Jesus Standing Among a Ring of Joined HandsBible World
13:34John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
It commands His followers to love one another with the same self-giving love He showed them, taking His own life as their pattern, measure and standard. It is called new not because love for one another was unknown, for it was given of old, but because it had been lost under tradition and because it pointed to what He was yet to show in offering Himself for the sins of the world. That love rises far above natural affection and beyond loving a neighbor as oneself, seen in leaving heavenly glory to become lowly, suffer and give His life on the cross, and still borne patiently toward sinful and undeserving people. This mutual love is the mark by which all will know His disciples, binding them into oneness like that of the Father and the Son and witnessing to the world that the Father sent Him. Keeping it fulfills God's law and requires receiving His love and Spirit through surrender and daily union with Him, showing itself in humble, patient, practical kindness that restores the erring, forbids strife and division, and serves the needy.
Words and Historical Setting
The command calls disciples to love one another with the same love shown to them, taking that self-giving love as pattern, measure, standard, model and example. It sets a higher standard for mutual love than had been known before. That love was revealed in suffering in the garden, before the judgment hall, and in death on the cross, and after crucifixion, resurrection and ascension its fullness was understood more completely. It is the most valuable teaching on etiquette ever written, to be fixed permanently in memory by young and old, defining true politeness as patient, kind, humble, unselfish, gentle, truthful, trusting, hopeful and enduring love.
The command is new because death on the cross was an unprecedented revelation of that love, whose humble birth, bearing of human temptation, and sacrifice at Calvary show the depth of the example to be followed. Christ himself supplies the love needed to keep it, and receiving his words, pictured as eating his flesh and drinking his blood, opens the heart to that love. Living by it changes character and replaces faultfinding with care for others. By this mutual love all people know who are his disciples, showing they belong to him.
It was given as he prepared to leave his disciples, spoken in the upper chamber at the Passover supper on the night before the crucifixion, connected with washing their feet. He spoke just before facing trial, humiliation, death, his great conflict with the powers of darkness, and suffering the penalty of transgression. It was meant to console and comfort them for the severe temptation and trial and conflicts they would face after he left them. It was his dying testimony, addressed to them as little children with childlike simplicity.
Why the Command Is New
Love for one another was old in principle, for it had already been given in the Old Testament Scriptures, yet it was new to the disciples because it had been lost, covered by tradition, buried and not practiced. It differed so greatly from the instruction of their teachers that loving one another as Christ had loved them came to them as indeed new. Revealing that love gives the world unmistakable evidence that they are God's children, calling them to draw together, cherish love, and stop criticizing one another.
It is called new because the words as I have loved you pointed to what Christ was yet to demonstrate in offering Himself for the sins of the world on the cross. That death was an unprecedented, never-before-heard revelation of love, whose depth, fullness and crowning evidence had not yet been seen or understood when spoken. His humble birth, willingness to bear human temptation, and sacrifice at Calvary show the depth of the example believers are to follow. The disciples had not yet seen the full revelation, and only after His suffering and death did they understand more fully how much He loved them. This love goes beyond loving a neighbor as oneself, does not depend on praise, affection or appreciation, but moves people to love others because they belong to Christ who purchased them, seeing them as purchased by His blood and doing all in human power for their salvation, with a specially tender love for brethren and for fellow disciples.
It is new in the measure of loving as He loved, with new principles shaped by His self-giving example and new force and new meaning understood in the light of His sacrifice as a call to follow His unselfish example. The disciples had not yet loved one another as Christ loved them, and His life and death on the cross for their sins would reveal the fullness of that love. This love is new because Christ's example, especially His death and resurrection, made its meaning clear, and its lessons become new in practice when they are lived out. It remains new in practice when people fail to live it out, but when the Spirit rules their hearts and they put this love into practice the world can recognize them as Christ's disciples and the churches' experience is changed. After the resurrection the Holy Spirit brought His words to remembrance so the disciples could better understand the love that led Him to suffer and die for them and the world, and genuine discipleship is shown by following His example in word and deed in humility, selflessness and love. Those filled with His Spirit will love others as He did, without ruling another person's conscience or exercising kingly power.
The disciples grasped its greatness only in part at first. His love was revealed in betrayal, anguish in the garden, trial before the judgment hall and condemnation, suffering and death on the cross, and its full measure was to be seen in crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. After His suffering and death, and after crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, they understood that love and the depth of the command more fully. This knowledge would bind them together, prepare them to receive the Spirit, and strengthen their witness to His divinity. Christlike, unselfish love for one another is the sign and distinguishing mark by which people recognize His disciples, friends and followers, rather than through wealth, learning or fame.
Christ's Love Revealed
The command lifts love above loving a neighbor as oneself to loving one another with the same selfless, unselfish, self-giving love Christ showed to his own. Its measure is his own love, and that sets a high standard his followers are to reach in how they love each other. The disciples did not grasp its depth when it was spoken, but understood it more fully after witnessing his suffering in the garden and judgment hall, his death on the cross, and then his resurrection and ascension. That love does not wait for praise, affection, or appreciation, but moves its possessors to love others because they belong to Christ who purchased them. Keeping it enables people of different roles and gifts to work together in unity so the work is complete rather than one-sided, yet few who profess the truth are keeping it.
It is higher and holier than natural human love, unselfish and self-giving, the light given to Christ's followers and the defining evidence that they are united with him and one another, belong to God's family, and represent him to the world. Its height, depth, and breadth are beyond measure, seen only more clearly after his death, and when lived out in education it practices love to God and neighbor while putting away envy, rivalry, and selfishness as the root of covetousness. It is a living, practical testimony by which all recognize his disciples. Nothing short of this love will be accepted, for it requires the truth as it is in Jesus abiding in the heart with Christ dwelling within, appearing as unfeigned, unselfish love for souls for whom he gave his life, preferring others to self, not seeking the lion's share nor exalting self and talents above brethren, but looking to the welfare and things of others as he preferred their welfare before his own.
Its full extent is revealed in his leaving heavenly glory and riches to come as a lowly babe, taking humanity and the humblest place, toiling under temptation, indignity, and scorn, agonizing in the garden, being wounded for transgressions, and giving his life as a ransom at Calvary, made clear through resurrection and continued as the risen Saviour intercedes for his people. In that work he rescued humanity from Satan's ruin by coming to help the helpless, healing wounds, providing refuge, and dying to redeem, calling his followers to the same compassionate, practical love. His blood declares an eternal, unchanging love, and love like that shown at Calvary is the pledge of those who are baptized and the proof of genuine Christianity. The command was new because that unprecedented revelation had not yet been made, and receiving his words, pictured as eating his flesh and drinking his blood, opens the heart to the love needed to follow the example, changing character and replacing faultfinding with care for others.
He loves sinful, undeserving people who grieve him and prove most undeserving, and when they ask forgiveness he does not turn them away but extends love freely, as God gives sun and rain to the evil and the good. Year after year he bears with weakness, ignorance, ingratitude, waywardness, hardness of heart, wandering, and neglect of his words while continuing to reach out. That continued patience, interest, and tenderness is the pattern for patience toward one another, an unselfish love toward all that asks how the needy, tempted, and sympathizing can be benefited rather than whether they deserve help. It extends even to brethren who disagree or fail to give praise, and cherished in unity it becomes the public witness that those who profess the truth are his disciples, honoring God and showing that God sent his Son. Those who receive blessing, daily bread, compassion, and forgiveness must impart the same to others, sharing with the more needy and showing compassion and mercy to those around them as evidence of connection with God.
Mark Unity and Witness
This mutual love is the identifying mark by which all people and the world know Christ's disciples, showing that they belong to him, have been with him, keep his commandments, and are God's children and Bible Christians. It distinguishes Christians from worldlings, not by wealth or learning or fame but by Christlike love formed in the heart by his Spirit pervading believers, developing his traits and attributes in them. That love is to be given back to God as fruit, and God requires this result while Christ promises the Holy Spirit to produce it. It includes love in the heart for men, women, and children, doing all possible for their salvation as those purchased by his blood, with a specially tender love for brethren.
It is to grow into full and perfect union like the oneness of the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father, binding believers to one another and to Christ and the Father by a golden chain. Keeping the command fulfills his purpose and answers his prayer to be made perfect in one, curing all alienation and strife. This unity gives strength, completeness, and safety, preparing believers to receive the Spirit and strengthening their witness to his divinity. Selfishness, division, lack of love and confidence, and stubborn independence break that unity, harm character, and dishonor God. The church is to be a brotherhood united with Christ in work for humanity, one family under the same heavenly Father sharing the hope of immortality in a close and tender bond, and it cannot meet his expectation until its members are converted and obey.
Revealed in life and treatment of one another, this love witnesses to the world that the Father sent Christ and loves believers even as he loved Christ, showing redeeming grace, divine sending, and unseen divine agencies. It represents Christ to the world, reveals union with him and with one another, shows belonging to God's family, and proves faith has a sanctifying influence, while hatred and inconsistency give cause to discredit faith. Cherished and made visible in daily life through unselfish words and deeds, tenderness, thoughtfulness, interest, patience, and willingness to sacrifice for the truth, it kindles love in others. It is a living practical testimony to the truth and a warning and appeal to the church, calling believers to ask how they can benefit those needing sympathy and help rather than whether they deserve help. The command is often poorly practiced, yet these words open large possibilities, for the very love with which the Father loved Christ may be in believers with Christ in them, worthy to be written in letters of gold, dwelt upon, and presented to the world by pen and voice.
When set before believers, the command to love one another after the pattern of Christ's love produces a precious season of excellent testimonies, deep feeling, tears, and softened hearts.
Doctrine Spirit and Growth
The command expresses the will of God and His law, holding within it love to God and love to man on which hang the law and the prophets. Keeping it fulfills the law, including the last six commandments, proves loyalty and love to Christ by keeping His words, brings the love of the Father, the presence of Christ, fullness of joy, and fruit that glorifies the Father, and it becomes possible through close union with Christ. This mutual love is the sign by which all know His disciples and the fruit to be returned to God, carrying the credentials that God sent His Son to save sinners. It is formed as Christ's Spirit pervades believing hearts, developing Christlike traits and imparting Christ's own attributes, which God requires and for which Christ promises the Holy Spirit. It is to be cherished and made visible in daily life by unselfish words and deeds, tenderness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to sacrifice for the truth, so that beholding it kindles love in others.
Loving in this way requires receiving the love Christ gives and His Spirit through His words, through surrender, daily communion, purification from selfishness and sin, entire sanctification and conformity to the will of God. Receiving His words, pictured as eating His flesh and drinking His blood, opens the heart to that love, and living by the command changes character and replaces faultfinding with care for others. The Spirit makes this love a living, lasting, sincere power free from partiality, ennobling motives and deepening affection, producing gratitude, humility, patience and forgiveness. Only sharers in the divine life truly understand it, for it belongs in the heart and life of every pardoned sinner and is known by a living connection between believers and God shown in tenderness, sweetness and gracious words not kept to oneself. Christ works through human agents to impart it, and united closely to Him believers can obey.
Lack of love violates the command, and suspicion, accusation, condemnation, hatred, variance, strife, contention, jealousy, criticism, backbiting, political strife, unadvised movements and division weaken the church, let the enemy divide it, dishonor God's cause and reproach Christ's name. Such disunion gives a false impression to the world, gives no evidence of mutual love, harms character and souls, and shows the love of God lost out of the heart so that Christ is ashamed to call them brethren. Without this abiding principle that binds hearts in unity, God's people are weakened by confusion, fail to show true discipleship, and remain unconverted and unfitted for the kingdom. Selfishness, unfaithfulness and stubborn independence break the unity that binds believers to one another and to Christ and the Father, while cherishing the love strengthens the church and changes its experience.
Loving in Daily Practice
True politeness is loving others with the same love Christ showed, and that love is patient, kind, humble, unselfish, gentle, truthful, trusting, hopeful and enduring. It has the character of charity that suffers long and is kind, without envy, boasting, pride, unseemly conduct, selfishness, provocation, evil thoughts or rejoicing in iniquity, but rejoicing in the truth and bearing, believing, hoping and enduring all things. That same love restores a person overtaken in fault in the spirit of meekness while watching oneself against temptation, showing tenderness, kindness, sympathy and natural respect and deference toward others. This is the most valuable teaching on etiquette ever given, to be fixed permanently in memory by every person young and old, studied for its meaning, and allowed to change character and awaken Christlike love among members and leaders.
It is active, practical help to the needy, distressed, suffering, sick, poor, oppressed and discouraged, including distressed fellow believers and youth, and it cannot be set aside while pursuing other religious duties or church work. It sees men, women and children as purchased by the blood of the Son of God, regards youth as bought by Christ's blood, and does all in human power for their salvation and eternal good, extending care beyond one's own family and temporal concerns. It shows love abiding in the heart by doing all possible for salvation while revealing a specially tender love for brethren and all of the same faith, sharing with the more needy as those of one heart and one soul with none calling anything his own. Following the pattern of rescuing humanity from ruin, coming to help the helpless, healing wounds, providing refuge and dying to redeem, it asks how to benefit those needing sympathy and help, not whether they deserve help, and binds followers to one another in brotherhood united for humanity.
It is to be cherished and made visible in daily life through unselfish words and deeds, tenderness, thoughtfulness, courtesy, kindly deeds, sympathy, respect, deference, just treatment, mercy, compassion, forbearance, meekness and patience, with willingness to sacrifice for the truth. It is seen in spirit, words and deeds even when others resist or disappoint, its growth developed through tests, with abiding Christ enabling believers to overcome hurt feelings and continue loving. Opening the heart so the Saviour's love flows forth in pure, rich currents keeps the attributes He came to give, while drawing in own lines and closing the heart to His softening, subduing influence dishonors God. If one has hurt someone by harsh, unchristlike conduct, obedience requires admitting fault and seeking reconciliation as essential preparation for approaching God in faith.
It leaves no place for envy, evil thoughts, suspicion and slander, and forbids harshness, hatred, pride, jealousy, strife, malice, backbiting, variance, contention, criticism, evil surmising and efforts to divide. It requires ceasing fighting, condemning, judging, despising, finding fault and striving for supremacy, putting self aside, denying self, attending to one's own relationship with God and conduct rather than condemning others. Loving this way identifies disciples to all people and to the world, giving unmistakable evidence they are God's children, and this knowledge binds them together and strengthens witness.
An erring brother who makes mistakes is still to be loved and dealt with after the gospel plan, with plain and faithful reproof given only by one who is spiritual and not himself separated by evil works, restoring in meekness, for without that spirit there is no duty to reprove lest two evils be created instead of curing one. It forbids wounding and bruising hearts, requires forbearance, patience and meekness remembering the estimate placed on man purchased with His blood, refuses to expose or condemn harshly, and leads to stop finding fault and instead encourage, work for conversion, pray for and with one another, and speak kind words that help others come into right relation with God. It seeks the wandering without waiting, forgiving and praying, and tests whether one would give one's life to save him.
It applies in every age to church members, ministers, managers, teachers, workers and families, in home, school, councils, business and neighborhood, at foot-washing and baptism, and is to be believed, lived out before fellow ministers, studied, obeyed to the letter, lived daily and passed on rather than kept private. Spoken shortly before the crucifixion to console for severe temptation and trial, it is a lesson everyone needs to learn, belonging in the heart and life of every pardoned sinner as light, union with Christ and evidence of belonging to God's family. It enables different gifts to work together harmoniously, lifts above prejudice of color and caste, prefers others to self, looks to the welfare and things of others, and will not seek the lion's share or exalt self and talents above brethren. Those filled with His Spirit will love others as He did, without ruling another person's conscience or exercising kingly power.
It commands His followers to love one another with the same self-giving love He showed them, taking His own life as their pattern, measure and standard.
It is called new not because love for one another was unknown, for it was given of old, but because it had been lost under tradition and because it pointed to what He was yet to show in offering Himself for the sins of the world.
That love rises far above natural affection and beyond loving a neighbor as oneself, seen in leaving heavenly glory to become lowly, suffer and give His life on the cross, and still borne patiently toward sinful and undeserving people.
This mutual love is the mark by which all will know His disciples, binding them into oneness like that of the Father and the Son and witnessing to the world that the Father sent Him.
Keeping it fulfills God's law and requires receiving His love and Spirit through surrender and daily union with Him, showing itself in humble, patient, practical kindness that restores the erring, forbids strife and division, and serves the needy.
Words and Historical Setting
The command calls disciples to love one another with the same love shown to them, taking that self-giving love as pattern, measure, standard, model and example. It sets a higher standard for mutual love than had been known before. That love was revealed in suffering in the garden, before the judgment hall, and in death on the cross, and after crucifixion, resurrection and ascension its fullness was understood more completely. It is the most valuable teaching on etiquette ever written, to be fixed permanently in memory by young and old, defining true politeness as patient, kind, humble, unselfish, gentle, truthful, trusting, hopeful and enduring love.
The command is new because death on the cross was an unprecedented revelation of that love, whose humble birth, bearing of human temptation, and sacrifice at Calvary show the depth of the example to be followed. Christ himself supplies the love needed to keep it, and receiving his words, pictured as eating his flesh and drinking his blood, opens the heart to that love. Living by it changes character and replaces faultfinding with care for others. By this mutual love all people know who are his disciples, showing they belong to him.
It was given as he prepared to leave his disciples, spoken in the upper chamber at the Passover supper on the night before the crucifixion, connected with washing their feet. He spoke just before facing trial, humiliation, death, his great conflict with the powers of darkness, and suffering the penalty of transgression. It was meant to console and comfort them for the severe temptation and trial and conflicts they would face after he left them. It was his dying testimony, addressed to them as little children with childlike simplicity.
Why the Command Is New
Love for one another was old in principle, for it had already been given in the Old Testament Scriptures, yet it was new to the disciples because it had been lost, covered by tradition, buried and not practiced. It differed so greatly from the instruction of their teachers that loving one another as Christ had loved them came to them as indeed new. Revealing that love gives the world unmistakable evidence that they are God's children, calling them to draw together, cherish love, and stop criticizing one another.
It is called new because the words as I have loved you pointed to what Christ was yet to demonstrate in offering Himself for the sins of the world on the cross. That death was an unprecedented, never-before-heard revelation of love, whose depth, fullness and crowning evidence had not yet been seen or understood when spoken. His humble birth, willingness to bear human temptation, and sacrifice at Calvary show the depth of the example believers are to follow. The disciples had not yet seen the full revelation, and only after His suffering and death did they understand more fully how much He loved them. This love goes beyond loving a neighbor as oneself, does not depend on praise, affection or appreciation, but moves people to love others because they belong to Christ who purchased them, seeing them as purchased by His blood and doing all in human power for their salvation, with a specially tender love for brethren and for fellow disciples.
It is new in the measure of loving as He loved, with new principles shaped by His self-giving example and new force and new meaning understood in the light of His sacrifice as a call to follow His unselfish example. The disciples had not yet loved one another as Christ loved them, and His life and death on the cross for their sins would reveal the fullness of that love. This love is new because Christ's example, especially His death and resurrection, made its meaning clear, and its lessons become new in practice when they are lived out. It remains new in practice when people fail to live it out, but when the Spirit rules their hearts and they put this love into practice the world can recognize them as Christ's disciples and the churches' experience is changed. After the resurrection the Holy Spirit brought His words to remembrance so the disciples could better understand the love that led Him to suffer and die for them and the world, and genuine discipleship is shown by following His example in word and deed in humility, selflessness and love. Those filled with His Spirit will love others as He did, without ruling another person's conscience or exercising kingly power.
The disciples grasped its greatness only in part at first. His love was revealed in betrayal, anguish in the garden, trial before the judgment hall and condemnation, suffering and death on the cross, and its full measure was to be seen in crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. After His suffering and death, and after crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, they understood that love and the depth of the command more fully. This knowledge would bind them together, prepare them to receive the Spirit, and strengthen their witness to His divinity. Christlike, unselfish love for one another is the sign and distinguishing mark by which people recognize His disciples, friends and followers, rather than through wealth, learning or fame.
Christ's Love Revealed
The command lifts love above loving a neighbor as oneself to loving one another with the same selfless, unselfish, self-giving love Christ showed to his own. Its measure is his own love, and that sets a high standard his followers are to reach in how they love each other. The disciples did not grasp its depth when it was spoken, but understood it more fully after witnessing his suffering in the garden and judgment hall, his death on the cross, and then his resurrection and ascension. That love does not wait for praise, affection, or appreciation, but moves its possessors to love others because they belong to Christ who purchased them. Keeping it enables people of different roles and gifts to work together in unity so the work is complete rather than one-sided, yet few who profess the truth are keeping it.
It is higher and holier than natural human love, unselfish and self-giving, the light given to Christ's followers and the defining evidence that they are united with him and one another, belong to God's family, and represent him to the world. Its height, depth, and breadth are beyond measure, seen only more clearly after his death, and when lived out in education it practices love to God and neighbor while putting away envy, rivalry, and selfishness as the root of covetousness. It is a living, practical testimony by which all recognize his disciples. Nothing short of this love will be accepted, for it requires the truth as it is in Jesus abiding in the heart with Christ dwelling within, appearing as unfeigned, unselfish love for souls for whom he gave his life, preferring others to self, not seeking the lion's share nor exalting self and talents above brethren, but looking to the welfare and things of others as he preferred their welfare before his own.
Its full extent is revealed in his leaving heavenly glory and riches to come as a lowly babe, taking humanity and the humblest place, toiling under temptation, indignity, and scorn, agonizing in the garden, being wounded for transgressions, and giving his life as a ransom at Calvary, made clear through resurrection and continued as the risen Saviour intercedes for his people. In that work he rescued humanity from Satan's ruin by coming to help the helpless, healing wounds, providing refuge, and dying to redeem, calling his followers to the same compassionate, practical love. His blood declares an eternal, unchanging love, and love like that shown at Calvary is the pledge of those who are baptized and the proof of genuine Christianity. The command was new because that unprecedented revelation had not yet been made, and receiving his words, pictured as eating his flesh and drinking his blood, opens the heart to the love needed to follow the example, changing character and replacing faultfinding with care for others.
He loves sinful, undeserving people who grieve him and prove most undeserving, and when they ask forgiveness he does not turn them away but extends love freely, as God gives sun and rain to the evil and the good. Year after year he bears with weakness, ignorance, ingratitude, waywardness, hardness of heart, wandering, and neglect of his words while continuing to reach out. That continued patience, interest, and tenderness is the pattern for patience toward one another, an unselfish love toward all that asks how the needy, tempted, and sympathizing can be benefited rather than whether they deserve help. It extends even to brethren who disagree or fail to give praise, and cherished in unity it becomes the public witness that those who profess the truth are his disciples, honoring God and showing that God sent his Son. Those who receive blessing, daily bread, compassion, and forgiveness must impart the same to others, sharing with the more needy and showing compassion and mercy to those around them as evidence of connection with God.
Mark Unity and Witness
This mutual love is the identifying mark by which all people and the world know Christ's disciples, showing that they belong to him, have been with him, keep his commandments, and are God's children and Bible Christians. It distinguishes Christians from worldlings, not by wealth or learning or fame but by Christlike love formed in the heart by his Spirit pervading believers, developing his traits and attributes in them. That love is to be given back to God as fruit, and God requires this result while Christ promises the Holy Spirit to produce it. It includes love in the heart for men, women, and children, doing all possible for their salvation as those purchased by his blood, with a specially tender love for brethren.
It is to grow into full and perfect union like the oneness of the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father, binding believers to one another and to Christ and the Father by a golden chain. Keeping the command fulfills his purpose and answers his prayer to be made perfect in one, curing all alienation and strife. This unity gives strength, completeness, and safety, preparing believers to receive the Spirit and strengthening their witness to his divinity. Selfishness, division, lack of love and confidence, and stubborn independence break that unity, harm character, and dishonor God. The church is to be a brotherhood united with Christ in work for humanity, one family under the same heavenly Father sharing the hope of immortality in a close and tender bond, and it cannot meet his expectation until its members are converted and obey.
Revealed in life and treatment of one another, this love witnesses to the world that the Father sent Christ and loves believers even as he loved Christ, showing redeeming grace, divine sending, and unseen divine agencies. It represents Christ to the world, reveals union with him and with one another, shows belonging to God's family, and proves faith has a sanctifying influence, while hatred and inconsistency give cause to discredit faith. Cherished and made visible in daily life through unselfish words and deeds, tenderness, thoughtfulness, interest, patience, and willingness to sacrifice for the truth, it kindles love in others. It is a living practical testimony to the truth and a warning and appeal to the church, calling believers to ask how they can benefit those needing sympathy and help rather than whether they deserve help. The command is often poorly practiced, yet these words open large possibilities, for the very love with which the Father loved Christ may be in believers with Christ in them, worthy to be written in letters of gold, dwelt upon, and presented to the world by pen and voice.
When set before believers, the command to love one another after the pattern of Christ's love produces a precious season of excellent testimonies, deep feeling, tears, and softened hearts.
Doctrine Spirit and Growth
The command expresses the will of God and His law, holding within it love to God and love to man on which hang the law and the prophets. Keeping it fulfills the law, including the last six commandments, proves loyalty and love to Christ by keeping His words, brings the love of the Father, the presence of Christ, fullness of joy, and fruit that glorifies the Father, and it becomes possible through close union with Christ. This mutual love is the sign by which all know His disciples and the fruit to be returned to God, carrying the credentials that God sent His Son to save sinners. It is formed as Christ's Spirit pervades believing hearts, developing Christlike traits and imparting Christ's own attributes, which God requires and for which Christ promises the Holy Spirit. It is to be cherished and made visible in daily life by unselfish words and deeds, tenderness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to sacrifice for the truth, so that beholding it kindles love in others.
Loving in this way requires receiving the love Christ gives and His Spirit through His words, through surrender, daily communion, purification from selfishness and sin, entire sanctification and conformity to the will of God. Receiving His words, pictured as eating His flesh and drinking His blood, opens the heart to that love, and living by the command changes character and replaces faultfinding with care for others. The Spirit makes this love a living, lasting, sincere power free from partiality, ennobling motives and deepening affection, producing gratitude, humility, patience and forgiveness. Only sharers in the divine life truly understand it, for it belongs in the heart and life of every pardoned sinner and is known by a living connection between believers and God shown in tenderness, sweetness and gracious words not kept to oneself. Christ works through human agents to impart it, and united closely to Him believers can obey.
Lack of love violates the command, and suspicion, accusation, condemnation, hatred, variance, strife, contention, jealousy, criticism, backbiting, political strife, unadvised movements and division weaken the church, let the enemy divide it, dishonor God's cause and reproach Christ's name. Such disunion gives a false impression to the world, gives no evidence of mutual love, harms character and souls, and shows the love of God lost out of the heart so that Christ is ashamed to call them brethren. Without this abiding principle that binds hearts in unity, God's people are weakened by confusion, fail to show true discipleship, and remain unconverted and unfitted for the kingdom. Selfishness, unfaithfulness and stubborn independence break the unity that binds believers to one another and to Christ and the Father, while cherishing the love strengthens the church and changes its experience.
Loving in Daily Practice
True politeness is loving others with the same love Christ showed, and that love is patient, kind, humble, unselfish, gentle, truthful, trusting, hopeful and enduring. It has the character of charity that suffers long and is kind, without envy, boasting, pride, unseemly conduct, selfishness, provocation, evil thoughts or rejoicing in iniquity, but rejoicing in the truth and bearing, believing, hoping and enduring all things. That same love restores a person overtaken in fault in the spirit of meekness while watching oneself against temptation, showing tenderness, kindness, sympathy and natural respect and deference toward others. This is the most valuable teaching on etiquette ever given, to be fixed permanently in memory by every person young and old, studied for its meaning, and allowed to change character and awaken Christlike love among members and leaders.
It is active, practical help to the needy, distressed, suffering, sick, poor, oppressed and discouraged, including distressed fellow believers and youth, and it cannot be set aside while pursuing other religious duties or church work. It sees men, women and children as purchased by the blood of the Son of God, regards youth as bought by Christ's blood, and does all in human power for their salvation and eternal good, extending care beyond one's own family and temporal concerns. It shows love abiding in the heart by doing all possible for salvation while revealing a specially tender love for brethren and all of the same faith, sharing with the more needy as those of one heart and one soul with none calling anything his own. Following the pattern of rescuing humanity from ruin, coming to help the helpless, healing wounds, providing refuge and dying to redeem, it asks how to benefit those needing sympathy and help, not whether they deserve help, and binds followers to one another in brotherhood united for humanity.
It is to be cherished and made visible in daily life through unselfish words and deeds, tenderness, thoughtfulness, courtesy, kindly deeds, sympathy, respect, deference, just treatment, mercy, compassion, forbearance, meekness and patience, with willingness to sacrifice for the truth. It is seen in spirit, words and deeds even when others resist or disappoint, its growth developed through tests, with abiding Christ enabling believers to overcome hurt feelings and continue loving. Opening the heart so the Saviour's love flows forth in pure, rich currents keeps the attributes He came to give, while drawing in own lines and closing the heart to His softening, subduing influence dishonors God. If one has hurt someone by harsh, unchristlike conduct, obedience requires admitting fault and seeking reconciliation as essential preparation for approaching God in faith.
It leaves no place for envy, evil thoughts, suspicion and slander, and forbids harshness, hatred, pride, jealousy, strife, malice, backbiting, variance, contention, criticism, evil surmising and efforts to divide. It requires ceasing fighting, condemning, judging, despising, finding fault and striving for supremacy, putting self aside, denying self, attending to one's own relationship with God and conduct rather than condemning others. Loving this way identifies disciples to all people and to the world, giving unmistakable evidence they are God's children, and this knowledge binds them together and strengthens witness.
An erring brother who makes mistakes is still to be loved and dealt with after the gospel plan, with plain and faithful reproof given only by one who is spiritual and not himself separated by evil works, restoring in meekness, for without that spirit there is no duty to reprove lest two evils be created instead of curing one. It forbids wounding and bruising hearts, requires forbearance, patience and meekness remembering the estimate placed on man purchased with His blood, refuses to expose or condemn harshly, and leads to stop finding fault and instead encourage, work for conversion, pray for and with one another, and speak kind words that help others come into right relation with God. It seeks the wandering without waiting, forgiving and praying, and tests whether one would give one's life to save him.
It applies in every age to church members, ministers, managers, teachers, workers and families, in home, school, councils, business and neighborhood, at foot-washing and baptism, and is to be believed, lived out before fellow ministers, studied, obeyed to the letter, lived daily and passed on rather than kept private. Spoken shortly before the crucifixion to console for severe temptation and trial, it is a lesson everyone needs to learn, belonging in the heart and life of every pardoned sinner as light, union with Christ and evidence of belonging to God's family. It enables different gifts to work together harmoniously, lifts above prejudice of color and caste, prefers others to self, looks to the welfare and things of others, and will not seek the lion's share or exalt self and talents above brethren. Those filled with His Spirit will love others as He did, without ruling another person's conscience or exercising kingly power.