The Primary Commands

34 When(A) the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him:(B) 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”

37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.[a](C) 38 This is the greatest and most important[b] command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.[c](D) 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend[d] on these two commands.”(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 22:37 Dt 6:5
  2. 22:38 Lit and first
  3. 22:39 Lv 19:18
  4. 22:40 Or hang

The Primary Commands

28 One(A) of the scribes(B) approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important[a] is Listen, Israel! The Lord(C) our God, the Lord(D) is one.[b] 30 Love(E) the Lord your God(F) with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,(G) and with all your strength.[c][d](H) 31 The second is, Love your neighbor(I) as yourself.[e](J) There is no other command(K) greater than these.”

32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one(L) else except him.(M) 33 And to love(N) him with all your heart, with all your understanding,[f] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(O)

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”(P) And no one dared(Q) to question him any longer.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:29 Other mss add of all the commands
  2. 12:29 Or the Lord our God is Lord alone.
  3. 12:30 Other mss add This is the first commandment.
  4. 12:30 Dt 6:4–5; Jos 22:5
  5. 12:31 Lv 19:18
  6. 12:33 Other mss add with all your soul

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