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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/22.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/22.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/22.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/22.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/22.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/22.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />"Teacher, which commandment <i>is the</i> greatest in the Law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/22.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Master, which <i>is</i> the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/22.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Teacher, which <i>is</i> the great commandment in the law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/22.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/22.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/22.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/22.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/22.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/22.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/22.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/22.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/22.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/22.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Master, which is the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/22.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in Moses' Teachings?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/22.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/22.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/22.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/22.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/22.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/22.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Master, which is the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/22.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment in the Law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/22.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/22.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />“Teacher, which [is] the great command in the Law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/22.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />"Teacher, which commandment <i>is the</i> greatest in the Law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/22.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Teacher, which is the great command in the Law?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/22.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Teacher, which the great command in the law?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/22.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/22.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/22.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/22.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/22.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/22.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />“Teacher, which commandment in The Written Law is the greatest?”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/22.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/22.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Teacher, what is the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/22.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Master, which is the great commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/22.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />which is the most important commandment of the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/22.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment in the Law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/22.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/22.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />and said, Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/22-36.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=6629" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/22.htm">The Greatest Commandment</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">35</span>One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: <span class="reftext">36</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1320.htm" title="1320: Didaskale (N-VMS) -- A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.">“Teacher,</a> <a href="/greek/4169.htm" title="4169: poia (IPro-NFS) -- Of what sort. From the base of pou and hoios; individualizing interrogative what sort of, or which one.">which</a> <a href="/greek/1785.htm" title="1785: entolē (N-NFS) -- An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.">commandment</a> <a href="/greek/3173.htm" title="3173: megalē (Adj-NFS) -- Large, great, in the widest sense. ">is the greatest</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3551.htm" title="3551: nomō (N-DMS) -- From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.">Law?”</a> </span> <span class="reftext">37</span>Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a></span><br />And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Leviticus 19:18</a></span><br />Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-28.htm">Mark 12:28-31</a></span><br />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.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-25.htm">Luke 10:25-28</a></span><br />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.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8-10</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-14.htm">Galatians 5:14</a></span><br />The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-8.htm">James 2:8</a></span><br />If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-8</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/4-20.htm">1 John 4:20-21</a></span><br />If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. / And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34-35</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12-13</a></span><br />This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. / Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-1.htm">1 Corinthians 13:1-3</a></span><br />If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. / If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. / If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-13.htm">1 Corinthians 13:13</a></span><br />And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Ephesians 5:2</a></span><br />and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-14.htm">Colossians 3:14</a></span><br />And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Master, which is the great commandment in the law?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/5-19.htm">Matthew 5:19,20</a></b></br> Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach <i>them</i>, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Matthew 15:6</a></b></br> And honour not his father or his mother, <i>he shall be free</i>. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23,24</a></b></br> Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier <i>matters</i> of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/21-45.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/matthew/20-21.htm">Command</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Commandment</a> <a href="/matthew/21-8.htm">Great</a> <a href="/matthew/18-4.htm">Greatest</a> <a href="/matthew/21-15.htm">Law</a> <a href="/matthew/22-24.htm">Master</a> <a href="/matthew/2-6.htm">Rule</a> <a href="/matthew/22-35.htm">Teacher</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/23-6.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/matthew/22-38.htm">Command</a> <a href="/matthew/22-38.htm">Commandment</a> <a href="/matthew/22-38.htm">Great</a> <a href="/matthew/22-38.htm">Greatest</a> <a href="/matthew/22-40.htm">Law</a> <a href="/matthew/23-8.htm">Master</a> <a href="/matthew/22-38.htm">Rule</a> <a href="/matthew/23-7.htm">Teacher</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 22</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-1.htm">The parable of the marriage of the king's son.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-9.htm">The vocation of the Gentiles.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-12.htm">The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-15.htm">Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-23.htm">Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-34.htm">answers which is the first and great commandment;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">41. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/22-41.htm">and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/22.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/22.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Teacher,</b><br>The term "Teacher" is a respectful address used for Jesus, acknowledging His authority and wisdom in spiritual matters. In the Jewish context, a teacher or "Rabbi" was a respected figure who interpreted the Law and guided others in understanding God's commandments. This title reflects the recognition of Jesus' role as a spiritual leader, even by those who questioned Him.<p><b>which commandment</b><br>The question about the "commandment" refers to the Jewish Law, which consists of 613 commandments found in the Torah. These commandments cover various aspects of religious, moral, and social life. The inquiry seeks to identify the most important or foundational commandment among them, highlighting the complexity and breadth of the Law.<p><b>is the greatest</b><br>The term "greatest" implies a hierarchy or prioritization within the commandments. This reflects a common rabbinical practice of debating which commandments were weightier or more significant. The question challenges Jesus to distill the essence of the Law into a single, overarching principle, which was a common exercise among Jewish teachers.<p><b>in the Law?</b><br>The "Law" refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, which were given to Moses and form the foundation of Jewish religious life. The Law was central to Jewish identity and practice, and understanding its core was crucial for faithful living. This question is set within the broader context of Jesus' ministry, where He often engaged with the Law, fulfilling and interpreting it in ways that revealed deeper spiritual truths. Connections to other scriptures include <a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a> and <a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Leviticus 19:18</a>, which Jesus cites in His response, summarizing the Law as love for God and neighbor.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is approached by a Pharisee who is testing Him with a question about the Law.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharisees.htm">Pharisees</a></b><br>A religious group in Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions. They often challenged Jesus to test His knowledge and authority.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_law.htm">The Law</a></b><br>Refers to the Mosaic Law, which includes the commandments given to Moses in the Old Testament. The Pharisees were particularly concerned with the interpretation and application of these laws.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_primacy_of_love.htm">The Primacy of Love</a></b><br>Jesus emphasizes that love is the foundation of all commandments. Loving God and others should be the primary focus of a believer's life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_law.htm">Understanding the Law</a></b><br>The Law is not just a set of rules but a guide to living a life that honors God. Jesus teaches that the heart of the Law is love.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/testing_and_temptation.htm">Testing and Temptation</a></b><br>Like Jesus, believers may face tests of their faith and understanding. It's important to respond with wisdom and truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/integration_of_faith_and_practice.htm">Integration of Faith and Practice</a></b><br>True faith is demonstrated through actions. Loving God and others should be evident in how we live our daily lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_scripture.htm">The Role of Scripture</a></b><br>Knowing and understanding Scripture is crucial for answering life's questions and challenges, just as Jesus used Scripture to respond to the Pharisees.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/22.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(36) <span class= "bld">Which is the great commandment . . .?</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">of what kind.</span> The questioner asked as if it belonged to a class. Our Lord's answer is definite, "<span class= "ital">This</span> is the first and great commandment."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/22.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 36.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Which is the great commandment in the Law?</span> <span class="greek">Ποία ἐντολὴ μεγάλη ἐν</span> <span class="greek">τῷ νόμῳ</span>; <span class="accented">What sort of commandment is great in the Law?</span> According to rabbinical teaching, there were more than six hundred precepts in the Law; of this considerable number all could not be observed. Which were of absolute obligation? which were not? The schools made a distinction between heavy and light commandments, as though some were of less importance than others, and might be neglected with impunity; and some of such exceeding dignity that fulfilment of them would condone imperfect obedience in the case of others. Some taught that if a man rightly selected some great precept to observe, he might safely disregard the rest of the Law (see <a href="/matthew/19-16.htm">Matthew 19:16</a>, etc.). This was the kind of doctrine against which St. James (<a href="/james/2-10.htm">James 2:10</a>) expostulates: "Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all." The Pharisees may have desired to discover whether Jesus knew and sanctioned these rabbinical distinctions. He had proved himself intimately acquainted with the inner meaning of Scripture, and able to evolve doctrines and to trace analogies which their dull minds had never comprehended; the question now was whether he entered into their subtle divisions and could decide this dispute for them. Such is the view usually taken of the scribe's question; but it may well be doubted, if regard is had to the character of the man, whether he had any intention of entangling Christ in these subtleties, but rather asked for a solution of the general problem - Of what nature was the precept which should be regarded as "first" (Mark) in the Law? We may compare the somewhat similar question and answer in <a href="/luke/10-25.htm">Luke 10:25-28</a>. Lange's idea, that the scribe wished to force Christ to make some answer which, by implying his own claim to be Son of God, would trench upon the doctrine of monotheism, seems wholly unwarranted. This theory is based on the supposition that the Pharisee took it for granted that Jesus would answer, "Thou shalt love God above all," and intended to found upon that reply a condemnation for having made himself equal with God by his assertion of Sonship. But the text gives no countenance to such intention, and it has been suggested chiefly for the purpose of accounting for Christ's subsequent question (vers. 41-45), which, however, needs no such foundation, as we shall see. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/22-36.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">“Teacher,</span><br /><span class="grk">Διδάσκαλε</span> <span class="translit">(Didaskale)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1320.htm">Strong's 1320: </a> </span><span class="str2">A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which</span><br /><span class="grk">ποία</span> <span class="translit">(poia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4169.htm">Strong's 4169: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of what sort. From the base of pou and hoios; individualizing interrogative what sort of, or which one.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">commandment</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐντολὴ</span> <span class="translit">(entolē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1785.htm">Strong's 1785: </a> </span><span class="str2">An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is the] greatest</span><br /><span class="grk">μεγάλη</span> <span class="translit">(megalē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3173.htm">Strong's 3173: </a> </span><span class="str2">Large, great, in the widest sense. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐν</span> <span class="translit">(en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> </span><span class="str2">In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τῷ</span> <span class="translit">(tō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Dative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Law?”</span><br /><span class="grk">νόμῳ</span> <span class="translit">(nomō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3551.htm">Strong's 3551: </a> </span><span class="str2">From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/22-36.htm">Matthew 22:36 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/22-36.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 22:36 Teacher which is the greatest commandment (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/22-35.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 22:35"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 22:35" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/22-37.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 22:37"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 22:37" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>