The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 71 (on Matthew 22:34–40). Trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LXVIII.html

On what moved the lawyer to ask, and on the first and great commandment:

Indicating from what they were led to this; from having no charity, from pining with envy, from being seized by jealousy, He saith, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. This is the first and great commandment.

On how the two Gospels agree, and why the Lord called the scribe not far from the kingdom:

They are not contradicting each other, but indeed fully agreeing. For he asked indeed, tempting, at the beginning, but being benefitted by the answer, was commended. For not at the beginning did He commend him, but when he had said, "That to love his neighbor is more than whole burnt sacrifices," then He saith, "Thou art not far from the kingdom;" because he overlooked low things, and embraced the first principle of virtue.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 12:28–34). As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xii.html

On "with all thy soul" and the powers of the soul given to divine love:

See how He has enumerated all the powers of the soul; for there is a living power in the soul, which He explains, when He says, "With all thy soul," and to this belong anger and desire, all of which He will have us give to Divine love.

On why the second commandment is called like the first:

He says that it is like, because these two commandments are harmonious one with the other, and mutually contain the other. For he who loves God, loves also His creature; but the chief of His creatures is man, wherefore he who loves God ought to love all men.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 22:37–40). As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxii.html

On "the first and great commandment" — first not in order but in supremacy of value:

And the Lord says not only that it is a great, but that it is the first commandment, not in order of Scripture, but in supremacy of value.

On why the two commandments carry the Law and the Prophets:

because he that has fulfilled the things that are written concerning the love of God and our neighbour, is worthy to receive from God the great reward, that he should be enabled to understand the Law and the Prophets.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

On Christian Doctrine and On the Trinity (on Matthew 22:37–40). As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxii.html

On loving God with all the heart, and soul, and mind:

You are commanded to love God "with all thy heart," that your whole thoughts — "with all thy soul," that your whole life — "with all thy mind," that your whole understanding — may be given to Him from whom you have that you give.

On the one love by which we love God and neighbour:

for it is the selfsame affection by which we love God, and by which we love our neighbour, save that we love God for Himself, but ourselves and our neighbour for God's sake.

St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 22:39–40). As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxii.html

On why the second command is like the first:

That the second command is like the first signifies that the obligation and merit of both are alike; for no love of God without Christ, or of Christ without God, can profit to salvation.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on Mark (on Mark 12:32–34). As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xii.html

On the scribe's answer, that love is more than sacrifice:

that a grave question was often debated between the scribes and Pharisees, which was the first commandment, or the greatest of the Divine law; that is, some praised offerings and sacrifices, others preferred acts of faith and love, because many of the fathers before the law pleased God by that faith only, which works by love. This scribe shews that he was of the latter opinion.

On why he was not far from the kingdom of God:

But the reason why he was not far from the kingdom of God was, that he proved himself to be a favourer of that opinion, which is proper to the New Testament and to Gospel perfection.