The Meaning of Matthew 22:39 Explained

Matthew 22:39

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

YLT: and the second is like to it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself;

Darby: And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 22:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 22:34-46 - The Summary Of The Law
Our Lord seemed to say: "Here is all Scripture in a nutshell; the whole range of human duty in a portable pocket form." We are reminded of Ecclesiastes 12:13. But what a magnificent definition is here given of pure and undefiled religion! The whole Law is gathered up in that one word love! See Romans 13:8-10.
In Mark 12:33 the word strength is added. There are four channels of love. The heart stands for our emotions; the soul for our will and general individuality; the mind for our intellect; and strength for the activities and energies of our service. Often we cannot feel love, but we can always use our strength for God and show our love by doing things which we would never do except for His sake.
The question which the Master propounded to the scribes can be solved only by the admission of His two natures-divine and human-as existing in His one person. As David's Lord He is divine; as his son, He was born of the Virgin. See Matthew 1:1. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 22

1  The parable of the marriage of the king's son
9  The vocation of the Gentiles
12  The punishment of him who lacked a wedding garment
15  Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar
23  Jesus confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection;
34  answers which is the first and great commandment;
41  and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messiah

Greek Commentary for Matthew 22:39

A second []
The article omitted. So Rev. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 22:39

Romans 13:9 And if there be any other [και ει τις ετερα]
Paul does not attempt to give them all. It is summed up (ανακεπαλαιουται — anakephalaioutai). Present passive indicative of ανακεπαλαιοω — anakephalaioō late literary word or “rhetorical term” (ανα κεπαλαιον — anaκεπαλαιον — kephalaion head or chief as in Hebrews 8:1). Not in the papyri, but εν τωι — kephalaion quite common for sum or summary. In N.T. only here and Ephesians 1:10. Namely See βασιλικος νομος — to gar at the beginning of the verse, though omitted by B F. The quotation is from Leviticus 19:18. Quoted in Matthew 5:43; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8 it is called τον πλησιον σου — basilikos nomos (royal law). Thy neighbour (Πλησιον — ton plēsion sou). Plēsion is an adverb and with the article it means “the one near thee.” See note on Matthew 5:43. [source]
Romans 13:9 Namely [το γαρ]
See βασιλικος νομος — to gar at the beginning of the verse, though omitted by B F. The quotation is from Leviticus 19:18. Quoted in Matthew 5:43; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8 it is called τον πλησιον σου — basilikos nomos (royal law). Thy neighbour (Πλησιον — ton plēsion sou). Plēsion is an adverb and with the article it means “the one near thee.” See note on Matthew 5:43. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 22:39 mean?

[The] second also [is] like it You shall love the neighbor of you as yourself
δευτέρα ‹δὲ› ὁμοία αὐτῇ Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν

δευτέρα  [The]  second 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: δεύτερον 
Sense: the second, the other of two.
‹δὲ›  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ὁμοία  [is]  like 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ὅμοιος  
Sense: like, similar, resembling.
Ἀγαπήσεις  You  shall  love 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
πλησίον  neighbor 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πλησίον  
Sense: a neighbour.
σου  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
σεαυτόν  yourself 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Root: σεαυτοῦ  
Sense: thyself, thee.