You may have noticed that every Eucharistic liturgy in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer includes the Summary of the Law—words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 22:37–40. This is no small detail; it’s a meaningful restoration of a centuries-old Anglican tradition.
The Summary of the Law was first introduced into Anglican worship by the English Non-Jurors in 1718 as a substitute for the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). When the first American Book of Common Prayer was published in 1789, it retained this feature—allowing the Summary to be used alongside or in place of the Ten Commandments. Since then, many Anglican provinces around the world have followed this pattern.
Ironically, the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer removed both the Decalogue and the Summary of the Law from most of its Eucharistic liturgies. Thankfully, the 2019 Prayer Book brings it back—and even includes a scripture reference so we can easily return to the source: Jesus’ own words in Matthew’s Gospel.
So why do we say it?
The Ten Commandments were given to the people of God after the Exodus as the foundation of their life together. Jesus, when asked by a Pharisee, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” answered by summarizing the entire law in two commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind—and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
These words remind us who we are and what we’re called to be as the people of God. Living in God’s kingdom means first and foremost living in loving devotion to Him. As St. Paul says, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Our worship is a response to God’s grace, and the gifts of heart, soul, and mind are meant to be turned toward Him in love.
But love of God cannot be separated from love of neighbor. St. John puts it starkly: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20). True devotion to God naturally overflows into love for those made in His image. The same wholehearted commitment that fuels our love for God empowers us to love others with grace, compassion, and faithfulness.
As we continue in worship together at Christ Church, may the Summary of the Law always call us back to these twin pillars of Christian life: loving God and loving our neighbor.
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