In
Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus tells us the greatest two commandments: love God with
all you have and love your neighbor as yourself. It’s all about love!
Love in God’s eyes is vertical or horizontal. God
is love and He loves us – that’s vertical. We are to love Him with all our
heart, minds, soul, and strength. For Jesus, to love your neighbor as you love
yourself was to practice justice towards your fellow human beings and that is
horizontal love as found in Leviticus chapter 19.
We
are to live generously towards the poor and alien (Lev. 19:9–10).
- Do not steal from anyone or be deceptive (Lev. 19:11).
- Do not swear in God’s name (Lev. 19:12).
- Do not oppress, rob, or exploit the poor by paying unfair wages (Lev. 19:13).
- Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind (Lev. 19:14).
- Do not be partial to the poor or show favor to the great but judge honestly (Lev. 19:15).
- Do not commit financial fraud. (Lev. 19:16).
- Do not hate your brother (Lev. 19:17).
- Do not seek revenge or hold a grudge but extend forgiveness (Lev. 19:18).
Will you make this pledge today? I will love my
neighbor, so that he can experience the fullness of Christ (and so can I).
Amen?
