4 minute read
A NEW COMMANDMENT
6.
A NEW COMMANDMENT
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We are commanded to love those we know, those we consider enemies, and those we don’t know. How is it even possible for loving our neighbor to get even harder than we have already discussed? It’s possible - Jesus is adding a new commandment! “Love one another as I have loved you…” - wow! Just wow.
Let’s take a look at what Jesus is really saying here. The word “commandment” in the Greek is “entole”, pronounced “en-tol-ay’”. In context, it is a word with a great emphasis in Israel, as it is the word that is used for the Ten Commandments and Law of Moses. It also means an order to be obeyed as a result of the office held by the person giving the command.10 In other words, this new commandment is a big deal.
Once again, if it is a big deal, we need to take a big look at it to understand what we are being commanded to do. What kind of love is Jesus talking about? It’s the Greek word “agapao” again, meaning to love dearly, be fond of, entertain, etc. Jesus uses the word “agapao” three times in the same sentence.
It is the same Greek word in “love your neighbor as yourself”, yet Jesus calls this a new commandment. Same
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Retrieved 06/12/2022 from: https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/ greek/nas/entole.html
word, and another commandment. How is this new commandment different? In every way!
IT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW WE LOVE OURSELVES AND HOW JESUS LOVES US.
It is just shocking if you think about it.
Let’s look at the example Jesus set in His time on earth to understand how He loved the disciples He was speaking to. We will use His relationship with Peter as an example. Remember Peter’s denial of Jesus when things got rough? And telling Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!”, or telling him that if Peter would not allow Jesus to wash his feet, Peter could have no part of him? How could Peter’s thinking be so wrong after he had spent so much time so close to Jesus?
Jesus already knew everything about Peter - yet He chose him, called him, loved him, taught him, forgave him, and commissioned him to build His church.
How is this different? Let’s look at some of the relational components of Jesus’ time with Peter. Jesus demonstrates unconditional love. He is honest with Peter about his shortcomings and continues to teach him. That is patient love. Jesus doesn’t writing off Peter because of his failure. In order to not write him off, he had to forgive him for his betrayal in Jesus’ darkest hours. Despite Peter’s flaws, Jesus saw the very best in Peter, and calls him to build His church. He is not expecting perfection, but He requires faith, change that comes from repentance, and growth in responsibility.
How does this measure up to how we love ourselves? Oh boy…. We typically do not see ourselves objectively - most of us have blind spots to our areas of weakness, or find ways to excuse our behaviors. When someone is repeatedly obtuse, we can find ourselves creating distance, not wanting to go the long haul with someone who “just doesn’t get it”. If someone betrays us, that is usually a nail in the friendship coffin. And, if all of this has been perpetrated by the very same person - just forget it. You are moving on to find anew friend. Right? Wrong - we now have this new commandment to love like Jesus does.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul penned the famous “love” verses to the Corinthian church. These verses show up in weddings, fights with spouses, Sunday school, and church services around the world. Why? Because they are the practical instructions for loving behavior.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
There is a great deal to unpack in the above Scripture, but for now, let’s use it as a measuring tool for examining our own behavior versus the way Jesus loves us.
PERSONAL APPLICATION
Describe how you love yourself.
Describe how Jesus loves you.
Describe how you need to grow in loving your neighbor in the same ways Jesus loves you.
