Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 22:36

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

KJV

διδάσκαλε, ποία ἐντολὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόμῳ;

Greek NT

Magister, quod est mandatum magnum in lege ?

Vulgate

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?

ASV

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

7 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

διδάσκαλος
didaskalos
noun · 60×
μέγας
megas
adjective · 244×
νόμος
nomos
noun · 196×
ποῖος
poios
interrogative_pronoun · 33×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ἐντολή
entole
noun · 66×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×

Historic Christian voices

4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§581The Jewish people and their spiritual leaders viewed Jesus as a rabbi.340 He often argued within the framework of rabbinical interpretation of the Law.341 Yet Jesus could not help but offend the teachers of the Law, for he was not content to propose his interpretation alongside theirs but taught the people "as one who had authority, and not as their scribes".342 In Jesus, the s…
§2055When someone asks him, "Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?"8 Jesus replies: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. and a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."9 The Decalogue mu…
§2196In response to the question about the first of the commandments, Jesus says: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' the second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater…

Cross-references

  • Luke 11:42 — But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
  • Mark 12:28 — And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
  • Matt 5:19 — Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
  • Matt 23:23 — Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have do
  • Rom 5:5 — And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.