Love Written on the Heart
Main Text: Matthew 22:36–40
Theme: Love Written on the Heart
Torah Parallel: Deuteronomy 26:16–19
Psalm: Psalm 19:14 — “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Matthew 22:36-40 The Command to Love
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Chiastic Structure of Mathew 22
A. Parable of the Wedding Banquet (vv. 1–14)
B. Question about paying taxes to Caesar (vv. 15–22)
C. Question about the resurrection (vv. 23–33)
- Jesus corrects them with Scripture and God’s power.
D. The Great Commandment (vv. 34–40)
- Love God with heart, soul, mind.
- Love neighbor as self.
- “On these two hang all the Law and Prophets.”
C’. Question about the Messiah’s sonship (vv. 41–46)
B’. The opponents silenced (v. 46)
A’. Transition to woes against the Pharisees (23:1ff)
Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 26
16 Today, God, your God, is commanding you to fulfill these rules and ordinances. You will safeguard them by studying how to perform them and perform them with all your heart and with all your soul.
17 Today, you have singled out God to be your God, to walk in His ways, to safeguard His rules, commandments, and ordinances by studying how to perform them, and to obey Him.
18 God has set you apart today to be His treasured people, just as He spoke concerning you; to have you safeguard all His commandments by studying how to perform them;
19 to make you supreme above all the nations that He established, so they will accord you praise, a distinguished name, and glory; and for you to be a holy people devoted solely to God, your God, just as He spoke.”
Chiastic Structure of Deuteronomy 26
A. Bringing the first fruits to God (vv. 1–11)
- Israel acknowledges God’s deliverance from Egypt.
- Thanksgiving and worship at the sanctuary.
B. Confession over the tithe (vv. 12–15)
- Israel declares faithfulness: “I have obeyed … I have not forgotten.”
- Prayer that God would bless the land.
C. Covenant affirmation (vv. 16–17)
- Israel commits to obey God with all heart and soul.
B’. God’s declaration over Israel (vv. 18)
- God affirms Israel as His “treasured people” for their obedience.
A’. God’s promise of exaltation (vv. 19)
- Israel will be “set high above all nations” in praise, name, and honor.
- Called to be a holy people.
PARDES Layers
Peshat: Love of God and neighbor are the greatest commandments, binding together all others.
Remez: The Shema (Deut. 6:5) and covenant oath (Deut. 26:16–19) are hinted — covenant is love embodied.
Drash: To love God fully is to safeguard His covenant; to love neighbor is to enact His justice. One cannot claim the first without practicing the second.
Sod: Love is the hidden flame within Torah. When the heart is circumcised, when the soul is surrendered, love becomes not just command but current — divine energy inscribed in human flesh.
Hebrew & Greek Word Studies
לֵבָב (levav) – Heart
In Hebrew thought, not just emotions but the seat of will, thought, and moral choices. To love with all the levav is to align one’s inner core with God.
נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) – Soul/Life
The whole being, breath, vitality. Loving with all nefesh means no part of one’s existence is withheld.
ἀγαπήσεις (agapēseis) – You shall love (Greek)
The Septuagint carries Deut. 6:5 into Matthew. It’s covenantal love — deliberate, self-giving, rooted in loyalty, not fleeting emotion.
סְגֻלָּה (segullah) – Treasured possession
A rare Hebrew term (Exod. 19:5, Deut. 26:18). Covenant love is reciprocal: Israel loves God, God calls Israel His treasure.
