Read & explore together
The Greatest Commandment
Jesus is asked which commandment is greatest. In both Matthew and Mark, his answer joins wholehearted love for God with love for neighbour, showing the central direction of faithful living.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
Matthew says the Pharisees gathered after Jesus had silled the Sadducees, and one lawyer tested him with a question. Mark says a scribe heard the discussion, recognised that Jesus had answered well, and then asked which commandment is greatest. Both accounts focus on this one teaching exchange.
Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34Main takeaway
Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are to love God completely and to love your neighbour as yourself.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A question about the greatest commandmentIn Matthew, the question comes from a lawyer who is testing Jesus. In Mark, a scribe asks after hearing Jesus answer well.
Explanation
In Matthew, the question comes from a lawyer who is testing Jesus. In Mark, a scribe asks after hearing Jesus answer well. Both accounts ask the same big question: which commandment is greatest? The scene highlights Jesus’ authority to answer a key question about God’s commands.
02Love God with your whole selfJesus begins with God himself. Matthew records love for God with all the heart, soul, and mind.
Explanation
Jesus begins with God himself. Matthew records love for God with all the heart, soul, and mind. Mark adds the opening words, “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one”, and includes strength as well. Jesus calls this the first and great commandment.
03Love your neighbour as yourselfJesus immediately adds a second commandment: love your neighbour as yourself. He does not treat this as separate from loving God.
Explanation
Jesus immediately adds a second commandment: love your neighbour as yourself. He does not treat this as separate from loving God. In Matthew, the whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. In Mark, Jesus says no other commandment is greater than these.
04A wise response in MarkOnly Mark records the scribe’s reply. He agrees that God is one and that loving God fully and loving a neighbour is more important than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Explanation
Only Mark records the scribe’s reply. He agrees that God is one and that loving God fully and loving a neighbour is more important than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus says this answer is wise and tells him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” After this, no one dared ask more questions.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew 22:34–40 | A question about the greatest commandment Love God with your whole self Love your neighbour as yourself |
| Mark | Mark 12:28–34 | A question about the greatest commandment Love God with your whole self Love your neighbour as yourself A wise response in Mark |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words show how fully God is to be loved?
List the parts named by Jesus in Matthew and Mark: heart, soul, mind, and in Mark also strength.
02How does Jesus connect love for neighbour with the greatest commandment?
Notice that he gives a second commandment alongside the first and says there is no greater commandment than these.
03What does the scribe understand in Mark that Jesus calls wise?
Look at his agreement that God is one and that love for God and neighbour is more important than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 22:34–40
34But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together.
35One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him.
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”
37Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38This is the first and great commandment.
39A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Mark 12:28–34
28One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”
29Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30You 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 first commandment.
31The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;
33and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.