Dark Side of the Moon

“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35  NASB New – Yeshua says, in the Greek text, “I am giving you a new commandment.”  But…

Hitchhiker’s Guide (26)

The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22:39  NASB Your neighbor – “Who is my neighbor?”  The scribe’s question brought about the famous parable of the Good Samaritan.  We all know the story.  But perhaps we haven’t considered all the implications.  Ira Stone helps us see one additional consequence:…

Biblical  Psychology

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and…

Expanded Coverage

Who slanders not with his tongue nor does to his fellow man evil nor bears reproach for his kin.   Psalm 15:3  Robert Alter Bears reproach – The English isn’t common.  “Reproach,” what is that?  Other translations attempt to explain: “casts slur,” “cast scorn,” “brings shame,” “discredits,” “bribes,” “spreads rumors,” “defames” are some of the synonyms…

Entry Pass

Lord, who will sojourn in Your tent, who will dwell on Your holy mountain?  Psalm 15:1  Robert Alter Sojourn/ dwell – Who do you suppose the psalmist has in mind?  You have all the clues you need: a tent, a mountain, a temporary encampment, a permanent residence.  Who else could it be but Moses?  The…

Citizen Responsibility

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.  Matthew 6:33 NASB Kingdom – What does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God?  The answer might surprise you because it depends on a shift in paradigms that occurred more than two millennia ago.  In the early days of Hellenism,…

Magic Trick

The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:39  NASB Is like it – Why does Yeshua say that the commandment to love your neighbor is hómoios aute (like it)?  How can any other commandment be like the first one: to love God will all your heart, mind, and strength? …

Do You?

The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.  Mark 12:31  NASB As yourself – Does the psychology of the Bible require self-love before sacrificial love?  When both the Tanakh and the apostolic writings speak about loving your neighbor, the underlying condition seems to be…

The Right Rights

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:31  NIV Neighbor – “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an…

Personal Ethics

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18 NASB Neighbor – Ethics is a relational concept. It does not exist as an inner, entirely personal formation. To be ethical there must be a movement from an inner…