Matthew 22:40 - The Greatest Commandment

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Context

The Greatest Commandment
…39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 41While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them:…

Cross References

Romans 13:8-10
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. / The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.Mark 12:28-31
Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” / Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. / Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ...Luke 10:25-28
One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” / “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” / He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ...John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”1 John 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. / This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. ...1 John 3:23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. / And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:19-21
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God…

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Matthew 22

All the Law and the Prophets
This phrase refers to the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Tanakh, which is divided into the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). In the context of Matthew 22:40, "the Law and the Prophets" is a shorthand for the Old Testament. The Law, or Torah, includes the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses, which contain the commandments and instructions given to the Israelites. The Prophets include historical and prophetic books that convey God's messages through His chosen messengers. This phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of Jesus' teaching, indicating that the essence of the entire Old Testament is encapsulated in the commandments to love God and love one's neighbor.

hang on
The term "hang on" suggests dependence or foundation. In the original Greek, the word used is "kremannymi," which implies that the Law and the Prophets are suspended or supported by these two commandments. This imagery conveys that the commandments to love God and love others are not just part of the law but are the very principles upon which all other laws and prophetic teachings are based. This concept is echoed in other parts of Scripture, such as Romans 13:8-10, where love is described as the fulfillment of the law.

these two commandments.
The two commandments refer to the greatest commandments as identified by Jesus in the preceding verses: to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and to love one's neighbor as oneself. These commandments are drawn from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, respectively. The first commandment emphasizes total devotion and worship to God, reflecting the Shema, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. The second commandment extends this love to others, highlighting the social and ethical dimensions of faith. Together, they encapsulate the essence of the covenant relationship between God and His people, as well as the ethical conduct expected within the community. These commandments are seen as a summary of the Ten Commandments, with the first four focusing on love for God and the last six on love for others.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to a question about the greatest commandment. His response highlights His authority and understanding of the Law.

2. Pharisees
A religious group in Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law. They often challenged Jesus to test His knowledge and authority.

3. The Law and the Prophets
This phrase refers to the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and the writings of the prophets. It encompasses the entire Old Testament as understood in Jesus' time.

4. The Great Commandments
Jesus summarizes the Law with two commandments: love God and love your neighbor. These are foundational to His teaching.

5. Jerusalem
The setting of this discourse, where Jesus often taught and engaged with religious leaders.

Teaching Points

The Centrality of Love
Jesus teaches that love is the foundation of all commandments. Our actions and obedience should stem from a genuine love for God and others.

Unity of Scripture
The Law and the Prophets are unified in their purpose to guide us toward love. Understanding this helps us interpret the Old Testament in light of Jesus' teachings.

Practical Love
Loving God and our neighbor is not just a feeling but involves practical actions. Consider how you can demonstrate love in your daily life.

Heart Transformation
True obedience to God's commandments requires a transformed heart. Pray for the Holy Spirit to cultivate love within you.

Reflecting Christ
As followers of Jesus, our love for others should reflect His love for us. This is a powerful testimony to the world.

(40) All the law and the prophets.--The words are coupled, as in Matthew 5:17; Matthew 7:12, to indicate the whole of the revelation of the divine will in the Old Testament. The two great commandments lay at the root of all. The rest did but expand and apply them; or, as in the ceremonial, set them forth symbolically; or, as in the law of slavery and divorce, confined their application within limits, which the hardness of men's hearts made necessary. For the glowing assent of the scribe to our Lord's teaching, and our Lord's approval of him, see Notes on Mark 12:32-34.

Verse 40. - Hang all the Law and the prophets; i.e. all Scripture, which is comprised in these terms (comp. Matthew 5:17; Matthew 7:12); in other words, all the revelations which God has made to man in every age. The clause is peculiar to St. Matthew. It signifies that on love of God and love of man depend all the moral and religious, ceremonial and judicial precepts contained in the Law, all the utterances of the prophets, all the voices of history. Scripture enunciates the duty to God and our neighbour, shows the right method of fulfilling it, warns against the breach of it, gives examples of punishment and reward consequent upon the way in which the obligation has been treated. Thus the unity and integrity of revelation is demonstrated. Its Author is one; its design is uniform; it teaches one path, leading to one great end. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

All
ὅλος (holos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

the
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Law
νόμος (nomos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Prophets
προφῆται (prophētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.

depend
κρέμαται (krematai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2910: To hang, hang up, suspend; mid: To be hanging, hang. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to hang.

on
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

these
ταύταις (tautais)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

two
δυσὶν (dysin)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

commandments.”
ἐντολαῖς (entolais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1785: An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.

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