Matthew 22:36

Which is the great commandment?] A question debated by the Jewish schools. The best Jewish opinion coincided with our Lord's. Philo, our Lord's contemporary, says, 'To speak briefly, of the innumerable detailed exhortations and commandments, the two which in the most general manner sum up the whole, are the duties of piety and holiness towards God, and of lovingkindness and justice towards man. Each of these is sub-divided into various special duties, all of them praiseworthy': see on Matthew 7:12. The first commandment is Deuteronomy 6:5, the second Leviticus 19:18. The former formed part of the prayers of the phylacteries, daily recited by every Jew: see on Matthew 23:6. Both are somewhat freely quoted according to the LXX.