Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Gal 5:14

I've come to really appreciate summary statements.  They help me get to the point (and usually the hear) of someone's position or outlook on things. I see this in general life, I see it a lot at work and I see in the Bible. Jesus and most of the Biblical authors will, from time to time, make profound summary statements. And these summary statements help us place the whole topic that they are referencing in its proper framework.

So, in Gal 5 Paul pens this incredible statement: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself." What do we do with such a broad, sweeping, profound (dare I say life changing?) statement? A few things come to my mind and I trust that the Holy Spirit can reveal even more to you.

First, the law had (and has) a purpose that transcends the O.T. sacrificial system. All the laws (or commandments, if you prefer) have the chief aim of driving us to love our neighbors as ourselves. And, if God's glory is what we are ultimately striving for, apparently God's more glorified as we love others at the same level as we love ourselves.

Secondly, but equally important is that the truths and commands of the N.T. are consistent with and are an outgrowth of those revealed in the O.T. Read the Sermon on the Mount with Gal 5:14 in your mind. Praying for your enemies is not primarily to change them to be your friends, but to love them as you love yourself. Not stealing (or coveting), not murdering (or hating), not committing adultery (or lusting) are not simply self-restrictive commands but are rather tangible ways to show that we do in fact love our neighbors enough that we won't take their stuff, their spouse or their lives (not even in our minds).

Thirdly and maybe most importantly, loving our neighbors as ourselves, is exactly what Jesus did in living and dying for those who believe. He calls us to follow him, to emulate him, to become like him. In human terms, on the human level, the best way to be Christ-like is the truely, honestly, non-begrudgingly, love our neighbors as ourselves.

(There maybe a sermon in there somewhere, but that is for another day ;-)

To God Alone be the Glory