Matthew 22:34-40

The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28 *, Luke 10:25). Mt. puts the questioner, whom he calls a Pharisee, in much less favourable light than Mk. He tempts Jesus to what is not clear (Lk.'s ekpeirazô n, testing, is better) and he omits the pleasing outcome of Jesus-' answer recorded in Mark 12:32 f. Mt. is leading up to the attack on the Pharisees in ch. 23. The lawyer's question is really, What kind of commandment is great in the law? He is seeking a principle of distinction, and Jesus gives him two by which to test particular precepts. In Matthew 22:37 Mt., like the original precept (Deuteronomy 6:5), enumerates three powers with which God is to be loved (Mk. and Lk. have four), but not the right threeheart and mind represent the same Heb. term, and so strength is omitted.