All in the Family
“And a second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:39 NASB
Love – We all know that this Greek word is agapao. Agape love is the standard of Christian concern. We also recognize that it is self-sacrificing love, based not on what I might receive from another but solely on my response to what I have received from God. Yeshua echoes the rabbis in the primacy of this command. His emphasis places us in the heart of Torah where specific legal obligations toward another are outweighed by an ethical lifestyle that extends beyond requirements of the law. To love another is to treat the person as God would – and not an ounce less.
Of course, Greek has another word for love, phileo. The difference is dramatic. Phileo is love extended on the basis of feelings of affection. It is reciprocal love. It has a significant place inside the Body because inside the Body there is communal intra-dependency. Unfortunately, phileo is often substituted for agapao. When this happens, the hallmark of God’s character expressed in my life goes missing. It isn’t missing because I am unloving. It is missing because I love those who love me. And why not? It’s natural, comfortable and rewarding. It just isn’t agapao.
That’s why Yeshua regards the signature of agapao as the love of an enemy. That raises an interesting question. Who do you love? Make your list. Then see if there are any who don’t reciprocate. Now you realize why “love” is a command, not a description of any inner feeling. You are to love your enemies even if you don’t like them!
We have learned that our enemies may not be those who carry a gun or declare threats against us. An enemy of God is my enemy. That means those who rebel against His authority and direction are my enemies. Most of them are really “good” people. I might even like some of them. But they are nevertheless enemies because what they represent is rebellion against the rightful rule of the Creator. God tells me to love them, not with affection and camaraderie (although that certainly won’t hurt) but rather with self-sacrifice that draws them nearer to the Father. Now look at the list again. Perhaps there is someone who needs compassion even though you are not inclined to give it. Perhaps there is someone who needs assistance in spite of the fact that they are ungrateful. Perhaps there is someone who needs forgiveness even though they do not forgive. God loves His enemies. We know because we were once opposed to Him. Now we understand the power of compelling love. And now it’s our turn to show it.
Don’t be confused by feelings on this one. Act as God would act toward another no matter what the cost. Then you will know what it means to love His way.
Topical Index: enemy, love, agapao, phileo, Matthew 22:39
Amein and Amein! Glory to our Father and His beloved Son for teaching us how to love!
Shalom Shalom! His love covers a multitude of sins – WOW!
Yes Amen – only He can show us how to love those that hate us or hurt us. I have found that it is only possible if I forgive first….then the love can be manifest. Just before my mother died she called me to her bedside and told me that God came and said ‘let us review your life’ – he showed her a deep unforgiveness and despising of her mother in law years ago for spite against my mother (they only knew each other in the early stages of my mum’s marriage as we lived overseas most of our lives and she lived in Australia) and she had died many years before. The point was that it was not about whether she was alive or not or whether my mother could do anything about it – it was about her heart before God and He graciously wanted her to put it right before her death.
I have never forgotten this and it shows me that as Skip says:
Perhaps there is someone who needs forgiveness even though they do not forgive. God loves His enemies. We know because we were once opposed to Him. Now we understand the power of compelling love. And now it’s our turn to show it.
It truly is an act of the will – recently I was put to the test on this very issue.
This is where this website shines..- I love mom, apple pie, baseball, and my wife. ??? The Greek is good, but the Hebrew is even better!! For we are to love the LORD our G-d with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. With our minds quick to inquire and (over)-analyze, “what is heart? soul? mind? strength?”- but, (and I do love-love the “buts” of our Bible, the key word (thinking correctly) is “all.” These are not commas folks- these are dashes. Heart-soul-mind-strength- the “all” of me. Christianity (no, not the religion) is “total/absolute surrender” to Christ. We are (as the kids say) p-owned and under new management. He is LORD (of all). Either He is LORD of all or He is not LORD at all. And how, please tell me can we possibly even say- “no, LORD?” (May I interject a “selah?” for us here?) It cannot be done, that’s how.
Skip, I’m going to fuss a little bit here. This statement: “Yeshua echoes the rabbis in the primacy of this command.” If we were to reread this could it have been said a better way? (sorry to be “ticky” here.. “but”- (pardon me, please)- “The rabbis echo Yeshua,” is (more) correct. Oh, how we need to remember the ONE who is Yeshua is (only?) G-d Incarnate. G-d speaking y’all.
Remember the good intentions of Peter? Let us build three tabernacles- one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. Houston, we have a problem. Yeshua HaMashiach, the G-d/man, does not belong in any list of great teachers or leaders. We cannot say Budda, Mohammed, Alexandar,Jesus, etc.. -no, no and no. Friends, He is the LORD our G-d, not a good man or even a great man- He is the Living Word made flesh who dwelt among us, the only perfect man, the only perfect woman, the only, one and only, perfect, Son of G-d and Son of Man. Totally unique in His person. There is none near Him, none that can approach the Lion of the tribe of Judah- unless we first have His permission. I am His friend, but He is (and will ever be) my LORD. My ADONAI and my Savior. More than a Teacher- though He is. (I’ll start on my list of “mores” but it would be very extensive!) I will suffice it to say- He is “more than..!”
I’m even fussy about Oswald Chambers “title”- for His book- “My Utmost for His Highest.” I would rather (write your own book, -right?) say “His Utmost for My Highest.”
Maybe I’m just being “choicy” today?
To love in Hebrew. “Avad”- This word “avad” is what we do and who we are. We (His servants) “serve.” How may I love you today? How may I serve you today? I am to provide “compassionate service” to my neighbor (the one who is nearest). I must develop the heart of a servant. The heart of a servant resides within me, for the word of G-d says- “we have the mind of Christ- who came not to be served,but to serve.” He placed a towel around His waist and washed the feet of the talmudim. Can you imagine G-d washing your feet? (I think I just “popped a cork!”- or “blew a gasket!”) lol! – Kees, this is, for lack of a better word- “amazing love!” Amazing, assiduous, attentive, “avad!” This is how we love. Amein!
“but (another Bible but!) – through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5.13)
Ah, yes, love is not a feeling but it is a word of action. We have such a mushy concept of love in our culture and we have lost sight of what Biblical love truly is. It is so easy to have a hardened heart towards those we consider to be “unloveable” or is really those I deem unworthy of my love (I stand convicted). So I have to remind myself of how much He loved and loves me when I am unloveable. Who am I to do any less for his children?
I am still working through forgiving family members who are no longer alive. It is very liberating to forgive. Every so often, Adonai will reveal another area of unforgiveness in my life. Sometimes the truth He reveals to me shocks me to the core. I am thankful for the grace He shows me by not revealing all of it at once. Frankly, I don’t think I could take it! Besides forgiving others, we also need to truly forgive ourselves. I think too many people walk around beating themselves up and not believing they are forgiven. What kind of love can I show when I’m bound up in self loathing?
Carl mentioned Peter’s good intentions with the tabernacles. I wonder if this took place during Sukkot. If so, then his actions would not seem so “odd” and would make more sense within the Biblical calendar. It’s just a thought.
Donna- which of these three are “worthy” of worship? Yeshua, Moses or Elijah? Moses, Elijah, Abraham, Peter, John, Paul- all of these were (only) men. Sons of Adam. The Second Adam, Son of G-d and son of man, Yeshua HaMashiach (only) is unique. Unparalleled, unequaled-in a “class” (for lack of a better word) far superior to any man/creature, this man is our Creator/G-d Incarnate, and the ONE who created (all the angels, including the one who once was known as Lucifer (the now defeated, dethroned, and defanged.) This is the Living Word made flesh who dwelt among us. ”
Then Yeshua came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28.18) Given unto who? “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12)
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24.27) For in Him (our Bible explains/reveals), in Christ, (the Annointed) all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.. (Colossians 2.9)
If only G-d would give us a glance of Who it was we (yes, we) crucified.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYV7hpD9JTI&feature=related
Carl, I didn’t mean to imply Moses or Elijah were worthy of worship. I have great love and respect for them, but I don’t worship them. I was just stating that if this took place during Sukkot, then Peter’s wanting to put up three temporary booths would make sense. I apologize if I didn’t explain my point my clearly. Shalom, Donna
Christians miss a lot because they don’t have the holy days to celebrate. The High Holy Days help us to remember that we are not only beholding to HaShem, but also to people, especially the people Israel, within whom we experience love. Having to “make amends”, before Yom Kippur helps me to remember that there ARE broken relationships in my life that I need to reconcile. If I don’t have those times, I am quick to “forget” those things, as it is much easier to blot out the person than to deal with the relational issues. I can relate Donna, I have living relatives that I struggle to forgive as they keep doing what they do over and over again….it would be so much easier to blot them out then to constantly know that it is them that I have to love; for Him, not for me….
Hey, Cheryl. I agree, for sure. I also love the communal aspect of the High Holy Days. We ask for forgiveness for all of us on Yom Kippur and it causes us to look at ourselves as a community. I remember my grandmother used to hope a person accused of a crime wasn’t Jewish because she didn’t want shame to be brought on the community. There’s also something special about connecting to the ancient path that the observance of the Holy Days affords. Sometimes I get really caught up in the Spirit when I realize people have been coming together on these days for thousands of years–it’s quite moving and powerful.
There was a large Jewish population in the neighborhood where I grew up. We used to joke about “Jewish guilt”, and oy the jokes about Jewish mothers, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. That guilt reminds you that you are a people, not just one of the “members” but literally grafted into and accountable to that people. (notice I didn’t say those) It’s who you are. What you do, is a representation of the whole of that body. That’s kind of a good feeling, while prompted by guilt sometimes, well, a lot of times, and it is very difficult to communicate to those who do not share it. To carry that weight is an awesome responsibility, but I have seen it do some GREAT work, and is an awesome testimony to others who do not have the privilege of that history.
Well my mother was the “Queen of Jewish Guilt”:) Except in her case it wasn’t about the Jews as a whole, but was about doing what she wanted! However, I do agree it can be beneficial to remember we don’t represent ourselves and that we want to bring honor to our people, our nation, the body of Messiah, etc. Gee, it would help if we remembered we represent Yeshua in our daily lives. Funny, whenever there’s a Wall Street scandal I think “oh, please don’t let it be another Jew”. How many Bernie Madoff’s can we take? Oy. I guess my grandmother rubbed off on me in a good way even though she spoke Yiddish and I barely understood her.
This type of love is freeing but challenging, especially when it comes to rejection
I must fight the rejection and continue to walk in a right spirit, the spirit of love
as written in Today’s Word. I have been learning this over the past few years
Dying to one’s self daily
By this shall all (men) know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another,just as I have loved you
so you too should love one another JN 13:35
Yiddish or not, grandmothers, and even great grandmothers with NO English rub off a lot…all you need is the LOOK….lol