Matthew 22:39

And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

And {G1161} the second {G1208} is like {G3664} unto it {G846}{G3778}, Thou shalt love {G25} thy {G4675} neighbour {G4139} as {G5613} thyself {G4572}.

And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.'

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Commentary

Context of Matthew 22:39

Matthew 22:39 presents the second part of Jesus' profound answer to a lawyer's question about the greatest commandment in the Law (Matthew 22:36). Immediately following His declaration that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38), Jesus adds this second commandment. This exchange takes place in the temple courts in Jerusalem, during a period of intense questioning and challenge from religious leaders. Jesus' response masterfully distills the entire Mosaic Law and the Prophets into these two foundational principles, demonstrating His wisdom and authority.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Love for Neighbor as a Core Command: This verse elevates love for one's neighbor to a status "like unto" the love for God, indicating its paramount importance. It suggests that genuine love for God cannot exist without corresponding love for fellow human beings.
  • The Standard of Self-Love: The phrase "as thyself" provides a practical measure for how we should treat others. It's not a command to love oneself selfishly, but rather to use the natural care, concern, and desire for well-being that we typically have for ourselves as the benchmark for how we should extend love, compassion, and justice to others.
  • Fulfillment of the Law: As Jesus would summarize shortly after (Matthew 22:40), these two commandments—love for God and love for neighbor—are the foundation upon which "all the law and the prophets" hang. This teaching reveals that the myriad of Old Testament laws are ultimately expressions of these two core principles. Paul later echoes this principle, stating that love is the fulfillment of the law.

Linguistic Insights

The command "Thou shalt love" comes from the Greek verb agapeseis, derived from agape. This is not merely an emotional or affectionate love, but a volitional, sacrificial, and unconditional love that seeks the highest good of the other. It's a love expressed through action and commitment, reflecting God's own character. The term "neighbour" is from the Greek plesion, which broadly means "anyone near." Jesus famously expanded the definition of "neighbor" beyond one's immediate community or ethnicity in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), encompassing anyone in need whom we encounter.

Related Scriptures

  • The original source of this commandment is found in the Old Testament: Leviticus 19:18.
  • Jesus reiterates this truth and even expands upon it, giving a "new commandment": John 13:34.
  • Other New Testament passages that emphasize love for neighbor include Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, and 1 John 4:21.

Practical Application

Matthew 22:39 calls believers to active, compassionate engagement with the world around them. Loving one's neighbor "as thyself" means extending empathy, seeking justice, offering help, forgiving wrongs, and showing kindness to all people, regardless of their background, beliefs, or status. It challenges us to move beyond mere tolerance to genuine concern and action for the well-being of others. This principle forms the ethical backbone for Christian service, community building, and social responsibility, urging us to treat others with the same dignity and care we desire for ourselves.

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Cross-References

  • Mark 12:31 (54 votes)

    And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

  • Luke 10:27 (49 votes)

    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 neighbour as thyself.

  • Luke 10:37 (49 votes)

    And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

  • Romans 13:9 (41 votes)

    For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Romans 13:10 (41 votes)

    Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

  • Leviticus 19:18 (41 votes)

    Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.

  • Galatians 5:14 (23 votes)

    For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.