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Both love your God and love your neighbor needed
1. Both love your God and love your neighbor needed
Jesus clearly states the two laws on which the law and the prophets hang in Mark 12:30-31 (and elsewhere).
Law/Pearl 1: Love God (and the rules of God).
Law/Pearl 2: Love your neighbor as yourself.
The religious establishment at the time of Jesus emphasized law 1, "Love your God", but ignored law 2, "Love your neighbor as yourself" rule. This is, literally, "against the law" (of God).
According to Jesus, both rules are needed. What happens if the religious establishment ignores "Love your God" and emphasizes only "Love your neighbor" and often leaves out "as yourself"? This is, literally, "against the law" (of God)
2. Gospels - love neighbor as yourself
Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον … σεαυτον [gnt]
22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον … σεαυτον [gnt]
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον … σεαυτον … [gnt]
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … τον … σεαυτον [gnt]
3. Matthew 19:19
KJV: Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: τιμα τον πατερα σου και την μητερα και αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον
4. Matthew 22:39
KJV: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: δευτερα δε ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον
5. Mark 12:31
KJV: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Greek: και δευτερα ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον μειζων τουτων αλλη εντολη ουκ εστιν
6. Luke 10:27
KJV: And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εξ ολης της καρδιας σου και εξ ολης της ψυχης εν ολη τη ψυχη σου και εξ ολης της ισχυος εν ολη τη ισχυι σου και εξ ολης της διανοιας εν ολη τη διανοια σου και τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον
7. Paul and James and OT - love neighbor as yourself
Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον …σεαυτον [gnt]
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον …σεαυτον [gnt]
James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον … σεαυτον … [gnt]
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον … σεαυτον … [lxx]
8. Romans 13:9
KJV: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: το γαρ ου μοιχευσεις ου φονευσεις ου κλεψεις ου ψευδομαρτυρησεις ουκ ουκ επιθυμησεις και ει τις ετερα εντολη εν τουτω τω λογω τουτω ανακεφαλαιουται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως εαυτον σεαυτον
9. Galatians 5:14
KJV: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: ο γαρ πας νομος εν ενι λογω πληρουται πεπληρωται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως εαυτον σεαυτον
10. James 2:8
KJV: If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Greek: ει μεντοι νομον τελειτε βασιλικον κατα την γραφην αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον καλως ποιειτε
11. Leviticus 19:18
KJV: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Hebrew: לא תקם ולא תטר את בני עמך ואהבת לרעך כמוך אני יהוה׃
Greek: και ουκ εκδικαται σου η χειρ και ου μηνιεις τοις υιοις του λαου σου και αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον εγω ειμι κυριος
How can we summarize the teachings of Jesus in two rules?
Why do we need both rules?
What happens if we omit one of the rules?
Here, we look at why we need both rules.
12. Integrity
Integrity can be defined as a consistency of the following.
heart: what you feel
soul: what you believe
mind: what you think
strength: what you do (and say)
13. Mark 12:30
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις κυριον … [gnt]
14. Mark 12:30
KJV: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Greek: και αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εξ ολης της καρδιας σου και εξ ολης της ψυχης σου και εξ ολης της διανοιας σου και εξ ολης της ισχυος σου αυτη πρωτη εντολη
15. Sufficiency
This is the "Love your God" rule.
Are these constraints enough? Could someone find a loophole in this verse by creating their own interpretation?
Suppose someone decided to be consistent in these aspects but in an evil way.
16. Loophole
To avoid this loophole in interpreting just this verse, Jesus adds another constraint.
17. Mark 12:31
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον … σεαυτον … [gnt]
This is the "
Love your neighbor" rule.
Is the second part, the "
Golden Rule", sufficient?
That is, given this second constraint, anything that is not a witness to God falls short of the constraints of the first verse.
18. Mark 12:31
KJV: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Greek: και δευτερα ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον μειζων τουτων αλλη εντολη ουκ εστιν
19. Both rules needed
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. [kjv]
12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [kjv]
The conclusion is that both rules are needed.
Jesus did not invent these rules.
They were part of the
OT (Old Testament).
The religious establishment had ignored the second "
Love your neighbor" rule.
20. Deuteronomy 6:5-7
21. Deuteronomy 6:5
KJV: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Hebrew: ואהבת את יהוה אלהיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאדך׃
Greek: και αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εξ ολης της καρδιας σου και εξ ολης της ψυχης σου και εξ ολης της δυναμεως σου
22. Deuteronomy 6:6
KJV: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Hebrew: והיו הדברים האלה אשר אנכי מצוך היום על לבבך׃
Greek: και εσται τα ρηματα ταυτα οσα εγω εντελλομαι σοι σημερον εν τη καρδια σου και εν τη ψυχη σου
23. Deuteronomy 6:7
KJV: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Hebrew: ושננתם לבניך ודברת בם בשבתך בביתך ובלכתך בדרך ובשכבך ובקומך׃
Greek: και προβιβασεις αυτα τους υιους σου και λαλησεις εν αυτοις καθημενος εν οικω και πορευομενος εν οδω και κοιταζομενος και διανισταμενος
24. Deuteronomy 6:8-9
This is something that we should teach to our children.
Deuteronomy 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. [kjv]
6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. [kjv]
25. Deuteronomy 6:8
KJV: And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Hebrew: וקשרתם לאות על ידך והיו לטטפת בין עיניך׃
Greek: και αφαψεις αυτα εις σημειον επι της χειρος σου και εσται ασαλευτον προ οφθαλμων σου
26. Deuteronomy 6:9
KJV: And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Hebrew: וכתבתם על מזוזת ביתך ובשעריך׃
Greek: και γραψετε αυτα επι τας φλιας των οικιων υμων και των πυλων υμων
27. Matthew 5:17 Fulfill, not destroy
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [kjv]
… καταλυσαι … νομον … καταλυσαι … πληρωσαι [gnt]
Jesus did not come to change everything, as some will say.
Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to destroy the law. He says so in Matthew 5:17.
28. Matthew 5:17
KJV: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Greek: μη νομισητε οτι ηλθον καταλυσαι τον νομον η τους προφητας ουκ ηλθον καταλυσαι αλλα πληρωσαι
29. Negative golden rule
A negative version of the "
Golden Rule" appears in the Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, accepted as part of the Scriptural canon by Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy (and some others): (Wikipedia)
"Do to no one what you yourself dislike." Tobit 4:15
"Recognize that your neighbor feels as you do, and keep in mind your own dislikes." Sirach 31:15
30. Galatians 5:13-15
Paul writes to the Galatians.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. [kjv]
5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
… αγαπησεις … πλησιον …σεαυτον [gnt]
5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. [kjv]
Paul tells the Galatians that their religious liberty should not be used for secular human liberty, as some might advocate.
That freedom should be used to "
Love your neighbor".
31. Galatians 5:13
KJV: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Greek: υμεις γαρ επ ελευθερια εκληθητε αδελφοι μονον μη την ελευθεριαν εις αφορμην τη σαρκι αλλα δια της αγαπης δουλευετε αλληλοις
32. Galatians 5:14
KJV: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: ο γαρ πας νομος εν ενι λογω πληρουται πεπληρωται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως εαυτον σεαυτον
33. Galatians 5:15
KJV: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Greek: ει δε αλληλους δακνετε και κατεσθιετε βλεπετε μη υπο υπ αλληλων αναλωθητε
34. Galatians 5:16-18
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [kjv]
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [kjv]
5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [kjv]
35. Galatians 5:16
KJV: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Greek: λεγω δε πνευματι περιπατειτε και επιθυμιαν σαρκος ου μη τελεσητε
36. Galatians 5:17
KJV: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Greek: η γαρ σαρξ επιθυμει κατα του πνευματος το δε πνευμα κατα της σαρκος ταυτα δε αντικειται γαρ αλληλοις αντικειται ινα μη α αν εαν θελητε ταυτα ποιητε
37. Galatians 5:18
KJV: But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Greek: ει δε πνευματι αγεσθε ουκ εστε υπο νομον
38. John
39. John 13:34
KJV: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Greek: εντολην καινην διδωμι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους καθως ηγαπησα υμας ινα και υμεις αγαπατε αλληλους
40. John 13:35
KJV: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Greek: εν τουτω γνωσονται παντες οτι εμοι μαθηται εστε εαν αγαπην εχητε εν αλληλοις
41. John 15:12
KJV: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greek: αυτη εστιν η εντολη η εμη ινα αγαπατε αλληλους καθως ηγαπησα υμας
42. John 15:17
KJV: These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Greek: ταυτα εντελλομαι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους
43. Religious establishments
| Religious establishments ‑ at the extremes |
| Ultra‑conservative |
Ultra‑liberal |
| Many rules |
Many rules |
| Love God only |
Love neighbor only |
| Ignore neighbor |
Ignore God |
| Hate sin |
Love sin |
| Hate sinner |
Love sinner |
| Primary sin |
| Not following God's rules |
Not loving neighbor |
44. Sin and sinners
May we be enabled to say 'No' to sin and 'Yes' to the sinner. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German Lutheran pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident)
45. Sin
When in doubt, the following question needs to be raised and answered for behavior
X. Is
X a sin?
If X is a sin, what should the church do about it?
If X is a sin, what should the believer do about it?
46. Strawman arguments
A strawman argument misrepresents the opponents point of view (the strawman) and then knocks the strawman to claim it proves their point of view.
47. Arguments
In the following table, attempting to "
love the sinner" but "
hate the sin" will be vilified by each side who lumps anyone not supporting their view to be bad.
| Stawman arguments |
| Ultra‑conservative |
Ultra‑liberal |
People who
love the sinner
are bad |
People who
hate the sin
are bad |
48. Martin Luther and the strawman
Martin Luther is credited with the first use of the term "
strawman" (in German) for such a line of reasoning. In general terms, he pointed out that the Catholic Church had set up a strawman argument against him and then knocked it down and claimed it had discredited him.
(I could not find a definitive reference for this.)
49. General rule
A general rule that works well is the following.
If a political view or issue is not addressed with (valid) logic and (valid) facts (reality), why not?
If a Biblical view or issue is not addressed with (valid) logic and (valid) facts (reality), why not?
The usual reason for not addressing a view or issue is that the logic and facts (reality) do not support that view or issue.
50. Cherry-picked verses
In Biblical issues, the primary way for someone to deceive is to "
cherry-pick" verses out of context and piece them together to support the desired point of view - which is often not the view of God as expressed by scripture.
Be aware of verses skipped, verses "
cherry-picked" from various contexts that may be out of context, etc. When Satan tempts Jesus, Satan uses scripture out of context. Jesus answers and refutes Satan with scripture in context.
The use of "
cherry-picked" is sometimes called "
suppressed evidence" or "
incomplete evidence". Whatever it is called, it encourages what is called "
confirmation bias" and, as a result, a "
faulty generalization" or "
hasty generalization".
51. Scripture
Be wary of any teacher that attacks people in general who "use scripture to support their point of view". One should use "scripture" but that scripture should reflect the original meaning of the text and the context of that text.
52. What is omitted may be important
How many chapters in the Old Testament? 929
How many chapters in the Old Testament Apocrypha? 183 (Most of them in the "
Silent Years")
This comes to 1112 chapters. How many were written by non-Jews?
Is social change advocated by the
GNT (Greek New Testament)? By Jesus? By others?
53. End of page
