Meaning, commentary and cross references
Matthew 22:39
“And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
NIV · New International Version
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
WEB · World English Bible
A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
What does Matthew 22:39 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Matthew 22:39
And the second is like unto it,.... For there is but a second, not a third: this is suggested in opposition to the numerous commandments in the law, according to the opinion of the Jews, who reckon them in all to be "six hundred and thirteen": of which there are "three hundred and sixty five" negative ones, according to the number of the days of the year; and "two hundred and forty eight" affirmative ones, according to the members of a man's body (z). Christ reduces all to two, love to God, and love to the neighbour; and the latter is the second in order of nature, time, dignity, and causality; the object of it being a creature; and the act itself being the effect of the former, yet like…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Matthew 22:34–40
39. And the second is like it. He assigns the second place to mutual kindness among men, for the worship of God is first in order. The commandment to love our neighbors, he tells us, is like the first, because it depends upon it.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Matthew 22:36–42 (WEB)
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” 41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.”
Cross references
- Mark 12:31
The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
- Luke 10:27–37
He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
- Leviticus 19:18
“‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- Romans 13:9–10
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Galatians 5:14
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Matthew 19:19
‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Romans 15:2
Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
- James 2:8
However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
Key words
In the Baptist Catechism
- Q48. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?
The sum of the Ten Commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.