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Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed
by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640


1. Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed
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Jesus clearly states the two laws on which the law and the prophets hang in Mark 12:30-31 (and elsewhere).
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
Verse routeMatthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Verse routeτιμα τον πατερα και την μητερα και αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον [gnt]
Verse route22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Verse routeδευτερα ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον [gnt]
Verse routeMark 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]
Verse route δευτερα αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον μειζων τουτων αλλη εντολη ουκ εστιν [gnt]
Verse routeLuke 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]
Verse routeο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εξ ολης καρδιας σου και εν ολη τη ψυχη σου και εν ολη τη ισχυι σου και εν ολη τη διανοια σου και τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον [gnt]


3. Matthew 19:19
 All 
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
 All 
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
   Mark 12:31 
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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
   Luke 10:27 
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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
Verse routeRomans 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]
Verse routeτο γαρ ου μοιχευσεις ου φονευσεις ου κλεψεις ουκ επιθυμησεις και ει τις ετερα εντολη εν τω λογω τουτω ανακεφαλαιουται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον [gnt]
Verse routeGalatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Verse routeο γαρ πας νομος εν ενι λογω πεπληρωται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον [gnt]
Verse routeJames 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: [kjv]
Verse routeει μεντοι νομον τελειτε βασιλικον κατα την γραφην αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον καλως ποιειτε [gnt]

Verse routeLeviticus 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]
Verse routeκαι ουκ εκδικαται σου η χειρ και ου μηνιεις τοις υιοις του λαου σου και αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον εγω ειμι κυριος [lxx]


8. Romans 13:9
   Romans 13:9 
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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
 All 
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
   James 2:8 
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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
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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.

13. Mark 12:30
Verse routeMark 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]
Verse routeκαι αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εξ ολης καρδιας σου και εξ ολης της ψυχης σου και εξ ολης της διανοιας σου και εξ ολης της ισχυος σου [gnt]


14. Mark 12:30
   Mark 12:30 
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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
Verse routeMark 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]
Verse route δευτερα αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον μειζων τουτων αλλη εντολη ουκ εστιν [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
   Mark 12:31 
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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
Verse routeMark 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]
Verse route12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [kjv]

Two lawsThe 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
Jesus is quoting the above verses from the Old Testament.

Verse routeDeuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. [kjv]
Verse route6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [kjv]
Verse route6:7 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. [kjv]


21. Deuteronomy 6:5
 All 
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
 All 
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
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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.

Verse routeDeuteronomy 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. [kjv]
Verse route6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. [kjv]


25. Deuteronomy 6:8
 All 
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
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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
Verse routeMatthew 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]
Verse routeμη νομισητε οτι ηλθον καταλυσαι τον νομον η τους προφητας ουκ ηλθον καταλυσαι αλλα 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
   Matthew 5:17 
 All 
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)

30. Galatians 5:13-15
Paul writes to the Galatians.

Verse routeGalatians 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]
Verse route5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [kjv]
Verse routeο γαρ πας νομος εν ενι λογω πεπληρωται εν τω αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον [gnt]
Verse route5:15 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
 All 
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
 All 
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
 All 
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
Verse routeGalatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [kjv]
Verse route5:17 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]
Verse route5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [kjv]


35. Galatians 5:16
 All 
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
 All 
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
 All 
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
Verse routeJohn 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [kjv]
Verse routeεντολην καινην διδωμι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους καθως ηγαπησα υμας ινα και υμεις αγαπατε αλληλους [gnt]
Verse route13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. [kjv]
Verse routeεν τουτω γνωσονται παντες οτι εμοι μαθηται εστε εαν αγαπην εχητε εν αλληλοις [gnt]
Verse route15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. [kjv]
Verse routeαυτη εστιν η εντολη η εμη ινα αγαπατε αλληλους καθως ηγαπησα υμας [gnt]
Verse route15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. [kjv]
Verse routeταυτα εντελλομαι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους [gnt]

The context of these statements is that the command is addressed to "disciples" or "followers" rather than to the world in general.

39. John 13:34
   John 13:34 
 All 
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
   John 13:35 
 All 
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
   John 15:12 
 All 
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
   John 15:17 
 All 
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)

Information sign More: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

45. Sin
When in doubt, the following question needs to be raised and answered for behavior X. Is X a sin?

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.

Strawman 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
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.)

Information sign More: Strawman fallacy

49. General rule
A general rule that works well is the following. 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. Selective evidence fallacy: Cherry picking
Cherry pick 2In 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".

Information sign More: Confirmation bias
Information sign More: Selective evidence fallacy: Cherry picking

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

by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640