Matthew 22:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The foremost commandment emphasizes profound love, as it serves as the origin from which all other virtues arise. When I dedicate my entire heart, soul, and mind to God, then every desire within me becomes virtuous, every thought attains purity, and every conclusion reflects holiness.

The foremost and most significant commandment stands as the foundation of all other commandments. This commandment is not the first merely by chronological order, as all of God's commandments were revealed simultaneously; rather, it holds a primary place because it undergirds the rest. Without this command, no good action can be acceptable to God. Humanity was designed to love God above all else, thus it is essential to love Him with the highest, selfless devotion. When one's entire heart, soul, and mind are dedicated to God, every aspiration will be virtuous, every thought will be pure, and every reasoning will be sanctified. Love for God should dominate all that resides within the human soul, engaging the individual continually.

As the Lord resisted these temptations, some well-meaning individuals aligned themselves with Him. Among them was one man who, although he did not acknowledge Him as the Messiah, recognized Him as a proclaimer of the truth. This man posed a question, not merely to seek understanding but to affirm his agreement on a matter of significant moral importance. “Teacher,” he inquired, “which commandment is the greatest?” Jesus replied, “It is centered on two fundamental commandments: love 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 and further stated that love surpasses any form of sacrifice. It was clear that this scribe had grasped the essence of true piety.

The distinction between Matthew's and Mark's accounts lies in the portrayal of the lawyer who questioned Christ. In Matthew's narrative, the lawyer serves as an instrument of the Pharisees, attempting to entrap the Lord in His words. Conversely, Mark depicts the lawyer approaching Christ after witnessing how adeptly He addressed the Sadducees' inquiry regarding the resurrection. Following his exchange with Christ, he receives acknowledgment of being close to the kingdom of God.

This contrast suggests that Matthew emphasizes the significance of the lawyer's question for the Pharisaic group, highlighting their mindset and intentions during this encounter. In contrast, Mark focuses on the personal attributes of the questioner and the profound impact of Christ's response on him.

Jesus responded with the teachings found in the Mosaic writings. Anyone who truly loves God with the entirety of their being will endeavor consistently in every aspect of life to align with His will, fulfilling all His commandments. For whom you cherish, you also aim to satisfy, making it evident that the primary responsibility of humanity is to love God.

Observing the lawyer's genuine intent, Christ provided him with profound guidance, stating that the foremost commandment is to love God, and the second, which is akin to it, is ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ These two commandments serve as the foundation for all the Law and the Prophets. The lawyer concurred with this interpretation, to which the Savior commented, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ He was merely lacking faith in Christ as the promised Messiah.

"This is the first and greatest commandment": it is foremost not in the sequence of its revelation, but in its significance and value among the commandments. It serves as the cornerstone for all others, and fulfilling this commandment is the wellspring of every other virtue. Every being is to be loved in accordance with its worth; God, being the supreme being, deserves to be loved with the utmost devotion.

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus Christ responded, "The foremost commandment is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the primary and most important commandment." This call to love the one true God was imparted to the Israelites as early as the time of Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). However, over time, it became obscured by the minor regulations of the Pharisees. The Lord revitalizes this commandment in its entirety and depth, emphasizing the oneness of God to counter the accusations against the Jews, as if proclaiming His identity as the Son of God promoted intolerance.