A Basket of Instructions
“On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22:40
Each of the two great commandments (love God and love your neighbor) has a set of biblical instructions. This verse primarily refers to the Old Testament; but since the New Testament is the word of God (prophecy), it also includes the instructions of the New Testament.
Two first commandment examples are in Matthew’s Gospel:
“Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
Matthew 6:9
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:5
The second commandment, which is the basis of the series, is a real basket of instructions running throughout the whole of the Bible:
“And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”
Luke 6:31
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
Matthew 5:43-44
In this study we are dealing specifically with one aspect of the second commandment: loving the members of the body of Christ, love of the brethren, loving one another.
A Favorite “Stick”
[Using the example of the American game of baseball], every baseball player has a favorite bat. Mine was a 36” Jackie Robinson Louisville Slugger. If the pitcher was fast you could “choke up” (slide your hands toward the barrel) and try to poke out a single. If the pitcher was on the slower side, you could slide your hands down and swing for the fences.
Just like the bag of bats, the second commandment has a bag of instructions. One of them stands out and was elevated to the level of a “new commandment.” Furthermore, it was a “last request” by Jesus before he died… when he’s “swinging for the fences” and died for our sins, offering salvation to all mankind.
Of this second commandment bag of instructions: love your enemies, God so loved the world, love the poor, etc., my favorite is love one another, love of the brethren. It is my opinion that this one is crucial, because if the body of Christ is bound together by love and commitment, the other instructions of the second commandment become more possible: ministry, mission, works of mercy and evangelism. I don’t believe that we can see the fulness of Christianity until we take seriously the new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Apostolic Agreement
So far, we’ve heard powerful instructions from Paul and John. We also get this kind of instruction from Peter.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart.”
1 Peter 1:22
“Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
1 Peter 2:17
“Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind.”
1 Peter 3:8
“Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace…”
1 Peter 4:8-10
Both St. Paul and St. John prioritized love of the brethren by their teaching. Here, St. Peter, by the order presented, calls us to love one another and then to be hospitable and serve one another. So, by several metrics (frequency, apostolic, agreement, and emphasis), “love one another” stands out as our orientation for life.
The Will of God
“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.’ Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do your will, O God,’ as it is written of me in the roll of the book.”
Hebrews 10:1-15
When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Lo, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Many of us pray daily: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” We have clearly shown that God’s will is that we love one another, and it is one of his primary ways that we fulfill that prayer. Love of the brethren is one of the best indicators of the kingdom of God. Sacrifices and burnt offerings are actually easier, but not as effective evangelistically.
“For you have no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit…”
Psalm 51:16-17
“Sacrifice and offering you do not desire; but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, ‘Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me;I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’”
Psalm 40:6-8
Verse 8 of Psalm 40 is really explaining what is meant in Psalm 51:17 “a broken spirit.” When I set aside my will to do God’s will, I am acting out of a broken spirit. If I set aside a career for God’s purposes; if prayer time is more important than workout time; if I am orienting my children to serve the Lord with their adult lives; if life in the kingdom is more important than secular success or higher education; when Jesus is my Lord and not just my Savior, then my spirit is “broken” before God’s will and life in the kingdom of God.
When I love the brethren more than my hobbies, my job and my workouts, etc., this is a real expression or response to Jesus’ direction: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Human beings tend to want what other groups have: “They have a king; we want a king!” “They have a golden calf; we want a golden calf!” “They have rituals, burnt offerings and sacrifices to their gods, we want the same!”
A broken sprit always wants what God wants, and he wants repentance, commitment, faithfulness and honesty. He wants our spirits to look like his Son’s.
Possible Questions for Discussion:
- Who and what takes precedence in your daily thoughts, cares, concerns, and interests?
- Does the Lord come first in your thoughts, interests, concerns? Do you listen to his Word in Scripture attentively each day? Do you conform your mind to His teaching, wisdom, and commandments?
- Do you actively “love your neighbor, your brethren”, and “one another as the Lord Jesus has loved you?” Do you seek his guidance for your approach to all your relationships, giving due honor, respect, and love as appropriate in all your relationships?
- How do the distractions of the current culture (digital media, Facebook, Snapchat, scrolling through news, social media generally, sports, kid’s activities) impact your ability to prioritize the call to love the brethren?
- What is your favorite interest as a response to the second commandment? (Some examples: love of the poor, loving my enemies, loving the lost, love of the brethren, etc.).
- How can we practically live out the call to love one another as we age and become less physically able to meet the everyday needs of the brothers and sisters?
Love of the Brethren Bible Study Series by Bob Tedesco:
- Love of the Brethren, Part 1
- Love of the Brethren, Part 2
- Love of the Brethren, Part 3
- Love of the Brethren, Part 4
Top image credit: Christians embracing the cross of Christ together, from Bigstock.com, © by paul shuang, stock photo ID: 385167296. Used with permission.
Bob Tedesco is a profound teacher and prolific writer on building Christian family life and community in the light of Christian truth, Biblical wisdom, and the call to live and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Check out his previous articles and books in the Living Bulwark archives.