Our Lord seemed to say: "Here is all Scripture in a nutshell; the whole range of human duty in a portable pocket form." We are reminded of Ecclesiastes 12:13. But what a magnificent definition is here given of pure and undefiled religion! The whole Law is gathered up in that one word love! See Romans 13:8-10.
In Mark 12:33 the word strength is added. There are four channels of love. The heart stands for our emotions; the soul for our will and general individuality; the mind for our intellect; and strength for the activities and energies of our service. Often we cannot feel love, but we can always use our strength for God and show our love by doing things which we would never do except for His sake.
The question which the Master propounded to the scribes can be solved only by the admission of His two natures-divine and human-as existing in His one person. As David's Lord He is divine; as his son, He was born of the Virgin. See Matthew 1:1. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 22
1The parable of the marriage of the king's son 9The vocation of the Gentiles 12The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment 15Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar 23Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection; 34answers which is the first and great commandment; 41and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah
Greek Commentary for Matthew 22:38
The great and first [] With the definite article. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 22:38
John 15:14I command [ἐντέλλομαι] Of several words for command in the New Testament, this one is always used of giving a specific injunction or precept. The kindred noun, ἐντολή , means an order, a charge, a precept and hence is used of a separate precept of the law as distinguished from the law as a whole ( νόμος ). See Matthew 22:36,Matthew 22:38. It is, however, sometimes used of the whole body of the moral precepts of Christianity. See on John 13:34. The sense of specific commands here falls in with the reading of the Rec. Text, ὅσα , whatsoever, literally, as many things as. [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 22:38 mean?
Greek Commentary for Matthew 22:38
With the definite article. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 22:38
Of several words for command in the New Testament, this one is always used of giving a specific injunction or precept. The kindred noun, ἐντολή , means an order, a charge, a precept and hence is used of a separate precept of the law as distinguished from the law as a whole ( νόμος ). See Matthew 22:36, Matthew 22:38. It is, however, sometimes used of the whole body of the moral precepts of Christianity. See on John 13:34. The sense of specific commands here falls in with the reading of the Rec. Text, ὅσα , whatsoever, literally, as many things as. [source]