Part 2!
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Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40 ~ "The Greatest Commandment" 34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
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And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' What does this kind of love look like? What does it mean to love my neighbor like I love myself? There are, I am sure, many depths and layers to this; the first thing that comes to mind is self-preservation. We ordinarily do all we can in order to take care of, to save, ourselves...the old "fight or flight" mentality. It is natural to take care of ourselves, and even, I think, our families. We even see self-defense and protection of the young in animals. This is natural. But God is commanding something supernatural! He tells us to love others in such a way that their preservation is a life or death matter to us. This second commandment, because it is supernatural, requires the first commandment be fulfilled. If we love God and open ourselves up to His great love, then, and only then, can we truly love others in the way He commands.
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Questions:
1. What do you think of this perspective?
2. Do you agree that there is a link between these two commandments?
3. Is either possible without the other?
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May we love as He would have us love. Jim
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"The history of the world suggests that without love of God there is little likelihood of a love for man that does not become corrupt." - Francois Fenelon
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