This is the first and greatest commandment.
While the Pharisees were gathered together,.... Or rather, "when" they were gathered together, and while they continued so, before they left him: for this is to be understood not of their gathering together, to consult privately about him; this is expressed before in Mat 22:34 but of their gathering together about Christ, to hear what answer he would return to the question their learned doctor...
Verse 38. This is the first and great commandment. This commandment is found in . It is the first and greatest of all; first, not in order of time, but of importance; greatest in dignity, in excellence, in extent, and duration. It is the fountain of all others. All beings are to be loved according to their excellence.