Matthew 22:40

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

On {G1722} these {G5025} two {G1417} commandments {G1785} hang {G2910} all {G3650} the law {G3551} and {G2532} the prophets {G4396}.

All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot."

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.

Matthew 22:40 presents Jesus' profound summary of God's entire moral and ethical revelation to humanity. Following His declaration of the two greatest commandments—love for God and love for neighbor—He states that "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." This verse underscores the foundational nature of love as the essence and fulfillment of all divine instruction.

Context

This verse concludes Jesus' interaction with a lawyer, a Pharisee, who sought to test Him by asking, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36). This question was common among Jewish scholars, who debated the hierarchy of the 613 commandments found in the Torah. Instead of choosing one, Jesus skillfully combined two distinct commandments, showing their inseparable connection and overarching importance. He first quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, emphasizing love for God with one's entire being, and then Leviticus 19:18, highlighting love for one's neighbor. Matthew 22:40 then serves as the conclusive statement, asserting that all of God's revealed will, encompassing the entire Old Testament (referred to as "the law and the prophets"), finds its ultimate purpose and summary in these two principles of love.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Supremacy of Love: Jesus establishes love—both vertical (towards God) and horizontal (towards humanity)—as the ultimate principle governing all of God's commands. It's not merely one command among many, but the very essence from which all others derive their meaning and power.
  • Unity and Simplicity of God's Will: Despite the vastness and complexity of the Old Testament Law, Jesus distills it into two core, understandable principles. This demonstrates that God's will is not fragmented but unified, centered on the relational aspects of love.
  • Fulfillment of Scripture: The phrase "hang all the law and the prophets" implies that these two commandments are the foundation, the support, and the interpretive key for understanding all of God's revelation. Without love, the detailed regulations and prophetic messages lose their true spirit and purpose. This concept is reinforced by Paul in Romans 13:10, where he states, "love is the fulfilling of the law."

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "hang" is krematai (κρέμαται), which literally means "is suspended" or "depends." This vivid imagery suggests that the entire structure of God's Law and the prophetic messages are dependent upon, or suspended from, these two central pillars of love. Just as a heavy object hangs from a strong support, or a door hangs on its hinges, so too the entirety of divine instruction finds its support and operation in these two commands. The phrase "the law and the prophets" was a common Jewish idiom referring to the entire body of the Old Testament Scriptures.

Practical Application

Matthew 22:40 offers profound guidance for daily life and Christian ethics:

  • A Moral Compass: When faced with ethical dilemmas or seeking to understand God's will, believers can ask: "Does this action or attitude demonstrate love for God? Does it demonstrate genuine love for my neighbor?" These two questions serve as a powerful filter for decision-making.
  • Beyond Legalism: This verse moves beyond mere adherence to rules for rules' sake. It calls believers to embrace the spirit of the law—love—rather than just its letter. True obedience flows from a heart of love.
  • Relationship-Centered Faith: It reminds us that our faith is fundamentally about relationships: with God and with others. All doctrines, rituals, and practices should ultimately serve to deepen these two loves. As Jesus stated in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 13:9

    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.

  • Matthew 7:12

    Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

  • 1 John 4:19

    We love him, because he first loved us.

  • 1 John 4:21

    And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

  • 1 John 4:7

    ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

  • 1 John 4:11

    Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

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