Matthew 22:34–46

The Great Commandment

³⁴When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, ^35*and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. ^36*“Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

^37*Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ^38*This is the greatest and the most important commandment. ^39*The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ ^40*The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

The Question about the Messiah

⁴¹When some Pharisees gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴²“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose descendant is he?”

“He is David’s descendant,” they answered.

⁴³“Why, then,” Jesus asked, “did the Spirit inspire David to call him ‘Lord’? David said,

^44*‘The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit here on my right

until I put your enemies under your feet.’

⁴⁵If, then, David called him ‘Lord’, how can the Messiah be David’s descendant?”

⁴⁶No one was able to give Jesus any answer, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.