Love People
This month our new Explore the Bible series will focus on what Jesus identified as the two most important commandments in the entire Bible.
Read for yourself what Jesus said in Matthew 22:
“…an expert in religious law, tried to trap (Jesus) with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (verses 35-40, NLT).
Jesus teaches us that loving God naturally leads to loving our neighbor, or other people. When we display our love for God by caring for, respecting, protecting, empowering, and serving people, we both honor God and bring about human flourishing.
Yet, before we think loving people sounds simple, Jesus challenges us to expand our definition of “neighbor.” On another occasion, Jesus spoke with someone else about the two greatest commandments. That time, he used a story to explain who qualifies as our neighbor. In the illustration of the Good Samaritan, a man went out of his way to care sacrificially for another man even though they came from opposing nations and faith traditions (see Luke 10:25-37).
Shortly after moving to Stuttgart, we received this traditional German gift from our neighbor.
According to Jesus, loving our neighbor does not mean we only love people we enjoy, like family members and friends. Jesus also commands us to love people who frustrate us or dislike us. Even if a person seems unlovable because of their personality, culture, social status, political stance or worldview…they still fall under Jesus’ category of a neighbor who deserves our love.
You do not have to go far in Berlin before the idea of loving your neighbor gets put to the test—nosy neighbors, messy roommates, people talking loudly on the S-Bahn, drug addicts peeing on the sidewalk, impatient waiters, demanding bosses, complaining coworkers, inconsistent friends, frustrating partners, disobedient children…
Loving all people feels like an impossible standard from Jesus.
But remember, the second greatest commandment connects to and depends upon the first.
Here is another Bible verse that reorients my heart toward loving others (which I do imperfectly each day!).
“We love because (God) first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Loving others might look different for each of us depending on the circumstance or relationship. Sometimes we show love passively when we refrain from gossiping about someone with whom we disagree. Other times we show love actively when we care for the poor in our city.
In all situations, however, our motivation and ability to love others comes from the abundant love God shows us in Jesus. We love God because God loves us perfectly. We love others because God loves them perfectly too.
So, who is the neighbor you need to love today?
If you would like to join our discussion about Jesus’ teachings, join us next Tuesday in Mauerpark. Find more info on our connect page!