Matthew 22:39 - Exposition

The second. The scribe had not asked any question about a second commandment: but Christ is not satisfied with propounding an abstract proposition; he shows how this great precept is to be made practical, how one command involves and leads to the other. Like unto it ; ὁμοι ì α αὐτῇ : in nature and extent, of universal obligation, pure and unselfish. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. From Le Matthew 19:18 . The verb, both here and verse 37, is ἀγαπη ì σεις , which implies, not mere animal or worldly affection ( φιλε ì ω ), but love from the highest moral considerations, without self-interest, holy. The Latins indicated this difference by amo and diligo. Our "neighbour" is every one with whom we are concerned, i.e. virtually all men. He is to be loved because he is God's image and likeness, heir of the same hope as we ourselves, and presented to us as the object on and by which we are to show the reality of our love to God. "This commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also" ( 1 John 4:21 ). And for the measure of our love to man, we have Christ's word in another place ( Matthew 7:12 ), "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."