The new commandment of Christ

[Isatis]

John 13:34-35 :" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What makes this commandment new is the fact that Jesus gave it a new standard. Unlike Moses who said, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18), Jesus said "as I have loved you". I believe we all agree on this point.

Now, let's see if that is the only "change" when compared with the the Second Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:39:"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (cf. Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27)

As you can see, there is something else that makes it different beside our Lord's standard outlined above. The Second Great Commandment talks about loving neighbors whereas the New Commandment says that we are to love "one another". The context of John 13 (Jesus talking to His disciples at the last supper) suggests that "one another" is referring to "brothers and sisters in the faith".

My question is: do "neighbors" in the Second Great Commandment and "one another" in the New Commandment mean the same thing?

 

[Girder of Loins]

Jesus described the term "neighbor" as the person you may hate the most. In His parable, He called the Samaritans the "neighbors" of the Jews. This was radical. The Jews hated the Samaritans, because they had interbred with the Caannanites(spelling?). In fact, they would walk around Samaria rather than through it.

Basically, our neighbors are anyone and everyone. So to love one another means to love everyone.

 

[JohnRabbit]

John 13:34-35 :" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What makes this commandment new is the fact that Jesus gave it a new standard. Unlike Moses who said, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18), Jesus said "as I have loved you". I believe we all agree on this point.

Now, let's see if that is the only "change" when compared with the the Second Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:39:"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (cf. Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27)

As you can see, there is something else that makes it different beside our Lord's standard outlined above. The Second Great Commandment talks about loving neighbors whereas the New Commandment says that we are to love "one another". The context of John 13 (Jesus talking to His disciples at the last supper) suggests that "one another" is referring to "brothers and sisters in the faith".

My question is: do "neighbors" in the Second Great Commandment and "one another" in the New Commandment mean the same thing?

yes it means the same thing.

the new commandment was like you said "as I have loved you", didn't have that before.

Jesus set the example.

 

[Isatis]

You mean sacrificial love for christians and non-christians alike?

 

[JohnRabbit]

You mean sacrificial love for christians and non-christians alike?

if this is for me, i mean love after the example of the Christ.

 

[Isatis]

if this is for me, i mean love after the example of the Christ.

1 John 3:16: "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

Don't you think that the New Commandment has to do with our relationship with other christians only?

 

[JohnRabbit]

1 John 3:16: "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

Don't you think that the New Commandment has to do with our relationship with other christians only?

yes after the example of the Christ!

you said it, "as I have loved you"!

 

[Isatis]

yes after the example of the Christ!

you said it, "as I have loved you"!

I don't think you are following me.

 

[motherprayer]

You mean sacrificial love for christians and non-christians alike?

I do believe Jesus calls us to love everyone.

He even told us to pray for our enemies.

 

[JohnRabbit]

I don't think you are following me.

help me.

 

[Isatis]

I do believe Jesus calls us to love everyone.

He even told us to pray for our enemies.

Prayer and sacrificial love are different things, aren't they?

one more scripture
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Context here again is important. Paul is talking to christians, his "little children" in the faith.

 

[motherprayer]

Prayer and sacrificial love are different things, aren't they?

one more scripture
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Context here again is important. Paul is talking to christians, his "little children" in the faith.

I believe Jesus calls us to love those who don't know Him, just as He did. By doing this, we call others to him in the showing to them how God loves. I don't believe we should not treat non-Christians with love, because how else would we call them to Him? Many don't believe in Christ because they are treated badly by Christians, and we should not be a stumbling block for others, be they Christian or not.

 

[Isatis]

help me.

My question is: do "neighbors" in the Second Great Commandment and "one another" in the New Commandment mean the same thing?

What I want to know is if Jesus commanded us to show that sacrificial love to non-christians. I explained in OP why I believe it was not the case ("one another" in context). Then, when you take into account Paul's epistles and even John's, it looks like that "new" commandment that involves sacrificial love is from christian to christian.

 

[JohnRabbit]

What I want to know is if Jesus commanded us to show that sacrificial love to non-christians. I explained in OP why I believe it was not the case ("one another" in context). Then, when you take into account Paul's epistles and even John's, it looks like that "new" commandment that involves sacrificial love is from christian to christian.

i see what you're saying now.

here's how i respond:

Matthew 5:46(NKJV)
46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

 

[Isatis]

I don't believe we should not treat non-Christians with love

I agree with you but that has nothing to do with my point. Love others as yourselves and love one another as I have loved you. Do you see the difference? We do love others (as ourselves) but not the same way we love one another (sacrificial love)
Makes sense?

 

[motherprayer]

What I want to know is if Jesus commanded us to show that sacrificial love to non-christians. I explained in OP why I believe it was not the case ("one another" in context). Then, when you take into account Paul's epistles and even John's, it looks like that "new" commandment that involves sacrificial love is from christian to christian.

1Cor 7:13-14 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

This is interesting, because in one interpretation it could be said to only speak for a married couple, but it could also mean for us to show sacrificial love to those who don't believe. Maybe...

 

[motherprayer]

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 

[JohnRabbit]

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 

[brhal]

They are the same in respect as to how we should treat them; they are different in respect as to what we share with them. Truly, the parable of the good Samaritan shows us that all are our neighbors, deserving of our charity and compassion. Just as truly, Jesus told them that followed him not to give that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast their pearls before swine.

 

[motherprayer]

In truth, we can never truly know who is saved and who is not. Of course, there are some obvious signs, but the fact is, on meeting a person, unless the first thing you say to them is "Are you saved?" You kind of have to remind yourself to love them either way. Wouldn't it be nice if the love you show them helps them to come to Christ? If you could be the first Christian in their lives who treats them like they are on the same level as you, and that helps them to understand how Christ loved us, and how He died for us "while we were yet sinners"?