We All Need Love

Mark 12:28–31 “One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Image of God:

James 3:9 “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;”

SPEAKING WITH A "FORKED TONGUE"

Having mentioned the tongue being filled with deadly poison congeners up the image of a deadly viper and here we see the image of a forked tongue which such a viper would possess! (cf the first lie from a forked tongue Ge 3:1, 4) Presumably James had first hand experience with this incongruous speech among believers because in verse 10 with continues the thought of blessing and cursing he addresses them as my brethren and then explains that such duplicitous speech was not right in the body of Christ. 

We bless (present tense = indicating this is what one usually does) (2127)(eulogeo from eu = good + lógos = word) means speak good or well, to praise, to extol. When eulogeo is used by men toward men it means to speak well of with praise and thanksgiving (English "Eulogy" = an address in praise for one deceased ). To say good or positive things. Eulogeo can be from men to God, from men to men, and from God to men. 

McGee - When a man can sing like an angel on Sunday and then talk like a demon during the week -- you label him as you want to -- the Bible calls that man a hypocrite. (Ibid)

For fallen men to curse is NATURAL, but for fallen men to bless is SUPERNATURAL! You must be born again in order to bless in those circumstances and situations in which you formerly would curse.

"it is absolutely inconsistent for the Christian to bless God and then curse man made in the likeness of God. Believers should not only refrain from cursing but also bless those who curse and persecute them (Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14). The likeness was natural, consisting of intelligence, emotions, and will; and moral, a tendency toward God, though accompanied with the power to make wrong choices. The tendency of fallen man is now away from God, to go his own way. When man sinned in Eden, the likeness to God was severely marred but not lost. Because man retains likeness to God, human life is sacred. To curse man is to curse the likeness of God in man." (Ibid)

And with it - That is with the very same mouth that uttered blessings to God. It is as if the "fresh water" of praise is polluted by the poison water of cursing. 

We curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God (Ge 1:26, 27; Ge 9:6) - James spoke of "double minded" in James 1:6 and here speaks of "double mouthed," or "fork tongued!" James is showing that the reason cursing men is evil is because they are made in the likeness of God, the One we bless. So yes people still reflect God's image, albeit badly marred by sin. Thus ultimately to curse a fellow human being is to show contempt for God.

Have been made (ginomai) is in the perfect tense which speaks of a past completed act and ongoing effect. Rienecker says "Perfect looks at the completed action or state of man being in the image of God." In short, the likeness of God in man is enduring. Marred by sin yes, but still retaining elements of the imago dei! 

When we experience bless/curse inconsistency (but you never have this problem do you beloved?) it is a clear witness to the truth of Paul's teaching of the ongoing war in our mortal bodies between the Spirit and the flesh...

Galatians 2:20 ““I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

For the flesh sets its desire (CONTINUALLY) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition (CONTINUALLY) to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please (LIKE WANTING TO GIVE SOMEONE "A PIECE OF YOUR MIND" FOR INSULTING YOU VERBALLY, ETC).

recise nature of the imago Dei in man, variously defining it as ontological, sociological, functional or moral, one thing is certain from this passage, namely, that even fallen man retains some semblance (however badly marred by sin) of the divine impress given him at the original creation. (Complete Word Study Dictionary)

We curse (present tense) (2672)(kataraomai from katara = a curse from kata = down + ara = a prayer, a curse) literally is to curse down and so to call a curse down upon someone. The idea is to imprecate (= to invoke) evil on someone saying that a supernatural power will cause harm to someone or something. To pray or wish evil or ruin toward someone or some thing.  

The psalmist describes this hypocritical "forked tongue"..

They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah. (Psalm 62:4 )

 After a long Sunday morning service, a family sat down to eat lunch. The father bowed his head and led the children in the blessing. He thanked the Lord for the food, for the day, and for their home. Shortly after saying “Amen,” he proceeded to fuss about the preacher, the church, his job. Nothing but complaints poured from his lips. Following all that, his little daughter tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Daddy, did God hear you when you said the blessing?”

Switching to theological authority, Dad answered, “Yes, darling, He did.”

“Well,” asked his daughter, “did God hear you when you fussed right after you prayed?”

“Well . . . uh, yes, honey, I suppose He did.”

“Then, Daddy,” she said, “which one did God believe?” (Swindoll's Living Insights)

Of course the answer is both, because both reveal the real condition of the heart.

We need to look all the way down to the heart!

Again, the tongue isn’t the real problem; it is the heart. (Mt.12:34-37)

Who is in control?

 If your tongue is under God’s control, you will take what you say seriously and your whole body will be under His discipline

Just as a horse needs a rider holding its reigns, & a ship needs a pilot at the rudder, so your tongue needs a master; & God is the only one who can do the job.

Ps.141:3,4 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil.

More people have been slain by the tongue than the sword.

Bridle our tongues today and  we’ll be able to handle the rest of the horse.

A short intellect usually has a long tongue. (Sermon)

love is foundational to human flourishing and reflects the very nature of God. We need to love each other because we are created in God’s image, and God Himself is love—this isn’t merely something He does, but who He is.

Love addresses our deepest human needs. We are inherently relational beings designed for connection, and love fulfills that design. Without love, we experience isolation, despair, and spiritual emptiness. Love provides security, belonging, purpose, and the assurance that our existence matters to someone else. Children who receive love develop healthier emotional and psychological foundations; adults who experience genuine love demonstrate greater resilience, mental health, and life satisfaction.

Biblically, Jesus summarized all of God’s law into two commands: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. This isn’t arbitrary—love is the fulfilling principle of all moral law. When we genuinely love others, we naturally refrain from harming them, stealing from them, or bearing false witness. Love compels us toward justice, mercy, and sacrifice.

Beyond individual benefit, love binds communities together. Families, churches, and societies function healthily when love—not mere obligation or fear—motivates people toward each other’s welfare. Love creates trust, forgiveness, and the willingness to bear one another’s burdens. Without it, relationships become transactional, communities fragment, and people become isolated despite physical proximity.

Ultimately, loving each other reflects our deepest identity as image-bearers of God and participates in His redemptive work in the world. Love is not optional for human flourishing—it’s essential.

Why Two Commandments - Because of the First the second necessarily follows - without the first the second is with its feet firmly planted in mid-air

When we dont have the essence of what the created order is - loving your neighbor = optional

Ephesians 1:11 “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”

Revelation 4:11 ““Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.””

Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”

Genesis 9:6 ““Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”