The problem with that is that within monotheism, the Almighty is not a person, nor a power nor anything tangible, describable or measurable in any human terms as the next few commandments: forbidding any substitutes, images and names clearly insist. The enigma is encapsulated in the expression I am that I am full stop! For Christians God is Love , In Islam it is similarly the epitome of Grace and Mercy - the phrase Our Father in Heaven should not be interpreted as a person but as an earthly representation of a generous, omnipotent but somewhat paternal spirit.
The New Testament was mostly written in Greek, and follows that traditional pre-Christian obligation called Xenia. The point is to worship generosity, rather than idols. Early religions were a primitive corporate survival strategy that involved winning wars. Modern religion is truly all about winning peace and harmony, although there are plenty of false prophets still advocating war in the Name of Their God.
Jesus Christ - who was, we should remember, at that time not a Christian, but a first century Jewish teacher reportedly clarified the paradox in a characteristically philosophical reply:. These, however, are not really two, but one single commandment, to love one another the spheres of operation of which the pair are completely inseparable. It is obvious in the parable of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor can even be a complete stranger who we can expect nothing from in return.
But, following the commandment of Christ means being a neighbor to everyone, and most importantly it is about us being that good neighbor. It starts with ourselves. When Christ was asked what the greatest of all the commandments was, it was not asked in earnest by someone who sincerely wanted to know.
Rather, it was asked by someone who considered himself to be an expert in the law of the prophets, who only wanted to test Jesus. By loving our neighbor as ourselves, Christ has made it impossible for us to fail because we are very good at taking care of ourselves.
We want what is best for us and by making our own selves as the benchmark of how we should love others, Christ has shown us how to truly love our neighbor. Another important teaching in loving our neighbor as ourselves is that we realize that we should not wait for when we feel loved before we start to love others. We do not have to wait until we feel that we have a surplus of self-love before we give it away to our neighbors. The commandment made it perfectly clear: love your neighbor exactly as you love yourself.
No more and no less. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. These are the great commandments of Jesus. Christ gave us two commandments that encapsulate all the laws and commands previously mentioned in the Old Testament.
The commandments as told by the prophets is about our bond with God and our fellow men. Jesus first teaches us that the greatest of all commandments is to love God with our whole being because God is the foundation of love. It is only by loving God that we truly learn how to love.
Right away Christ follows it up with loving your neighbor as yourself because once we put God at the center of our love, we learn how it is to genuinely do the same for our neighbors. Dearest Lord, may I be a blessing to my neighbors. Not just to those who are close to me but also to those with who I communicate even if they are far away.
September Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself. Whitney Clayton. Men and Women and Priesthood Power M. Russell Ballard. Was I Raising Children or Flowers? Paula Schulte. Sisters in the Covenant Emmaline R. Blending Culture in Toronto Katherine Nelson.
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