A Pharisee asked Jesus to tell Him which commandment in the law of Moses He considered the greatest of all (Matthew 22:36). This was a trick question. No matter which way Jesus answered. He was sure to leave out some commandments that. He was sure to leave out some commandments that His enemies considered essential.

Jesus didn’t restrict His answer to one commandment. He cited two verses from the Old Testament law. declaring that it was important to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5) but that it was just as important to love other people (Leviticus 19:18). These two principles were the font from which all religion and morality flowed.

Which this answer Jesus actually charged the Pharisees with blind legalism. Many of the minute commandments that they considered important were empty and meaning-less because they were not grounded in love for God and love for others.

MATTHEW 22:40 – On these two commandments [love for God and love for others] hang all the law and the prophets.