God's Second Great Commandment

After Jesus Christ stated the first great commandment, He said: "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:31). The Contemporary English Version of Mark 12:31 translates it this way: "'Love others as much as you love yourself."

This second great commandment is almost as unique, revolutionary and contrary to selfish human nature as the first! (Please see the accompanying article, "God's First Great Commandment")

The second great commandment came from God through Moses (Leviticus 19:18). The chapter where it's found gives some very important specifics about how to show love for others.

This commandment goes hand in hand with what we call the Golden Rule, stated in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, often paraphrased as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

The command to love your neighbor as yourself is a summary statement for the last six of God's Ten Commandments showing how to love our fellow human beings! (see Romans 13:8-10). Let's consider more about what's meant in this great principle.

What does it mean to love others as yourself?

Godly love is beautifully defined and described in "the love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13! We would all do well to frequently review that passage! Notice that true love is humble, not prideful, selfish or self-centered. It is outflowing.

We must follow the examples of God the Father and Jesus Christ. They love everyone! (John 3:16). "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). Surrounding verses remind us that God sacrificed His own Son! And Jesus was willing to suffer an excruciating torture and death for us so that we can live-live forever! And think of Jesus' example of showing compassion and love for everyone, including those with physical disabilities, those regarded as untouchables and other little ones of society. He was the perfect servant leader, caring for others!

Yet are we to also care for ourselves? Consider that the second great commandment assumes that we love ourselves! (and compare Ephesians 5:29). If we didn't love ourselves, loving your neighbor "as yourself" would not readily follow!

The key is to understand what the Bible usually means by "love." It is virtually the opposite of narcissistic people being "lovers of themselves" in a selfish and self-exalting way, amid the other terrible traits described in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

God designed all creatures, including human beings, with a kind of instinct to satisfy our own needs. We seek food when hungry, relief when hurting, sleep when sleepy, etc. In addition, good parents and other good influences teach us how to become healthy in body, mind, relationships, etc. All of this is the healthy love for oneself God intends. It is not selfish, egotistical or narcissistic. Moreover, in loving God we embrace His desire for us in creating us.

Keep in mind also that the better our physical and mental health, the more helpful we can be to others. Think of the instruction a flight attendant gives to all those who have a small child with them. If there's a loss of oxygen in the plane, you're to put the oxygen mask on yourself first and then on the child. The reason? Otherwise, you might lose consciousness while struggling to help your child! The lesson? If you love yourself enough to maintain good health, you are better equipped to help others! And you are valuing what God has given you.

Again, though, we are not to love ourselves alone but others as ourselves.

While feelings matter, love refers throughout the Bible primarily to one's actions. Even when we don't feel like loving certain neighbors, we must act in a way that demonstrates love toward them. John, known as the "apostle of love" for how much he wrote about it, emphasizes obedience to God plus kindness and service to others as the essential elements of godly love (see 1 John 2:4-6; 1 John 3:11-18). Also, acting in a caring way toward others leads to feeling more loving.

God expects us to think and act like compassionate caregivers, caring about the needs and benefits of others as well as our own. Furthermore, a godly person will go beyond and sacrifice if circumstances demand, putting another person's need ahead of his own (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16).

The Bible teaches that each of God's people should exercise a special love for his spiritual "family." Jesus exhorted His disciples to "love one another," specifying, "as I have loved you," and declaring, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). Paul wrote, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10; see also 1 John 3:10-18; 1 Peter 4:8-10). Yes, have special focus on fellow believers, but don't forget the "good to all."

Who is my neighbor?

When John 3:16 says, "God so loved the world," it means everyone in the world! (compare 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). God expects us to imitate Him and love everyone as we have opportunity (Ephesians 5:1). Loving God's other children is an essential element of expressing love for our Father.

A scholar of scriptural law interrogated Jesus about the two great commandments and then asked the question, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29). This Jewish legal expert was hoping for two things. He wanted to discredit Jesus, plus he wanted excuses for not loving various people. Many people feel like being "neighborly" only to people they like, or who have the same religious beliefs or interests or ethnicity, or who live in the same neighborhood, etc.

Jesus answered his question by relating the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). This story must have seemed shocking and repulsive to this Jewish scholar, as Jews looked on Samaritans as alien and despicable. The parable depicts Jewish religious figures as unwilling to help a traveler from Jerusalem lying in the road after an attack by robbers, while a Samaritan is presented as compassionate, kind and generous to the victim, despite being of a rival religious and ethnic background.

We can guess what the priest and Levite in the parable might have been thinking. Many in that day, as at other times, commonly assumed a person's suffering was a deserved punishment from God. Furthermore, priests and Levites might have thought their religious pursuits too important to be sidetracked-or they just didn't want to take on any additional burden or inconvenience.

The Samaritan in the story did what was needed for the one who was attacked, and the legal expert had to admit that the one who accepted the fallen stranger as a neighbor in terms of the commandment was the only one actually who kept the commandment.

Love even our enemies?!

Jesus went yet deeper in His Sermon on the Mount, declaring: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you" (Luke 6:27-28). He followed with the Golden Rule: "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise" (Luke 6:31-36).

This means we must even love people who are not lovable or nice. God knows we do not always live as we should. Our hope should be that all people will eventually receive the grace we have received-that all people will repent of their sins, receive God's forgiveness, and ultimately be blessed with eternal life!

Loving others requires our willingness to forgive (Matthew 6:12). Jesus said, "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15).

That does not mean instant reconciliation apart from needed changes. God is a God of justice as well as of mercy. He inspired Amos to write, "Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate" (Amos 5:15). Hate the sins, desiring that the sinners be brought before God's wise judgment-yet also that they will repent to receive His mercy.

God punishes people in various ways for wrongdoing, but He always does it out of love for the person's betterment. "For whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Hebrews 12:6). God expects governing authorities to maintain law and order (Romans 13:1-7). True love includes "tough love" at times. The Bible clearly teaches that parents should discipline their children for wrongdoing-as part of loving them.

When Christ, the perfect Judge, returns to earth, He will administer rewards and punishments, and the earth will experience true justice and peace! In the meantime, our main responsibility is to love, seeking and hoping the best for everyone.

This message of love is throughout Scripture. It was introduced in the Old Testament. Yet Jesus' command to love "as I have loved you" greatly elevated the understanding and practice of true godly love.

Always remember to follow Christ's example of joyfully obeying the two sublime great commandments. As laid out in Luke 10:27: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"

Read Part 1 - God's First Great Commandment

Related Information:

Table of Contents that includes "God's Second Great Commandment"
Other Articles by Don Hooser
Origin of article "God's Second Great Commandment"
Keywords: second great commandment great commandment

God's law - individual:

Love of neighbor:

Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Home Page of this site

God's Second Great Commandment

Having looked at the first great commandment on wholehearted love for God, we now consider the second, which Jesus said is "like it." How may we love our neighbor as ourself?

What does it mean to love others as yourself?

Who is my neighbor?

Love even our enemies?!