The Greatest Commandment: Love People

Last week: We were in the sanhedrin where the chief expert of the law stood up among the pharisees and asked Jesus, “Teacher, what is the most important command?”

1st command - To Love GOD

“heart, soul, mind, and strength”. (Shema twice a day)

Deut. 6:5 (Your total being)

Read Matthew 22:34-40

Today, we will focus on the 2nd great commandment - “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”.

Luke 10:29-37 - The parable of the good Samaritan was told when another expert of the law asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life” and “who is my neighbor?”.

The 2nd commandment from Jesus also involves love. This time, we learn about love toward one’s neighbor.

Jesus quotes from Lev 19:18 which applied to other Christians and the resident alien.

Neither command was to be raised above the other.

Living Horizontally

What is a neighbor according to scripture?

People in our neighborhoods and town.

People who need help.

People who live elsewhere.

Neighbors include our enemies.

Instead of living a self-centered life, Jesus wants to help the believer over this attitude to focus on others.

Everywhere we go, there are people. We must learn to understand our vertical and horizontal lives. When live live in a healthy state horizontally, our vertical relationship with God is aligned.

Other than our relationship with God, our relationships with the people He places around us require our utmost attention.

We are stewards of everything God has given us, especially our relationships.

You can’t love God is you are unable to love people or vice-versa.

Both depend on one another.

Christians are Saved to Serve

Read Galatians 5:13-15

Paul followed the same thread of Jesus and taught the church of Galatia how to handle their Christian freedom.

Spiritual freedom is not the absence of boundaries. Christian freedom affords every believer the ability to serve one another.

Biblical Love - The decision to compassionately, righteously, and sacrificially seek the well-being of another.

Since the son of God served us through love, why would His disciples expect anything less?

The church is not “every-man-for-himself”. We serve one another through love.

Every church will leave and impact on its community for the + or -. The same is true for every individual Christian.

How are you utilizing your freedom?

Loving God and loving people are what the entire law of God hinges upon.