Oliver Harrison writes:Often, in normal times and in a normal church service, we start our prayers of confession with a very short excerpt from the Bible.The minister reads out Jesus’ words from Matthew chapter 22.37–40:
The first and greatest commandment is this: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
(And the congregation replies: “Amen. Lord have mercy.” Which is to say “Yes, I agree.” And “Uh oh! I haven’t actually managed to do that!”)
When Jesus says this, he is replying to some clever, cunning clergy who are trying to trip him up and trap him.They want to catch him out and make him say something that will incriminate himself so they ask him “Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the Law that God gave to Moses?”(And here I wonder whether the respectful term of address, Rabbi, is meant to be flattering and ingratiating or mocking and sarcastic.)
Jesus deals with the question directly. He doesn’t hedge or hesitate.He doesn’t even give one of his wise and funny replies.He answer straight away and straightforwardly.And Jesus says this:
The first and greatest commandment is this: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
In doing so he quotes two verses from the Old Testament.The first is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” from Deuteronomy 6.5, and the second is: “Love your neighbour as yourself” from Leviticus 19:18.
Then Jesus says something astonishing and extraordinary.He adds the words: “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”The “law” here is the Torah – all the rules and ritual and regulations that God gave to Moses and that the Jews observe as their religious duty.The prophets are the messengers that God sent to remind and rebuke the people when they had stopped doing what was right and good.
I’ve got a Bible here that is just over 2,000 pages long.The Law part begins on page 125 (Exodus 19) and goes on about page 300 (the end of Deuteronomy).So that’s 175 pages of instructions and commandments and legislation.Rules and ritual and regulations.
The prophets run from Isaiah starting on about page 1050 right through to the end of the Old Testament on page 1390 (and Jesus would probably have also intended to what we refer to as ‘history’, so that’s even more).So that 340 pages.175 pages of law and 340 pages of prophets equals 515 pages.In a 2,000-page Bible that is about one quarter of the total text.And Jesus says all of that information from God can be summed up in two commandments.
Now, two things to note.First, those two commandments are not equal.Jesus says “The first and greatest commandment is this: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”The first is greater, more important, than the second.If the two should ever be in conflict then obey the first.It takes precedence. God comes first.
The second thing to note is that people often misquote the second commandment.People say, genuinely and sincerely: “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”, adding a second, extra “love.”And they mean it. Boy, do they mean it. Especially, it seems to me, that additional “love” – with all it implies.
(An aside: have you noticed how people misquote another part of the Bible? 1 Timothy 6:10 says “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” but it’s often cited as simply “money is the root of all kinds of evil”. We need to take the second, extra use of the word “love” out of “Love your neighbour as you love yourself” and put it back where it belongs, so “money is the root of all kinds of evil” becomes as it should be: “the love of money of the root of all kinds of evil”. Each saying should only have one “love” in it.)
But the misquoting of that passage has consequences. It is used as the prooftext for a whole industry of self-love.“Love yourself” has become a mantra, a maxim, a moral imperative.A popular saying is “If you don’t love yourself how are you going to love anyone else?”As if the latter were contingent upon the former, as if you your love for yourself is the only thing that enables and equips and empowers you to love others.So the logic runs: “Loving others is good. But if you want to do that then you first have to love yourself.”
Mostly people don’t need any excuse or opportunity to “love” themselves – to be selfish and mean and greedy and lazy and so on.But just in case your conscience is troubled by “self-love” then this saying “If you don’t love yourself how are you going to love anyone else?” soothes such scruples and even obliges you do to it.After all, it’s ultimately for the good of others, right? The means justifies the end – and in this case the means (loving yourself) is hardly onerous anyway.So love yourself!
The only problem is that Bible does not say “Love your neighbour as you love yourself” but “Love your neighbour as yourself” – as we’ve already seen and said the word “love” should only appear once.Now why is that important? Why does that make any difference?What difference does that small, subtle change make?Why is “Love your neighbour as you love yourself” wrong?
It’s wrong because you can’t love yourself—not really.Love requires more than one person: one to love and one to be lovedLove flows between people—plural.Two or more.Love by definition requires a lover and a beloved, a subject and an object, a giver and a receiver.You can no more love yourself than you can lift yourself up in the chair you are sitting in or lend yourself money.Loving yourself is impossible in the true sense but exists in a kind of counterfeit copy of genuine interpersonal love.
And the Bible calls it out.In 2 Timothy 3.1–2 we read “bad times are coming in the last days: people will be in love with themselves.”Self-love is not real love and is, in fact, sinful and selfish.We call it narcissism.So to misquote the Bible and say “Love your neighbour as you love yourself” is wrong.And it has consequences for our relationship with God and others (which are very two relationships that Jesus speaks of in our reading today, when he answers the Pharisees in Matthew 22.)
But get the quotation right – “Love your neighbour as yourself” – and it becomes beautiful and difficult and wonderful and risky.To “love your neighbour as yourself” means to treat others as you would want to be treated.To “love your neighbour as yourself” means to remember that you and they are, essentially, the same—not identical, but substantially the same.They, other people, have, similar needs and desires, hopes and fears, limitations and lacunae as you.
They are your equals.They, too, were also made in the image of God as his children.They, too, are creatures of infinite worth and dignity.They, too, are frail and finite, weak and wilful, selfish and stupid, deprived and depraved – just as you are.And then we treat them as we treat them as we ourselves want and need to be treated: with love – which means with respect, affection, honesty and kindness.
And having established that love requires the “other” or “others” we can see that the statement “God is love” only possible if God is more than one person. When we say “God is love” we are saying God is more than one and yet he is one: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are united as one in the harmony of perfect love.There is one God and God is one because God is love.
And because God is with us and loves us we can love and be loved even when we are on our own.Shipwrecked and stranded on a desert island, isolated and alone, we could love and be loved because we would be with God and God would be with us.
So that’s why it’s not “love your neighbour as you love yourself” it’s “love your neighbour as yourself”Elsewhere, Jesus says: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matt 7.12—also summing up ‘the law and the prophets’).This is called the Golden Rule and it marks a departure from the previous teachings of the rabbis and sages who had gone before.They had said “Do not do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.”Confucius said it, the Stoics philosophers said it, Aesop in his fables said it, Epicetus said it. Everybody said it.“Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.”
So you don’t want others to lie to you or cheat you or steal from you?OK, so don’t do those things to others.
Rabbi Hillel (born 100 years or so before Jesus) was challenged by a heathen who said that he was prepared to convert to Judaism if Rabbi Hillel was able to teach the whole law standing on one leg. Hillel replied, “What is hateful to yourself, do to no other; that is the whole law and the rest is commentary. Go and learn.”Now that’s snappy, but it’s still in this negative form.It’s all very negative and you can keep this golden rule simply by staying in bed and doing nothing at all.
But Jesus says it differently; he says it positively.It’s a seems like a small difference but it’s a profound one.Jesus was the first to formulate this saying positively.Nowhere in ancient literature is there a parallel to the positive form in which Jesus puts it.Followers of Jesus are called to say not only: “I won’t do anyone any harm”, but also, “I will go out of my way to help them, I will seek their good, I will want for them what I want for myself, I will do unto them as I would have them them do unto me.”
It is not enough simply not to steal; we must give generously.It is not enough not to harm our neighbours; we must also positive help them.This requires us to be active – even proactive – in showing and sharing love.That’s why this is called the Golden Rule.The Silver Rule is “do not to do others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you” but the Golden Rule says “do to do others what you would want them to do to you”.Jesus puts it in the positive.It’s not enough to just avoid doing to others what you don’t want them to do you; no, we have to be active in loving others.
Two final points.
First, Jesus says “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”Or “treat others as you want them to treat you.”Not as they do treat you, but as you would want them to.How would you want someone to treat you?What would you like others to do for you?Well, that’s how you should act towards them.
Second and finally, “love your neighbour as yourself.”Who is your neighbour? Allow me two examples.
Among my more right wing friends there are calls for limiting aid to the third world and restricting immigration and being tougher with those claiming state benefits in this country.Well, OK, there’s a case to be made for those things.But foreigners are your neighbours.People with black and brown skin are your neighbours.People who speak other languages and follow other religions are your neighbours.The poor in our own nation are your neighbours.
Now: love your neighbour as yourself.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.So that’s a question and a challenge to my more conservative friends.
Next, to my left wing friends I say this: the unborn child is your neighbour.The foetus and embryo and baby in the womb is your neighbour.Love your neighbour as yourself.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Both of you, my left wing friends and my right wing friends, will say:“But we have the right to do things which the law allows.”In the case of the unborn child, it is a woman’s right to have an abortion, to terminate the pregnancy, to kill the baby.Yes it is.In the case of the migrants and refugees and benefits claimants it is a sovereign state’s right to build walls and reinforce its borders and restrict welfare payments.Yes it is.
But having the right to do something does not necessarily make it the right thing to do.So there’s a question and challenge to both left and right, to both liberal and conservative.“Love your neighbour as yourself.”All people are your neighbours, your equals, substantially the same as you.They, too, were also made in the image of God as his children.They, too, are creatures of infinite worth and dignity.
Jesus says:
The first and greatest commandment is this: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
To which we can only reply: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Oliver Harrison is the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Wilnecote, just outside Tamworth in Staffordshire.
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FAQs
What did Jesus mean when he said love your neighbor as you love yourself? ›
Notice especially that Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This means that if we are to love our neighbors unconditionally and generously, we will need to love ourselves that way too! God doesn't make junk. We are created in God's image; we are his masterpieces.
What does Leviticus 19 17 18 mean? ›19:17–18. According to this tradition, various actions associated with rebuke are the types of activities performed by one's enemies and not to be imitated. Rather, one must respond with love by inverting the negative action of the other.
What is the meaning of Mark 12 31? ›If you are invited to love someone as you love yourself this means that if you dislike or are cruel to yourself then you are to dislike or be cruel to that someone. Conversely, if you cherish yourself then to others you are invited to do likewise. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Does the Bible say love your neighbor as you love yourself? ›This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22: 35-40). Most of us have heard this passage at one point or another in our lives.
Does God want us to love ourselves? ›God Wants You to Love Yourself, Too
This does not mean we are worshiping ourselves or being narcissistic. God does not want us to go through our lives filled with hate, disappointment, or insecurities about ourselves. God has created us perfectly in His image.
Pray specific prayers when you know neighbors well enough to know their situations. Observe and pray for those you don't know as well. For example, a house with toys scattered out front is home to a family—even if you don't know them, pray for God's grace on their family relationships.
Does it say in the Bible that getting a tattoo is a sin? ›The Bible warns against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” However, just because society approves of something does not make it right in the eyes of God.
What is the original message of Leviticus 18 22? ›The Hebrew wording of Leviticus 18:22 has been generally interpreted as prohibiting some or all homosexual acts, although which precise acts, and in which situations, is a matter of ongoing scholarly debate.
What does Leviticus 19 20 22 mean? ›If a man has carnal relations with a woman who is a slave and has [already] been trifled with [sexually] by a man, but has not been redeemed or given her freedom, it shall be a claim of trespass; they shall not, however, be put to death, since she has not been freed.
What is Galatians 5 14? ›14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 4 4? ›
In 1 Timothy 4:4 Paul plainly declares, “Everything created by God is good.” This is a clear echo of Genesis 1:31, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” Within the context of the letter, this sweepingly positive appraisal of creation is used to combat false teachers who are forbidding ...
What is Ephesians 4 32? ›32[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Does God say to love your neighbor? ›“This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39).
What is the golden rule in the Bible? ›Golden Rule, precept in the Gospel of Matthew (7:12): “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. . . .” This rule of conduct is a summary of the Christian's duty to his neighbour and states a fundamental ethical principle.
How do you love yourself in a godly way? ›Jesus-centered self-love looks like knowing where your value and worth actually comes from (God) and living in that truth. We recognize that we are not perfect humans and we will make mistakes, but those do not define us. We can learn to forgive ourselves because God forgives us.
Is it true that you can t love someone until you love yourself? ›The short answer: NO. More specifically, your capacity to love another is directly proportional to your capacity to love yourself. If you don't love yourself, you can certainly idealize someone, long for someone, or even seduce someone, but this is not the same as actually loving someone else.
Where in the Bible does it say love yourself before loving others? ›In this passage, Jesus said there are two great commandments, one of which is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40). If we say we can't love others until we love ourselves, we are essentially saying Jesus gave us a third commandment.
What is an example of loving your neighbor? ›If your neighbor is sick, you could visit them, deliver groceries to them or take them to the doctor when necessary. In rural Africa, if a neighbor is building a house, you could lend a hand by fetching water for them, making bricks or finding wood.
How to love your neighbor like Jesus? ›- Pray for them by name. ...
- Stop and say hello. ...
- Meet a tangible need. ...
- Give a holiday gift. ...
- Throw a party in your yard. ...
- Host a reception in your home. ...
- Invite them to your church or group. ...
- Share the Gospel.
Instead, he tells us to love everyone just as Jesus loved you. That means loving people when they don't deserve it and when they don't or can't earn it. Today, consider how much Jesus loves you—so much so that he gave up his own life for you, even when you didn't deserve it and couldn't earn it.
What does the Bible say about cremation? ›
According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars.
Is it a sin to drink alcohol? ›Drinking Alcohol is Not a Sin
Contrary to what many Christians have grown up hearing, it is not a sin to drink alcohol. Scripture nowhere condemns or prohibits consuming moderate levels of alcohol.
Within the Christian community, there are debates around interpreting passages of the Bible to either allow or forbid body piercing. Some Christians who are against body piercing use the “Book of Leviticus” to support the view that body piercing is a sin, arguing that you “should never mark your body”.
What is Leviticus trying to teach us? ›Leviticus shows us God's desire to restore all people to live and thrive with him in peace. And ultimately, every detail brings us to the healing work of Jesus, who opened up the way back to Yahweh permanently.
What is Leviticus Holy Code? ›Code of Holiness, collection of secular, ritualistic, moral, and festival regulations in the Old Testament Book of Leviticus, chapters 17–26. The code stresses that the people of Israel are separated from the rest of the world because Yahweh (God) has chosen them.
What does Leviticus say about tattoos? ›But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning.
What does Leviticus 19 36 mean? ›The Hebrew word tsedeq (NRSV “honest”) that appears four times in Leviticus 19:36 denotes character that is right in terms of having integrity and being blameless. All weights and measures should be accurate. In short, buyers should get what they have paid for.
What is Leviticus 19 13? ›13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. 13 "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.
What is Leviticus 17 talking about? ›Sacrifices are to be offered only to the Lord at the tabernacle of the congregation—Israel is forbidden to sacrifice to devils—All eating of blood is forbidden—Shedding of blood is required for an atonement for sins.
What is Romans 13 9? ›9 For this, Thou shalt not commit aadultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not bsteal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not ccovet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy dneighbour as thyself.
What is Philippians 4 13? ›
Philippians 4:11–13
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. [30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 5? ›In 1 Timothy 5, Paul is helping Timothy consider how members of a church family should demonstrate love for one another. Everyone in Timothy's church would have agreed that they should love one another.
What is the meaning of Proverbs 16 9? ›Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart plans his way: This is not a bad thing. We, as the God in whose image we are made, think about and plan our way. Many people would do well to more carefully plan their way.
It means that Christians believe the Lord Jesus Christ is alive. We believe he rose from the grave. Paul is explaining to Timothy that he must behave in such a way as to be an example for the others on how they should live. The church is to be the pillar and the truth in this world.
What does Romans 12 10 mean? ›MEANING. The love of God, demonstrated by Jesus on the cross, is our foundation for how to treat others. We are to be devoted—committed—to other Christians; to act selflessly. We are to honor each other (regardless of status, position, or any other factor) because we are all precious children of God, our Father.
What is Romans 12 19? ›19 Dearly beloved, aavenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
What is Romans 8 1? ›There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
What does Matthew 25 40 say? ›Matthew 25:40 In-Context
40 “The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. '
"`Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. "`Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "`Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.
What is Matthew 22 39? ›
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Why is it important to love your neighbor? ›We love our neighbour because we are told to.
Simply put we love others and serve because Jesus tells us to. Jesus tells us with his words in passages such as Matthew 22:39 but also by his action. Jesus shows us how to love those who are unlovable by being with the leper, the outcast and the one on the edge.
To be a neighbor, according to Jesus, means to come alongside someone. As Christian Americans, we must remember that we are Christians first, and Americans second. Our nationality should never surpass our faith and its duties. This is what we must keep in mind when we consider our “neighbor”.
What does Jesus say is most important? ›When asked which commandment was the most important, Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39).
Which is the greatest commandment in the Bible? ›He [Jesus] said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. Love God above all else. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
What does Matthew 7:12 mean? ›Jesus understands the interlocking of the two commandments in a new and quite radical way. "You cannot have one without the other. Without the love of neighbor, the love of God remains a barren emotion; and without the love of God, love of neighbor is but a refined form of self-love."
Why it is important to love our neighbors as ourselves? ›We love our neighbour because we are told to.
Simply put we love others and serve because Jesus tells us to. Jesus tells us with his words in passages such as Matthew 22:39 but also by his action. Jesus shows us how to love those who are unlovable by being with the leper, the outcast and the one on the edge.
Jesus-centered self-love looks like knowing where your value and worth actually comes from (God) and living in that truth. We recognize that we are not perfect humans and we will make mistakes, but those do not define us. We can learn to forgive ourselves because God forgives us.
Where in Matthew does Jesus say love your neighbor as yourself? ›Jesus Our Lord had given us two commands of LOVE to follow. The first and greatest command is to love God completely and above all else and with one's entire being – with all your heart, soul and mind.
What is the correct example of loving your neighbor? ›Sharing a meal is perhaps one of the best ways to show our love for our neighbors. Whether it's at your home or theirs, breaking bread together meets not only a physical need but also the mental and spiritual need for relationship.
What does the Bible say about judging others? ›
Bible Gateway Matthew 7 :: NIV. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Who is a Neighbour according to Jesus? ›To be a neighbor, according to Jesus, means to come alongside someone. As Christian Americans, we must remember that we are Christians first, and Americans second. Our nationality should never surpass our faith and its duties. This is what we must keep in mind when we consider our “neighbor”.
What does the Bible say about loving your Neighbour? ›Matthew 22:37-40
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.
It helps us to feel safer and more protected, knowing there are other eyes looking out for us. This can bring a genuine peace of mind as there is safety in numbers. There is a Chinese proverb that says, 'Neighbours are better than relatives that live far away.
Why is respecting neighbors important? ›Studies have shown that social connections are associated with good mental and physical health. In fact, forming relationships with your neighbours can even reduce your risk of a heart attack. When you have friendly, trustworthy and helpful neighbours, your health benefits too.
How do I love myself like Jesus loves me? ›- See your true value. In our modern world, we're constantly flooded by the seemingly “perfect” lives of people on social media. ...
- Learn to let go of past mistakes. We've all made mistakes, but many of us find it hard to let go of them. ...
- Recognize that trials are not punishments.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Can you love someone without loving yourself? ›The short answer: NO. More specifically, your capacity to love another is directly proportional to your capacity to love yourself. If you don't love yourself, you can certainly idealize someone, long for someone, or even seduce someone, but this is not the same as actually loving someone else.
What is the greatest commandment of God? ›“'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself. '”
What does the Bible say about being a good neighbor? ›Love your neighbor like Christ loved you
In John 13:34–35, just before the feast of the Passover, before He is betrayed by Judas and subsequently hung on a cross, Jesus elevates the love we are to have for our neighbors by giving a new command: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.