving Your Neighbor Applies to Us Today
This command is meant to shape how we live today, not for ancient times.
Loving your neighbor as yourself means treating others with the same care and respect you want, whether it's a coworker, a stranger, or someone you disagree with. Jesus shows that real faith isn't about getting every rule perfect but about making love the bottom line in every relationship.
Matthew includes this teaching to highlight that God's kingdom isn't built on power or religious status, but on everyday acts of love - fitting his theme of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the world.
How Jesus' Command Fulfills the Law in the New Testament
This teaching of Jesus became the lens through which the early church understood God's will, not merely summarizing the Old Testament.
Paul makes this clear in Romans 13:9-10, where he writes, 'For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.' He says the same in Galatians 5:14: 'For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”' These verses show that Jesus’ words reshaped how believers saw obedience - not as rule-following, but as love in action.
Love isn't the exception to the rules - it's the purpose behind all of them.
Jesus reveals the true goal of old commands, showing that love is the heartbeat of God’s entire plan - from the Law, to the Prophets, to the gospel.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine rushing through your day, focused on checking boxes - work, chores, church duties - only to realize you snapped at your spouse, ignored a friend in need, or scrolled past someone’s pain online. That’s when this truth hits: all my religious knowledge means nothing if love isn’t shaping my actions. Jesus is not asking for perfection. He is inviting us into a life where every interaction - traffic jams, tough conversations, quiet moments - becomes a chance to reflect God’s heart. When we see love for others not as a burden but as the very purpose of our faith, it changes how we live. We start asking, 'Am I treating this person the way I’d want to be treated?' And in those moments, we find real connection, peace, and the joy of living out what matters most.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my daily life am I treating people as inconveniences instead of neighbors to love?
- When do I prioritize rules, opinions, or comfort over showing kindness to someone different from me?
- How can I love someone this week in a way that costs me something - time, pride, or effort?
A Challenge For You
This week, pick one person you usually overlook - a coworker, a neighbor, or someone you disagree with - and do one practical thing to show them care. It could be listening without interrupting, sending an encouraging note, or helping with a small task. Let love be your guide, not obligation.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you for showing me that love is the heart of your teaching. Forgive me when I’ve treated people as less than you do. Help me love others in real actions, not merely in words. Give me eyes to see my neighbors clearly and a heart ready to care, as you do. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus first states the greatest commandment - to love God - which forms the foundation for loving others.
Matthew 22:41
Jesus challenges the religious leaders about the Messiah’s identity, continuing the theme of true relationship over ritual.
Connections Across Scripture
Mark 12:31
Jesus repeats the command to love neighbor, affirming its divine priority in the Kingdom of God.
John 13:34
Jesus gives a new command to love one another, showing love as the mark of His followers.
James 2:8
The apostle calls loving your neighbor the 'royal law,' fulfilling God’s will in action.