The Second Commandment
When a Pharisee Lawyer tempted Jesus with the question about His Commandments, Jesus said, amongst all, there are just two commandments of prime importance: (Matt 22:34-40)
1) Love your God with all your heart, soul and mind; and
2) Love your neighbour as yourself
At the outset, both these commandments seem simple.
Now the First Commandment, Love your God with all your heart, soul and mind is very vague. As much as we believe we follow this, but somewhere, the world’s desires captures our attention and either our heart, soul or mind succumbs. Loving your God with all 3 elements is not as easy as it seems on the surface. Let’s leave it for another day.
Now that we know the amount of love we have for your finger, did you ever extend even 1% of such care and concern towards your neighbours?
Neighbour mentioned by Jesus is everyone you come in contact with throughout your life.
1) Love your God with all your heart, soul and mind; and
2) Love your neighbour as yourself
At the outset, both these commandments seem simple.
However, Jesus said: “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”. So, although they seem simple, they are also very critical.
What makes these two commandments so critical?
Do we understand them?
Do we follow them blindly?
Do we understand and follow them in their entirety?
We’re here to talk about the “Second Commandment”
This Second Commandment, accordingly to Jesus, is also important (V. 39), if not equally.
Now, when Jesus said “Neighbour”, I don’t think he meant someone who lives next door. A Neighbour in this commandment signified every person you acquaint with throughout your lives.
Let us imagine for a second that you cut yourself while cooking. You may feel pain or may be you don’t. But one thing you cannot do is simply ignore that bruise. You’ll be astonished at the amount of care and concern and LOVE you have for that finger. You would:
This Second Commandment, accordingly to Jesus, is also important (V. 39), if not equally.
Now, when Jesus said “Neighbour”, I don’t think he meant someone who lives next door. A Neighbour in this commandment signified every person you acquaint with throughout your lives.
Let us imagine for a second that you cut yourself while cooking. You may feel pain or may be you don’t. But one thing you cannot do is simply ignore that bruise. You’ll be astonished at the amount of care and concern and LOVE you have for that finger. You would:
- Keep the finger hand away from touching anything or anyone.
- Keep looking at it every often-blowing-sweet-blows on it.
- Change your diet, plans and sleeping position to protect that one finger.
This is how much we love ourselves…
Now that we know the amount of love we have for your finger, did you ever extend even 1% of such care and concern towards your neighbours?
Now Neighbour obviously is not just your next-door neighbour.
It’s your housemaid, it's your cab driver, it’s your boss, your colleagues, the guy you meet in the lift, every member of your extended family, your friends.
A Neighbour is even that guy who duped you of money. It’s your ex-girlfriend, it’s that teller at the bank, it's even the person calling you asking if you need a loan or credit card.
Are you able to love them as much as you love your bruised finger? Have you ever tried? Is it even possible to love them as much?
I for certain feel it is possible.
After you put down the phone or laptop, notice your level of affection for the next person you meet. Are you able to love them as much as you love yourself? If not, keep trying.
A Neighbour is even that guy who duped you of money. It’s your ex-girlfriend, it’s that teller at the bank, it's even the person calling you asking if you need a loan or credit card.
Are you able to love them as much as you love your bruised finger? Have you ever tried? Is it even possible to love them as much?
I for certain feel it is possible.
After you put down the phone or laptop, notice your level of affection for the next person you meet. Are you able to love them as much as you love yourself? If not, keep trying.
This is the Second Commandment.
