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Bible Question:
What
does God mean when He says, "Love others as yourself?"
Does it mean to protect people from harm that you might do to
them?
Bible Answer:
You
are talking about the golden rule,
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The
second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
YOURSELF.' (NASB) Matthew 22:39 |
In order to understand it, lets start with an illustration of
"loving others as yourself."
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A
man who had just arrived in Heaven, told Peter how grateful
he was to be in such a glorious place, and asked Peter
to give him one glimpse into Hades out of curiosity.
This Peter did.
In
Hades he saw a long table extending as far as one could
see, laden down with the most delicious of all kinds
of food. But everyone around the table was starving.
When asked for an explanation, Peter said, "Everyone
is required to take food from the table only with four-foot
long chopsticks. They are so long that no one can take
the food from the table and put into his mouth. Therefore
each one is dying of starvation.
Quickly
they returned to Heaven, and behold, the new arrival
saw an identical table, laden down with the same foods,
but everyone around the table was happy and well fed.
Then he said to Peter, "How do they take food from
the table?" Peter answered. "Only with four-foot
long chopsticks." At that the new arrival was confused
and asked, "Then why are all those in Hades starving
to death while all those up here are well fed and happy?"
Then Peter answered, "In Heaven we feed each other!" |
While the story is obviously not true, it is a great illustration
of "loving others as yourself." "To love others
as yourself" is simply doing for others what you would
do for yourself. Listen to a few examples from the following
passages,
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Example
of Loving Others (NASB) |
Passage |
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This
is My commandment, that you love one another, just as
I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that
one lay down his life for his friends. |
John
15:12-13 |
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. . he felt compassion, and came to him, and bandaged
up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put
him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took
care of him. "And on the next day he took out two
denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take
care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return,
I will repay you.' |
Luke
10:25-32 |
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. . give preference to one another in honor. |
Romans
12:10 |
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. . with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing
forbearance to one another in love, |
Ephesians
4:2 |
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