Devine Scripture

Matthew 22:37

What does Matthew 22:37 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 22:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 22:37 means

Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' This declaration affirms the absolute primacy of loving God as the foundational and most comprehensive commandment. 'Heart,' 'soul,' and 'mind' encompass the totality of human being and devotion, emphasizing that our entire existence should be dedicated to God. This response cuts through legalistic debate to the core spiritual truth, revealing God's ultimate expectation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to him, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jesus said to him, `Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thine understanding--

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to him, Thou shalt love [the] Lord thyGod with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy understanding.

Context

This verse contains Jesus' foundational answer to the lawyer's question, identifying the greatest commandment. His direct quotation from Deuteronomy 6:5 immediately establishes the supreme importance of loving God entirely. This provides the primary half of Jesus' comprehensive summary of the Law, which will be completed by the second commandment in the following verse, showing the dual nature of true righteousness.

v.36Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?

v.37This passage

v.38This is the great and first commandment.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 8:7

    because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:

  • Mark 12:29

    Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:

  • Hebrews 10:16

    This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he,

  • Mark 12:33

    and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

  • Deuteronomy 30:6

    And Jehovah thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

  • Luke 10:27

    And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

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