22:34 The Pharisees learned that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees. In other words, they learned that the Sadducees would no longer oppose Him publicly. Consequently the Pharisees decided to renew their attack against Him.
22:35-36 The NASB describes the Pharisees' spokesman as a lawyer. The Greek word nomikosmeans "expert in the law"(NIV). He would have been a teacher of the Old Testament who was particularly learned in both theology and law. He subjected Jesus to a test (Gr. peirazon) to prove His quality.
He, too, addressed Jesus with hypocritical respect as "teacher,"though as the discussions with Jesus progressed this day His opponents' respect for Him undoubtedly increased. The Pharisee asked Jesus another controversial question to which various Scripture experts gave various answers.
"The scene is like an ordination council where the candidate is doing so well that some of the most learned ministers ask him questions they themselves have been unable to answer--in the hope of tripping him up or of finding answers."822
22:37-39 To answer, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and then Leviticus 19:18. The terms "heart,""soul,"and "mind"are not completely distinct, watertight categories. They overlap somewhat and together cover the whole person. Taken together the meaning is that we should love God preeminently and unreservedly.
"Jesus loves God with his whole heart, for he is blameless in his fealty to God (4:1-11). Jesus loves God with his whole soul, for he is prepared to surrender his life should God so will (26:36-46). And Jesus loves God with his whole mind, for he lays claim for himself neither to the prerogatives of worldly power [cf. 20:25, 28; 21:5] nor to the security of family, home, and possessions (8:20; 12:50)."823
The "and"in verse 38 is explicative. The one command is great because it is primary.
The second greatest command is similar to the first in character and quality (v. 39). It also deals with love. We should love our fellowman unselfishly (cf. 1 John 3:17-18).
22:40 The rest of the Old Testament hangs from or flows out of these two commandments. All the other laws deal with specific applications of one or the other of these commands. The prophets consistently stressed the importance of heart reality with God and genuine love for one's neighbor. Without these two commandments the Old Testament lacks unifying summaries. These are the most important commandments, but they are not the only ones.
"Mark includes the clause . . . is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices' (Mark 12:33). Matthew omits this since it might offend his [unsaved] Jewish reader, and the point is well made without it."824
This declaration prepared for Jesus' denunciation of the religious leaders in 23:1-36.
