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Bible >Topical > Love to Man is the Second Great Commandment

◄ Love to Man is the Second Great Commandment►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of love for one's neighbor as a fundamental tenet of Christian ethics is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and is recognized as the Second Great Commandment. This commandment is derived from the words of Jesus in the New Testament, where He emphasizes the importance of love as a guiding principle for human relationships.

Biblical Foundation

The Second Great Commandment is explicitly stated in the Gospel of Matthew. When asked by a Pharisee about the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus responds by quoting the Shema fromDeuteronomy 6:5, affirming the primacy of loving God. He then adds, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’" (Matthew 22:39). This commandment is a direct reference toLeviticus 19:18, which instructs the Israelites to love their neighbors.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus reiterates this teaching, saying, "The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these" (Mark 12:31). Here, Jesus places the love of neighbor on par with the love of God, indicating its critical role in the life of a believer.

Theological Significance

The Second Great Commandment underscores the intrinsic value of every human being, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). It calls for an active, selfless love that mirrors the love God has for humanity. This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice to seek the welfare of others, reflecting the sacrificial love demonstrated by Christ.

The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in his epistles, particularly inRomans 13:9-10, where he writes, "The commandments... are summed up in this one decree: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" . Paul emphasizes that love is the essence of the law, fulfilling its requirements through acts of kindness, compassion, and justice.

Practical Application

The Second Great Commandment calls Christians to a life of service and humility, prioritizing the needs of others. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus illustrates the practical outworking of this commandment, challenging cultural and social barriers to demonstrate love and mercy to those in need.

The early church exemplified this love through communal living and mutual support, as seen inActs 2:44-45, where believers shared their possessions to ensure no one was in need. This model of community life serves as a testament to the transformative power of love in action.

Challenges and Considerations

While the command to love one's neighbor is clear, its application can be challenging in a world marked by division and strife. Christians are called to transcend personal biases and prejudices, extending love even to enemies, as Jesus taught inMatthew 5:44: "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" .

The Second Great Commandment also invites believers to engage in social justice, advocating for the marginalized and oppressed. This involves a commitment to righteousness and equity, reflecting God's heart for justice as articulated inMicah 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" .

In summary, the Second Great Commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself is a foundational principle of Christian ethics, calling believers to embody the love of Christ in their interactions with others. It challenges Christians to live out their faith through acts of love, service, and justice, reflecting the character of God in a broken world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 22:37-39
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First andGreat Commandment
...love the Lord thy God." That is the law, and though noman can keep... "Thou shaltlove
the Lord... 2. That brings us to thesecond point"the measure of this law....

TheSecond Commandment
... Judges 11:7. The idolater shuts the truth out of doors; he blots out thesecond
commandment; he makes an image of the invisible God; he... Tolove aman for his...

The Tables Turned: the Questioners Questioned
... It must be 'all in all, or not at all.'. 'Asecond is like unto it,'"love
toman is the under side, as it were, oflove to God....

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and...
... islove - His Nature so manifesting itself - so islove to God alsolove [5212]
toman. And so thissecond is like' the first andgreat commandment.' It was a...

TheGreat Commandment
... for not talking about our feelings to anyman, priest or... thelove that God has to
us, thenlove to Him... Provided"and there is thatsecond reason why people do...

The Beauty and Excellency of this World Consists, not Only in the...
... Thesecond is like unto it, Thou shaltlove thy neighbour as thyself," Matth.
xxii.37, 38, 39.... "Owe noman any thing, but tolove one another" (Romans 13:8...

Christ, theGreat Teacher
... truth of the "Brotherhood ofMan." The true relation ofman toman, no matter... The
second great commandment given by Christ is, "Thou shaltlove thy neighbour...

Cix. Jewish Rulers Seek to Ensnare Jesus.
... who trulylove God can not consistently sin againstman (I. John iv... sum of it is
that we are tolove God with... whole being.] 39 And a { ^b 31 The}second ^a like...

The Christian's FellowMan
... And thesecond is like unto it.... well put it that God must first be loved, with all
the heart, soul and mind, before aman is ready tolove his neighbour...

Non-Resistance
... is turned, or the cloak yielded, or thesecond mile trudged... more harmfully to himself
than is many aman who makes... is that it is a form ofLove,"love in the...