Distilled Obedience
For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NASB
One word – Paul says the whole Law (ho pas nomos) is fulfilled (pleroo – to make completely full) in one word (en heni logo). But then Paul adds a whole bunch of words, in fact, an entire sentence from Leviticus 19:18. Can’t Paul count?
Some interpreters simply say that Paul meant the one word love (agape) as the central principle of this citation. In other words, all of the rest of the commandment is just cultural clutter. What really matters is a heart of love. How that actually gets worked out depends on the circumstances. Actions towards neighbors are simply examples.
Most believers simply skip over the “one word” problem, speeding quickly to the exhortation to love a neighbor as we love ourselves. They seem to think that Paul was just using a literary expression. Once again, the real gist of the matter is to get the “love” principle going.
But what if we actually looked at the Leviticus passage in Hebrew. Only part of the verse is cited by Paul. That part is ve-ahavta lereaka kamoka. Now what is the one word that makes this commandment so important? The context of the commandment is God’s prohibition against revenge and the temptation to harbor evil toward another. Certainly God is interested in removing these actions and motivations from His children. But if I don’t seek revenge and I don’t harbor ill will toward my neighbor, have I then filled up the commandment to love him? Not if I add the one word kamoka (as yourself). It is possible to act neutrally toward another, not to hate but simply to ignore, not to seek vengeance but simply to dismiss. That does not fill up the commandment because that would never be the way I would treat myself. For me to completely engage love toward my neighbor, I must be motivated by the same power and effort I put into my own care and concerns. As soon as I remove the word kamoka, I have a formula for apathy and indifference. Ethically neutral, perhaps, but not what God has in mind.
The importance of this word is enhanced when we realize that kamoka is not literally “as yourself.” Kamoka is a particle (that’s the smallest form of language that can’t be broken into further parts) that means “like” or “as.” You will find it in Exodus 15:5 where the Egyptians sank “like” stones or in Exodus 9:14 where the text proclaims that there is no one “like” God. This commandment literally says, “and you shall love your neighbor as.” Of course, “yourself” is implied because the other person is your neighbor. But the power of the verse is all about kamoka. It’s not love that is the issue here. It is whether or not love will be “like” the quality and character we lavish on ourselves.
Will we be kamoka (like) Yeshua? We will display a character kamoka YHWH? Without kamoka, there is no standard. With it, our practice must reach the filled-up ideal.
Topical Index: one word, heni logo, as, like, kamoka, Leviticus 19:18, Galatians 5:14
In studying the Aramaic of this verse, the word naphshah in Aramaic is the cognate of the Hebrew nefesh, which can mean “life.” This adds even further emphasis when it becomes “love your neighbor as you would your own life.”
Ooopps – I think I messed up, my bad. I meant to only highlight two words, not the entire latter part of my post.
I fixed it
Oh this is so convicting to me. There are a few people at my Messianic synagogue that I really do not engage with because they may have hurt me or offended me numerous times in the past. I also find myself not wanting to be around one or two “difficult” people there as well. (yeah, like I don’t fit in that category at times, oy) I really struggle with how do I show them love when I really don’t even want to be around them (being really honest here). I try to convince myself I have forgiven them, but if I did why would I act this way? I really need to go before Abba and ask for forgiveness, guidance, wisdom and a new heart.
Skip, your explanation of komocha is very profound. Each week we recite this right after the Shemna as part of our liturgy. I guess I only looked at it superficially before.
Donna,
I am so humbled AND challenged by your discernment and confession. So often we tend to shift blame for one reason or another and it is so wonderful to hear one speak from a heart of conviction through His Word. It would appear a new heart is in the works!
I am in that same boat, oftentimes with those I am closest with. Abba has been so gracious to show me mercy when I have been unmerciful in my heart toward those who have offended me. How blessed we are to have Him as Father!
Thank you, Mary. Baruch HaShem for His unfailing mercy that endures forever. I am going to try to reach out to those people who I’ve been ignoring. Maybe they’ve been waiting for me to reach out? Well, I won’t know if I don’t try.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a Name written which no one knoweth but He Himself and He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called, “The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13)
Once again- what is/was His name? “The Word of G-d”. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God. Everything came into existence through Him. Not one thing that exists was made without Him.” (John 1.1-3)
Yes, dear friends, the Bible is our Him-book. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11.36)
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
(Charles Wesley 1747)
Yeshua, the (now) Living and (now loving and altogether lovely) Word of G-d said, -“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” The purpose of the law? “Therefore the Law has become our schoolmaster/tutor/teacher to lead us to Christ, (our Master/Teacher) so that we may be justified by faith,our right-response (obedience) to the written word(s) of G-d.)
His words? “Come unto me” – “bring him to me.” And how may we (now) go to Him? For He no longer exists- or does He? Someone conquered death and the grave and Someone rose from the dead on the third day. Someone is now at the right hand of the Father and Someone has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Someone also is due to arrive the second time upon the earth, this time now longer as a Lamb, but this time as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Does anyone know His name? Who is this man? Son of G-d and son of man? Son of G-d and G-d the (now living) Son?
And the Child shall be called … “Pele-yoez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom..” (Matthew 1.23). -But wait.., -there’s more!- always more..
“You will find it in Exodus 15:5 where the Egyptians sank “like” stones”
“For me to completely engage love toward my neighbor”
Hi Skip,
Great word study again today!
We do have to be careful though, because love can be a very tricky emotion.
As I understand it, it is not an uncommon experience to fool around and fall in love.
Then we might just find ourselves in the belly of the whale, at the bottom of the ocean, like Jonah.
And as Bob Dylan taught long ago, it is especially painful the second time around 🙂
An’ here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice.
Bob Dylan, ‘Memphis Blues Again’ (1965)
“It is whether or not love will be “like” the quality and character we lavish on ourselves.”
The thought above came to me this morning, while walking my dog Max (yellow lab).
And then the very next thought was the question, isn’t that the “golden rule”?