Love Your Neighbour as Yourself

I believe that the authors of different books of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit. I also believe that the authors retained their autonomy in the writing of their books. In various degrees of freedom, they contributed in choice of words, idioms and the arrangement of the materials at hand. The story of the question of the first commandment of all in the Synoptic gospels is a case in point.

Mark was the first to put his gospel in writing. Matthew and Luke must have referred to it when they put together their own gospel. They told the same story in different styles. In the story understand consideration, a teacher of the Law challenged Jesus to identify the first commandment among the 613 pieces of legislation. Mark had Jesus gave the answer, quoting Deuteronomy 6:4Jesus answered, "The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one;
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.’ (Mark 12:29-30). Then Jesus continued to give the next, quoting Leviticus 19:18.
The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31). When the teacher of the Law echoed the answers and added that it
is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, Jesus commented that he was not far from the Kingdom God. After that, nobody dared to ask him any question (Mark 12:32-34).
Matthew is shorter. After giving the 2 answers, Jesus concluded that
On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40). The teacher of the Law did not echo the answers, nor did Jesus comment that he was not far from the Kingdom of God. Matthew did not mention that nobody dared to ask any question. It had been enough for him to portray Jesus as a Master Rabbi.
Luke treated the story in a totally different way. The teacher of the Law asked what he should do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25). The question looked different, but the answer was identical. Now, instead of answering the question directly, Jesus made the teacher of the Law answer the question himself. Jesus was an effective teacher indeed. Then came a new twist.
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29). Seeing that the teacher of the Law was egocentric, Jesus told the famous parable of the Good Samaritan and asked the same question in the opposite perspective.
Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? (Luke 10:36). This question pulled the teacher of the Law out from his self-centre. Luke always remains my favourite author.
Yes, our love of neighbour should be for the sake of our neighbour, not for our own sake. On the other hand, we love them as ourselves. Therefore, we must love ourselves, respect ourselves as well.

My God, forgive me for not taking care of myself enough, for not extending my love generously enough to my neighbours. May this Lent season open my heart to love more caringly. Amen.

Comment from Ruth;
Loving and respecting ourselves is a good way to love our neighbor too.  As we love and take care ourselves, our neighbor, for example, our parents don't need to worry about us so much.  We share their burdens when we are doing our duties.

My Reply;
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
Let your father and mother be glad,
let her who bore you rejoice (Proverbs 23:24-25).
身體髮膚，受諸父母，豈敢毀傷，孝之始也；立身行道，揚名於後世，以顯父母，孝之終也。【孝經】
Yes, Ruth, this was what you learnt in your RS Section B.

March 1, 2008