Matthew 22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Jesus said that we should love our neighbors as we do ourselves...Does Jesus know that some of my neighbors have agendas?...Does He know that neighbors often speak their minds in an unloving way?...Does He really know my neighbors?...I think the answer to these questions is yes...
I recently talked to a family member and their child had their first job and learning the new experiences in the work force...They had found out that they were being paid a higher rate of payment than some other workers...Some how the other workers found out...Times can be rough in the workplace and tough in life...And the family member was having a rough time at his first job...As the story was being told, I naturally sided with family and felt some feelings swelling (as old work situations stirred in my head) up as the story unfolded (and I am just a third party bystander)...Loving your neighbor in all situations can be tough, very tough...But this is what Jesus says to do, and He knows that there are times in our lives when others have agendas, and get upset, and do things that they think is right (and we do not)...
Love your neighbor as yourself...When we read these verses, there are hard to really interpret any other way...Some of Jesus' teachings are hard...But to love, and love everyone is hard...He said some very difficult things for me to follow...On these hard teachings, I often go back and read them again, and again, trying to work my way out of them...Now I realize He said these hard things, so I would over time learn them and over time, then do them, like He does...