On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Ver. 40. Hang all the law and prophets] Yea, and the gospel too; for love is both the complement of the law and the supplement of the gospel, Romans 13:10; John 13:34. It is the filling up of the law (as the word πληρωμα signifieth), for that it clotheth the duties of the law with the glory of a due manner, and seateth them upon their due subjects, with unwearied labours of constant well doing. The prophets also hang (κρεμανται) upon the same nail of love with the law, so some frame the metaphor here used. As some others rather think that our Saviour in this expression alludeth to the Jewish phylacteries, Heb. Totaphoth, which were scrolls of parchment having the commandments written in them, which the Pharisees wear about their heads and arms to remind them of obedience to the law.