Filling in the Gaps
And He said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
Love – Does this commandment apply to you today? Of course it does! I don’t know anyone in the believing community who would argue that this commandment doesn’t matter any more because grace has set aside all the commandments. Yeshua cites a verse from Deuteronomy in answer to the question, “Which is the great commandment?” We all agree that Yeshua’s answer sets the standard for our behavior.
But maybe we need to be reminded about the cultural context of Yeshua’s answer. Maybe we need to fill in the gaps about what this commandment means in order to understand what it implies about how we act.
We know that the Greek word here is agapeseis, the imperative for demonstrating agape love. This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew ahavta. We think we know what this means. Agape and ahav are about “sacrificial love,” right? This is benevolence toward another at cost to myself. Right? Well, not quite. You see, while ahav and agape portray “unconditional” love, the expression of this love toward God (and toward men) occurs within the context of hesed. So, while God’s love toward us is agape-ahav, that unconditional element of love establishes a relationship, a relationship characterized by hesed. And as we know, hesed is characterized by a bond of loyalty, moral obligation and social relationship. Hesed is what God does and gives. It is the context of God’s unconditional love. It is the framework of our relationship with God. And it is what God expects of those who are in a relationship with Him (cf. Jeremiah 9:23). “To experience salvation is to move more deeply within the sphere of divine hesed.”[1]
When we recall the hesed involves essential reciprocity, obligation and community commitment, we realize that our idea of love, even agape, is not adequate. We don’t think of “love” in terms of moral obligation and social imperative. We don’t think of “love” as essentially communal. Our idea of love has been influenced by Greek individualism. We think that loving God with all our heart, mind and soul is an individual issue, a matter to be accomplished between each one of us and God. But the context of hesed changes all that. Hesed reminds me that love is not a feeling or a sentiment. It is a way of life, lived in a community of mutual loyalty and moral obligation. Hesed is covenant language, and covenants always involve others. This is why Yeshua adds, “And the second is like it.” There is no agape-ahav outside of the context of loyalty and moral obligation to my neighbor. I cannot love God and withhold hesed from others. The prophet Hosea tells us that knowing God demands practicing hesed (Hosea 6:6). James says virtually the same thing. Faith without works isn’t faith at all.
Can you love God without community obligation? No, says the Tanakh. And since Yeshua repeats this commandment, we must conclude that He thought that same thing. The question before us is not “How shall I love God?” but rather “How do I show hesed toward others?” Expressing hesed is loving God. Where do I go to learn what it means to express hesed? Well, I could start in the text where the word occurs on a regular basis. I’m pretty sure you can guess where that is.
Topical Index: hesed, agape, ahav, love, Matthew 22:37, Hosea 6:6, Jeremiah 9:23
Shalom dear Skip. Thank you for the beautiful pictures. I love the ocean. It reflects something of Father’s mistery to me. Thanks again for explaining so clearly the true dimension of our Father’s love. I would like to share my own experience of it. His love is very much alive in us for others. Even though others stop loving us or never really loved us in the first place we still experience His love radiating from our innermost being. It feels like a very warm glow coming from within my being – the center part of my human body. I feel a physical flow from withing. In my thoughts I hear this taught to me by the Lover of our souls. Dearly beloved daugther it is ok to keep on loving those who have stopped loving you(when they become enemies and give you hate in return for your/His love). This love emanates as compassion because somehow you are given a glimps of the hurting parts inside of them. It is a partnership and bonding love. He loves you, you love Him and together you love all people sumultaneously. I have come to understand that it is when we open our hearts to transmit this compassion to those hurting us that we receive His covenent/relational/bonding love ourselves. This then is the binding and healing factor that will redeem the whole world. Loving with Him without expecting love in return. I hope this makes sense. Please do not think it has anything to do with me doing this on my own. All the love really is His only. We are only the chariots carrying and spreading His love.
Shalom Shalom!
OH NO CHRISTINA – SUPERNATURAL LOVE CAN NEVER BE DONE ALONE – IT ONLY COMES FROM ABOVE – COMING DOWN FROM HIM…
THERE WAS ONCE A TIME IN MY OWN LIFE THAT I HAD TO ASK FOR A SUPERNATURAL LOVE TO LOVE MY OWN SON BECAUSE I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED & DISCOURAGED IN HIS BEHAVIOR/ACTIONS – I CRIED OUT TO GOD TO GIVE ME A SUPERNATURAL LOVE FOR HIM/MY SON AS FATHER GOD DID/HAS FOR HIS OWN SON & GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT HONORED MY PLEA & GRANTED MY REQUEST & THINGS CHANGED IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE…
JAN
Amen Christina-I was thinking ‘conduits’ but I love your idea of ‘chariots’ even more!
But we (none of us) are able to give that which we do not first possess. Love is a choice (we choose to ahav G-d) Choose you this day whom you will avad- as for me and my house (very individualistic-don’t you think?) we (very communal -don’t you think?)- we (plural) will serve (avad) the LORD.
Very simply put- we serve G-d by serving others. Took me (individual) ‘too long’ to recognize and realize this..but friends (a covenant word btw..) Jesus-Others-You is still (after all these years) the way to spell joy. Be the Servant.
For the Son of Man (we all know who this is) came to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. Yeshua is the Servant. What do the scriptures instruct? “let this mind be in you (and you and you and you) that also was in Christ Jesus”. What mind is this? The mind (the heart) of a Servant. We (as in all of us who are His) serve G-d by serving (agape-avad) others. Who (I’d like to know) was the absolute most “other-minded” (is this a word?) man ever to have lived? Without a stutter or a stammer I know it was Christ. From first breath to His last- this was the Servant and this was the message of YHWH- “in love (chesed- covenant love/faithfulness) serve one another”.
Let us then tag or tattoo this message on our brain today- “How may I serve you?”
And BTW Mr. successful Business man- how would you grow your business? “Customer service”. PSP- People first. Provide good service. You will make a Profit. Customer service wins the day- every time.
Busy housewife-serve you children. Husbands serve your wives. Learn to be the Servant in your home. Do for her ‘random’ acts of lovingkindness. Courtesy is love in the little things. Be creative- there are thousands of ways to show love- to your children, to your neighbors, to your wives- to all who live and breath. Be kind to animals- even the two-legged kind.
We (each and all) are made in the image of our Father. Kindness (lovingkindnesses) is part and parcel of our genetic makeup. Within each of us (and all of us) resides the capacity for great good. Personally (speaking for me) I love and admire kind-hearted, servant-hearted people. The inspire me and I aspire to be one of these. To live generously- sharing with those I come in contact with (my neighbors-those who are nearest to me) the love (covenant love) Christ has implanted and imparted to me. This is my plan of action today- love G-d and love people. These are ten words condensed and combined into two. Love G-d -love people- this is our choice today. I may choose- you may choose to do this. G-d has place within every individual the ability to choose. To choose the right path- to choose the right way- to choose the life of a Servant. To live as He lived- loving the Father. To love as He loved. Loving others. To become “other-minded.”
Yesterday-when I was a little tyke it was all about me. I can’t quite remember if my first word was Mcdonalds or “mine”- but selfishness abounded in my little spoiled “all about me” world. I had to be tought to share my toys. Thank G-d I was able to receive this instruction from my parental units. It absolutely amazes me-some have never gone beyond the limits of “self.” Friends- no matter who you are or where you live- it is true..” a man wrapped up in himself make a mighty small package..”
We know from Exodus 34.6 our Father is compassionate. And where does this compassion come from? It comes from suffering. We must go through the valley ourselves. We suffer in order to feel and to know the suffering of others. And Who also suffered and was tempted and tried with the very same temptations we are tempted with- yet without sin? It was Christ- the (only) perfect Man ever to have lived.. He knows what each of us (we) go through. Our Sovereign Savior is intimately and intricately involved in each (and all) of our lives. His Name is (and remains) Emmanuel- G-d with us. With us (each and all) here. With us (each and all) right here/right now. ~ Where shall I go from your Breath? Or where shall I flee from your Presence? (Psalm 139.7) Do we think we may hide from G-d? or run away from Him? This is not possible. ~ But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD ~ Excuse me, but “Dummy!” Sin short circuits the mind. Jonah thought (erroneously) he could run away and hide from G-d! lol! Sorry Jonah- He is LORD of Tarshish too! Our Sovereign Savior- LORD of all!
What do the scriptures say? ~ Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD. ~ (Jeremiah 23:24)
I ask- does this still apply today? right here/right now- is He still our Immanuel? Is He still with us? And is He (most assuredly) for us? Yes. He is. He is YHWH and He has said (shall we take Him at His word?)- Yes, we will. ~ I AM the LORD- I do not change ~ The same yesterday-today-forever. Amein!
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
Although we have a choice, it doesn’t seem there’s much of an option.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
When love is separated from the commandments it is cut off from an objective standard and becomes an inward, emotional affair. This is the legacy that Pietism has left, and we’re all paying the price with a rigid and hostile anti-nomianism (anti-Torah) both within and outside Christianity. It led to 19th century romanticism where inward emotional “feelings” replace Torah. Maybe it’s time to get rid of some of the key cultural trappings in order to return to Torah.
SOON TO BE 59 THE END OF JANUARY – I HAVE LEARNED – THERE IS NO FAIRY TALE ONLY TORAH WITH OUR BELOVED IS THE TRUE STORY OF AGAPE LOVE… ♥♥ JAN
AFTER ALL – THE CROSS IS NOT VERY ROMANTIC…