UNDERSTANDING LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELF
Charity is a virtue in most cultures where it is accepted that people who have more material goods will share with people who have fewer material goods. This happens on street corners with panhandlers and in corporations who share their financial profits with non-profit organizations that help the poor.
This practice of sharing wealth has its origins in the Bible, but charity happens in both the religious and non-religious world. In Judaism, the fulfillment of the command to give to the poor is called Tzedakah. In Christianity giving to the poor is typically accomplished through some kind of mission program or para-church ministry.
STUDY TIP: People who tithe also consider that giving tithes and offerings to their church is a way of returning to God some of the money God has given to them. See this link and this link for understanding of tithes and offerings.
In all organizations, both religious and non-religious, aid is typically given through money. While much physical good is accomplished through this kind of charity, giving money is not the medium for spiritual giving that God has in mind in the Bible. In the secular world, after food, clothing and shelter, the most important thing to most people is to love and be loved. In the kingdom of God, however, money is not the issue. God uses the symbolism of love to communicate his idea of the thing that is most important to him: His spoken word.
The high value God places on his spoken word in this well-known scripture:
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
COMMENTARY: See this link for an in-depth understanding of this scripture.
Christians, who insist on interpreting the Bible literally, think about this verse in terms of Jesus’ physical life. Thus, their interpretation of this verse is that greater love is found in the example of Jesus willingness to die physically on a cross. This interpretation totally misses what God wants us to learn from Jesus’ example.
First, thinking in terms of physical death limits expressions of greater love only to people who, like Jesus, are willing to suffer violent physical deaths for some kind of greater good that benefits others. This belief is the root of the concept of martyrs who die physically while trying to save others from death. Such acts of heroism are noble, but they are not examples of what this verse is about. This verse, like all scripture, is about our inner spiritual lives — not our physical lives. To understand the verse, therefore, we must first understand spiritual life.
There are two kinds of spiritual life. They are both represented as the inner life of the heart. They are life without God in the heart and life with God in the heart.
God’s view of a heart in which he does not make his home is an evil, impure heart. The heart in which he does make his home is a clean, pure heart.
Evil, impure hearts are evident in our religious life, in religious pride, in obedience to religious laws, in participation in religious commerce, and in observance of religious rituals and traditions. Religious people are images of the religious idols (i.e. Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists) from whom they receive religious teachings.
Clean, pure hearts are evident in New Covenant disciples, in a healthy spiritual life, in a life set apart from religion, and in a character like Jesus and in activities consistent with Jesus ministry. People with clean, pure hearts are created in God’s image, and consistently experience Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, Heart, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy, and Truth, all of which represent God’s spoken word.
When they interpret John 15:13 in terms of physical life, Christians totally miss what God wants them to learn about their inner, spiritual lives. Thus, they do not understand that Jesus laid down his life two times. They do not understand the story of Jesus death and resurrection is a parable for spiritual death and spiritual resurrection.
STUDY TIP: See Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell. Also see Two Deaths and Religious Rituals and Traditions: Baptism and Circumcision.
When we look at the symbolism of baptism, we see that Jesus laid down his life twice. The first time he died was the baptism of repentance in water by John the Baptist. This was Jesus’ first death (i.e. death to the practice of religion.) He did this voluntarily because God had opened his eyes to understanding that religion is sin. There is no biblical record of his eyes being opened, but we can safely infer that it happened because he submitted to the baptism of repentance, and because God immediately anointed him after baptism.
It was necessary that Jesus submit to a baptism of repentance because he was religious for the first thirty years of his life. He could not be anointed as a messiah until he repented for his sin (i.e. the sin of practicing religion.)
Death to the practice of religion was no easier for Jesus than it is for any religious person who enjoys the rewards of being religious. It is hard to accept, but it is fair to say that, because Jesus was an observant Jew for the first thirty years of his life, he was as addicted to religion as any other Jew or Christian at any time past or present. Nevertheless, Jesus voluntarily submitted to death to religion through the symbolism of baptism, and his followers will follow his example.
The Bible is silent on events in Jesus life prior to his baptism in water. We know from other scriptures, however, that he was listening to God’s call to leave religion. God had opened his eyes to the following realities:
Once God had opened his eyes to these truths, Jesus was compelled to do three things:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Repent for practicing religion.
- Stop practicing religion.
- Tell his friends and family what God had revealed to him about religion.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
We do not see these events specifically reported in the Bible, but we know that they happened because we know from other Bible verses that these experiences are common to all New Covenant disciples who follow Jesus. Jesus summarized his ministry when he said that the spirit of God was on him to set religious captives free.
Jesus’ life after baptism changed radically. As soon as he came up out of the water, God poured out his spirit on Jesus. At that point, Jesus was born again. Before God said “You are my son in whom I am well pleased.” This is the point at which he was anointed as a messiah.
Up to that point, Jesus was a son of man. He was born of the seed of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil (i.e. he learned how to be religious by listening to religious leaders.) After he was anointed he became a son of God born of the seed of the Tree of Life (i.e. God.) After he was anointed, God looked at him as his son.
STUDY TIP: See this link for more about being a son of man and a son of God.
The occasion of baptism when Jesus’ laid down his religious life is the first of two times that he laid down his life. We see the second time he laid down his life when we read of the persecution he suffered. This is his second death.
See this link about Jesus’ second death.
When God gives his words to us, he does not give them for our benefit alone. He gives us his love (i.e. his word) with the clear expectation that we will give the wealth (i.e. his spoken word) we receive from him to others. That is why he commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We see this command affirmed in these scriptures:
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
COMMENTARY: To understand this scripture, it is necessary to understand the symbolism of sickness, death, leprosy and demons. See these links for understanding: Sickness, Disease, Blindness, and Deafness, Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell, Leprosy, and Demons.
What is given in this verse is God’s spoken word. God gives his words freely to New Covenant disciples. When they speak God’s words, their words heal the sick from the disease of religion, cure people from the destructive leprosy of religion, and cast out religious leaders (i.e. demons) from positions of leadership in religious organizations.
This verse is a command from God spoken by Jesus to all New Covenant disciples who know how to hear God’s spoken voice. Because God’s word is a free gift, those who receive it must not charge when they share it with others. They received it freely, and freely they must share it. The principle of receiving and giving in this verse is a companion to the “measure for measure” principle in Mark 4:21-25.
The command to share, and share without charge is not what religious leaders do. They are hired and paid to share what they think they know. They share their ignorance, sell their religious products, and sell their religious services as profiteers in the world of commercial religion.
Proverbs 28:27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.
COMMENTARY: Biblical references to the poor are to religious people who do not hear God’s spoken voice because they have hard hearts. These are Old/First Covenant religionists who practice defiled religion. God considers them to be spiritually dead and spiritually poor. See this link for understanding of spiritual wealth and poverty.
Giving to the poor is another way of saying love your neighbor as yourself. We access God’s love for ourselves when we listen to his spoken voice. Similarly, we make God’s love accessible to others when we share what we have heard God say with them.
Because God is love and God’s word is love, the process of receiving and speaking God’s words are acts of love. Speaking God’s words can also be called sharing God with others because God exists in his spoken word.
If we have the right attitude about God’s word, we think of it as our most precious possession. We do whatever we need to do to access more and more of it, and we store his words in our hearts.
If we have the right attitude about God’s word, we will want to share it with people who are spiritually poor. We understand what God says about loving our neighbor as ourselves and are compelled to share God’s words with them so that they will be spiritually alive and wealthy.
This verse contains a promise of a blessing and a curse. The promise is that people who speak God’s word to those who cannot hear God’s voice will not lack for hearing God’s voice. In other words, the rate of flow of God’s words into the heart of a New Covenant disciple is absolutely dependent on the rate of flow of God’s words out of a New Covenant disciple. The blessing of receiving more of God’s word when we share more of God’s word with others is consistent with the
The curse goes into effect when disciples cease sharing God’s words with others. If they do not share God’s words with others, God restricts the flow of his words to the disciples. When the flow of God’s words is totally restricted, the disciple comes under the curse of not hearing God’s voice.
STUDY TIP: See this link for more understanding of the blessing and curse.
Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
COMMENTARY: What we receive is God’s spoken word in our hearts which is a blessing. This verse says that giving/sharing God’s word with others is a blessing of a higher order.
Luke 6:38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ”
COMMENTARY: Christians interpret this verse in terms of receiving and giving money or charity of some kind. This is a totally wrong interpretation. This verse is about receiving and giving God’s spoken word. Jesus was able to speak for God because he received (i.e. heard) God’s words in his heart. And then he spoke God’s words out of the overflow of his heart.
It is very important to notice that how much we receive from God is controlled by how much we give. Thus, if we share God’s words with others, we will receive more of his words. Conversely, if we don’t share the words we receive with others, God will reduce, or limit how much he allows us to hear. In other words, our spiritual wealth increases when we share God’s words with others.
STUDY TIP: See this link for understanding of spiritual wealth and poverty.
Mark 4:20-24 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more.
COMMENTARY:***
Matthew 7:2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
COMMENTARY:
Ephesians 4:8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
COMMENTARY: The captives are people who were set free from religion. They were previously enslaved to religion, but they were free from religion after they believed the words Jesus spoke. The gifts Jesus gave were spiritual gifts that include Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, a new heart, Glory, Blessing, Hope, Joy, Truth
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
COMMENTARY: See this link for understanding of spiritual gifts.
Nehemiah 12:44 On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the offerings, the first part of the harvest, and the tithes. They were responsible to collect from the fields outside the towns the portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites. For all the people of Judah took joy in the priests and Levites and their work.
COMMENTARY: ***
This command to love your neighbor as yourself poses a problem for people who have a problem with the idea of self love. They would say that it is okay to be comfortable with who you are, but would also say that excessive self love is a moral flaw associated with vanity, narcissism and selfishness. Obviously, these descriptions do not agree with God’s idea of self love.
In human terms, the command to love your neighbor in the same way that you love yourself is confusing and challenging because human love is always associated with feelings and emotions which are very subjective and personal. But, since Godly love is not a human emotion that is directed toward others or to us personally, it cannot be considered vain, narcissistic or selfish. Godly love is an expression of who God is — not an affirmation of who we are.
Human love is very abstract and varies from one person to another and from one culture to another. This is not the case with godly love which is universal. Like God himself, his love (i.e. his word) does not change. That means it does not change in terms of content from one person or culture to another.
If we think in terms of love as positive human feelings and emotions, we might have warm feelings about our neighbors, and we might totally comfortable with who we are, but, God’s command to love and bless our enemy in the same way that we love and bless ourselves is impossible to do. This is a big clue that God’s love is not the same as human love.
STUDY TIP: Loving our enemy can only be understood when we understand that Religion is the Enemy.
Considering the above arguments, must conclude that man’s idea of love is not the same as God’s idea. But this awareness does not bring us any closer to understanding what God’s idea of love is.
To come to that understanding, we begin by acknowledging the following facts and conclusions from those facts:
| FACTS | CONCLUSIONS |
| God is love. |
|
| Love comes from God. |
|
| God makes himself known through his laws written on the heart. |
|
| People who love one another are born of God. |
|
| God’s love is revealed through people. |
|
| God’s love is perfected in people who keep God’s word in their hearts.
|
|
| Receipt of God’s love depends on keeping (i.e. obeying) God’s spoken word. |
|
| God’s spoken words/promises communicate his love to us. |
|
| God’s commands/laws are fulfilled by people who love one another. |
|
| God’s love is perfected in people who love one another. |
|
| The greatest kind of love is found in people who are willing to lay down their lives in both the first death and second death. |
|
| God teaches us to love one another. |
|
It is clear from this analysis that Godly love is not the same as human love. Even the kinds of love that religion represents to be embodied in ahab love, agape love and phileo love do not explain Godly love. Godly love is beyond human understanding and beyond man’s ability to understand it or explain it.
To try to explain Godly love is as challenging as trying to explain God with human words. It is impossible. If God is beyond our understanding, and if God is love, then it follows that God’s love is also beyond our understanding.
God writes his laws in the hearts of his people so that they will know him. That means that people who have God’s laws written on their hearts will also know his love because God and his love are inseparable.
This is good to know, but it is not helpful unless we are able to recognize the indicators or markers of God’s presence. See the following links for indicators of God’s presence in our hearts:
|
All of these indicators are manifest (i.e. made real and active) in the lives of New Covenant disciples. They are present and active because God’s love (i.e. God’s word) is present and active in their hearts. But, they are not present and active in Old/First Covenant religionists.
We only need to look at the life of Jesus, his warnings about persecution, tribulation and suffering, and the lives of the prophets to understand that being a New Covenant disciple is not easy. Voluntarily submitting to the persecution and indignities that Jesus suffered is not something that anyone does lightly. But, a few will do it because the power of love is powerfully at work in them to the degree that they will willingly lay down their lives for others.
STUDY TIP: See The Cry of My Heart.