“Love.” This is an instance of the verb “love,” agapaō, (#25 ἀγαπάω) being in the future tense and the indicative mood but being used idiomatically as a present imperative.^a Given the imperative mood of “love,” it would be quite correct to translate this verse: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (cp. this command in Mark 12:30 and see commentary on Mark 12:30).

“The Lord.” The Hebrew text reads “Yahweh,” which is the personal name of God, and a rabbinic abbreviation for it appears in the Hebrew manuscript of Matthew as well as in the verses of the Old Testament that Matthew quoted. There is evidence that Matthew wrote his Gospel in Hebrew and used the name Yahweh (see commentary on Matt. 3:3).

“soul.” The Greek word often translated “soul” is psuchē (#5590 ψυχή; pronounced psoo-'kay), and it has a large number of meanings, including the physical life of a person or animal; an individual person; and attitudes, emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Here psuchē is used very broadly, but certainly includes the attitude, feelings, and emotions of the person himself.

[For a more complete explanation of “soul,” see Appendix 7, “Usages of ‘Soul.’”]