We are called to love God first and then to love all others.
We’re called to love God completely (with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength). As we do so, we are able to love ourselves correctly by seeing ourselves as he sees us instead of as the world sees us. When God defines us as part of his family, we are secure enough to love and serve others.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–39)
The Greatest Commandment. Loving God is covered by the first four of the Ten Commandments, and loving neighbor is found in the last six (see Exodus 20:3–17). Or as Paul says in Romans 13:9–10: For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12–13)
Here, Jesus tells his disciples the importance of loving others in the way we love ourselves. This “new commandment” is a much greater standard because his love for us is much greater than our love for ourselves. Although our culture tends to view love as an emotion, the love that Jesus is referencing is a choice—an act of the will. The love of God is called agape in the Greek, and can be defined as “the steady intention of one’s will toward another’s highest good.” Jesus loves us so magnanimously that He willingly allowed His persecutors to savagely beat and kill Him by hanging him on a cross; He did this so that we might find salvation through Him. There is truly no greater love than this love Jesus showed for us, in spite of our selfishness and pride. We should follow his example of love in our interaction with all people, even with those who have wronged us.
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
The Golden Rule. If we all lived by this, there would be neither strife nor discord; we would all live in perfect peace and harmony as Jesus would have us do.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you ... if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:38–39)
Ancient law and tradition dictated that a transgression like a slap on the face would allow for like retribution. However, Jesus calls his followers to a higher standard. We are to make ourselves vulnerable instead of returning blow for blow. While this might seem passive, it is instead a way of seizing the initiative to demonstrate Christlike values rather than following the violent agenda set by the striker. This is a difficult command to follow and another example of the radical nature of Jesus’ teachings. His commandment to us can be summarized in one word: love. These verses in Matthew are an example of how we should live out his new commandment to love as he loves.
Reflection: How do you define love? Do you practice biblical love?
