Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:34-40     The Greatest, but Twofold, Commandment

Pharisees would have been pleased that Jesus had answered the Sadducees the way he did.  As a group, they had no time for Sadducees or for their narrowness.  They would have been disappointed, however, that the Sadducees’ malice had backfired and provided the opportunity for Jesus to grow in the estimation of the crowds, rather than to lose face.

Matthew followed, but abbreviated, Mark’s account, reducing it to its essentials.  His general concern was mainly with Pharisees, so he emphasised their further testing of Jesus by one of their legal experts.

Jesus’ answer was not unusual, even though he went further than Mark in insisting that the second commandment be seen on a level with the first, indeed as its practical counterpart – like it.  Faithful Jews reminded themselves twice each day of their need to love God with all their heart, soul and mind [Deuteronomy 6:5]; while the command to love your neighbour as yourself was clearly enunciated in Leviticus 19:18.

Interestingly, since he was discussing with Pharisees, Jesus saw the two commandments summing up the whole law and the prophets – but he pointedly did not mention the oral traditions so valued by Pharisees.  Indeed, he would soon show how the oral tradition could be in real tension with the commandment to love [Chapter 23]. 

Prioritising Commandments

It is hard for Christian readers to hear the question raised by that Pharisee without, at the same time, being aware of the answer given by Jesus.

The question about the greatest commandment is, however, often enough debated in Christian circles where disciples, in practice if not in theory, argue whether the social gospel is superior to worship regulations, whether matters of sexual morality take precedence over other areas of morality, etc.

Jesus connected practical love for neighbour with love for God.  The one interprets the other.

Genuine love is better imaged, not so much as two people gazing at each other, absorbed in delight, but rather standing together shoulder to shoulder, gazing in the same direction.  The deepest love of God is reached as people come to share the mind and heart of God, loving themselves and the world with the love of God; or, as Jesus insisted, “loving your neighbour as yourself”, sharing in, and motivated by, God’s love.

Yet, many Christians accept the priority of love notionally, but sometimes fail to recognise that love involves concern for justice, truth, freedom, peace, etc..  Others push for social reform, but fail to anchor it firmly in the sense of human dignity derived from the fact of God’s love for all.

Hebrew prophets were insistent that concern for the poor, the oppressed and the imprisoned was central to Israel’s covenant with God.  In the course of his narrative, Matthew had made reference to Jesus’ activity on behalf of the sick, the marginalised and the poor, as fulfilling and continuing the approach adopted by the prophets:

Jesus’ exorcisms and healing of the sick [8:16-17] echoed Isaiah 53:4:

Matthew justified Jesus’ action in reaching out to the despised by quoting Hosea 6:6: 

To disciples of John the Baptist, Jesus authenticated his ministry by claiming:

Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s vision of the Suffering Servant who would

Next >> Matthew 22:41-46