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     Four words in the original New Testament language are translated “love.”  All have a sense of relationship between persons.  One is familial love. Another is the emotional and warm friendship.  The third is the sexual relationship.  The fourth (agape) was a hardly achievable ideal, thus the ancient Greeks rarely wrote of it.

     The Bible declares, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).  That verse also says if a citizen of Jesus kingdom does not love, he does not know God.  The citizen is commanded to develop the mind of Christ and to imitate His conduct, His love (Philippians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 11:1).  This sacrificial and selfless love is not impulsive gesture of goodwill, but the result of a rational decision.

     Jesus said no one has a greater love than to die for his friends (John 15:13).  The closest relationship is between husband and wife.  It consists of all four of the Greek love definitions.  The apostle Paul described Christ’s sacrificial love (agape) for His church in the context of marriage – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25-28).  Yet, Jesus died for His enemies (sinners) (Romans 5:8-10), reflecting the perfect love.  And this is the command for citizens of His kingdom.

     Regarding loving his neighbor, the lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”  Jesus told of the Good Samaritan.  A fellow Jew was left for dead and ignored by his hypocritical Jewish priest and a Levite (temple worker), who walked on the other side of the road to avoid him.  However a man from Samaria, not only dressed his wounds, but took him to an inn and payed the bill (Luke 10:25-37).

     The significance is the Jews and Samaritans had been archenemies (even war) for 500 years.  The hatred was even manifested by James and John, Jesus closest disciples, who wanted to destroy a Samaritan village for refusing Jesus (Luke 9:51-56).  The Samaritan’s aid to the dying Jew was love toward his enemy.  Loving your neighbor is ultimately loving your enemy.

     In His profound sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies,...” (Matthew 5:43-44).  Nuff said!

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