Matthew 22:34-40 Bible Study
From the Amen Podcast with Alex and Lokalani
Scripture Reading
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
— Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV)
Context
In this passage, Jesus faces the third and final question from religious leaders trying to trap him during Holy Week. The Pharisees had already tried to entrap him with a question about taxes. The Sadducees had attempted to trick him with a theological puzzle about resurrection. Now, a lawyer from the Pharisees tests Jesus about which of the 613 commandments in the law is greatest.
Christ's answer is brilliant and silences his critics. He doesn't simply pick one law over the others—he summarizes the entire law by combining two passages:
* Deuteronomy 6:5 — "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
* Leviticus 19:18 — "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
Key Points
1. The Command Is Also an Invitation
When Jesus answers with "love God and love your neighbor," he's not just giving a command; he's offering an invitation to freedom. God's commandments were never meant to be oppressive rules but a pathway to life, joy, and communion with Him and others.
2. Love God, Love People
This "greatest commandment" is comprehensive and binary:
* Vertical relationship: Love God with your whole being
* Horizontal relationship: Love your neighbors as yourself
Every other commandment flows from these two principles. If we love God truly, we will keep His commandments. If we love our neighbors, we will not harm them but seek their good.
3. The Example of Onan: Breaking the Greatest Commandment
In Genesis 38:8-10, we see Onan refusing to fulfill his duty to his deceased brother's wife, Tamar. By selfishly seeking his own gratification without responsibility, Onan:
* Failed to love God by disrespecting His plan for the family lineage
* Failed to love his neighbor (Tamar) by denying her security and protection
This story illustrates how we become selfish when we break the greatest commandment. We choose gratification over responsibility, personal desires over the needs of others.
4. Christ Perfectly Fulfilled the Commandment
Jesus is the only one who perfectly loved God and others:
* He loved God so much that he was obedient to death on a cross
* He loved his neighbors (us) so much that he laid down his life for us while we were still sinners
Jesus didn't just teach the greatest commandment—he demonstrated it through his sacrifice.
Application Questions
* How can you love God more fully this week? Consider practical ways to express your love through obedience, worship, and time with Him.
* Who is your "neighbor" that needs your love right now? Think about family members, coworkers, church members, and actual neighbors who might need encouragement, forgiveness, or practical help.
* In what areas of your life are you being selfish like Onan? Where are you choosing gratification over responsibility?
* How has your perspective on God's commands changed? Do you see them as restrictive rules or as invitations to freedom and love?
* What gifts has God given you that you can use to love others in your church community?
Closing Thoughts
When we shift our mindset from "I have to love God and others" to "I get to love God and others," everything changes. This isn't just a duty—it's a privilege and the pathway to true joy.
The more we walk in obedience, the more natural loving God and loving others becomes. As we grow in Christ, we find that loving others flows more easily from us because God's own love fills our hearts.
Remember: To love God is to obey Him. To love others is to serve them. And in doing both, we experience the life Jesus intended for us.
"How can you love God and love others?" Share your answers in the comments below!
Prayer
Father, thank you for your leadership and for teaching us in ways we never expected. Help us to remember that loving you and loving others is not merely a command but an invitation to experience life as you designed it. Guide us to love you through our obedience and to love others through service and sacrifice. In Jesus' name, amen