Matthew 22:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They understood that the foremost commandment was, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God;’ yet they anticipated that the Savior would amend it by proclaiming Himself as God, thereby providing them a reason to condemn Him, which prompted them to pose that particular question.

A certain teacher of the law poses a question, not from a genuine thirst for knowledge, but rather to challenge whether the one being questioned understands what is required of Him. Specifically, he inquires about the greatest commandment, not concerning commandments in general, but focusing on what is the foremost and most significant commandment. His intent is to create an opportunity for slander, since all that God commands holds great importance; thus, regardless of the response given, he would identify something else as great among the many commandments. Consequently, the individual who poses the question without true intent to learn, but instead seeks to determine if the responder possesses understanding, mirrors the approach of the Pharisees. He does not come forth as a seeker of wisdom, but rather as a tester of faith.

Given that the foremost commandment is to love the Lord your God, they anticipated that Christ would make an addition about Himself, perhaps declaring Himself as God, which could serve as grounds for accusing Him of blasphemy and providing them with a fresh reason for condemnation.

This was prompted by the assertion that certain Jews viewed the command to educate as paramount, while others prioritized the Sabbath, and some held different commandments in high regard. The lawgiver sought to challenge Jesus Christ, aiming to discern whether He adhered to these divine commandments or if He proclaimed others from Himself. Should He designate the commandment "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" as the foremost, would He not also need to include the directive to "love me"? However, the astute and insightful Jesus provided an answer so profound that it compelled the questioner to commend His response, acknowledging, "Well said, Teacher, indeed you have spoken" (Mark 12:32).

TEACHER. What is the most important commandment in the Law, the foremost commandment? The Pharisees categorized the commandments into those that were greater and lesser; by greater commandments, they referred to all the ceremonial laws established by Moses, while the lesser ones pertained to guidelines for righteous living. However, they were divided on which commandment held the highest importance: some favored the Sabbath command, others prioritized the law of circumcision, and still others focused on the command regarding purification. This question was significant to them, as they sought to determine which commandment could be overlooked when fulfilling both was impossible. They failed to grasp that the true essence of the Law lies in obedience to God.

As the Lord resisted these temptations, some well-intentioned individuals aligned themselves with Him. One of them, although not acknowledging Him as the Messiah but recognizing Him as a proclaimer of truth, posed a question, not merely to seek His insights but to express his agreement regarding a matter of significant moral value. “Teacher,” he inquired, “what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied, “It centers around two primary commandments: love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. The first is the foremost commandment, and the second is akin to it.” The scribe affirmed this, emphasizing that love surpasses all sacrifices. It was clear that this scribe grasped the essence of true piety.

The distinction between the accounts of Matthew and Mark lies in the portrayal of the lawyer who questioned Christ. In Matthew's Gospel, this lawyer serves as a tool of the Pharisees, attempting to ensnare Jesus with his inquiry. Conversely, in Mark, the lawyer approaches Christ after recognizing His adept response to the Sadducees regarding the resurrection, and upon replying to Jesus, he receives acknowledgment from Him about being close to the kingdom of God. Clearly, the emphasis differs between the Evangelists; Matthew highlights the implications of the lawyer's question for the Pharisaic faction, along with the mindset and intentions of its members, while Mark focuses on the personal attributes of the questioner and the impact that Christ's reply had on him.

In response to the lawyer’s inquiry regarding the greatest commandment, the Pharisees reconvened in the temple, aiming to present what they deemed the most challenging question about the commandments of the law. They had categorized the commandments into major and minor ones, viewing the ceremonial laws as significant, while relegating the others to a lesser status. However, a consensus eluded them concerning which of the major commandments held the highest importance: some argued that the Sabbath commandment was the foremost, while others maintained that the law of circumcision held that place. Thus, they selected their most astute lawyer to approach Jesus with the question: Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the law?

The Pharisees, pleased by the downfall of their rivals, sought to challenge Him once more with an inquiry. One of them, an expert in the law, addressed Him, “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the law?” This question implied a degree of acknowledgment of His teaching authority, indicating that the lawyer was genuinely seeking guidance on the matter that troubled him. Lawyers frequently engaged in debates regarding which commandment held the highest significance, reflecting the essence of righteousness. Traditionally, this query became mired in an endless web of futile distinctions, such as categorizing commandments into categories of weighty and light, primary and secondary, deductive and supplementary, and similar classifications.

What is the foremost commandment in the law? The Jewish scholars made distinctions between commandments of varying significance (see note on Matthew 5:19), yet a consensus on which was the supreme commandment was elusive, leading to numerous discussions within their academies. Some held the commandment concerning sacrifices as the highest, while others prioritized the commandments of circumcision, purification, and more. It is possible that the Pharisees recognized that the essential commandment is: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; however, they anticipated that the Savior would amend it by proclaiming Himself as God, thus providing them with grounds for accusation, which prompted them to pose this inquiry.

Upon hearing that the Lord had effectively silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees gathered together, seizing the moment to recover from the embarrassment they had faced among the populace, while also demonstrating their superiority over their despised rivals. To achieve this, they appointed one of their own, a seasoned expert in the law, to approach Jesus Christ once more with the intent of ensnaring Him in what they deemed a perplexing inquiry. This scribe, who seemed not to fully align with the malicious designs of his colleagues, became even more eager to fulfill their request, having been impressed by the Lord's response to the Sadducees.