We hear a lot about ‘love’. Often these days the word is used glibly and sentimentally. It’s important that we understand the meaning of the word ‘love’ as it’s used in the Bible.
The Good Samaritan
Let us consider the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ (Luke 10:25–37).
The Jewish Law taught, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself’ (v. 27). Jesus was asked, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ (v. 29). In answer to the question, he presented this simple story about a man travelling down the steep road from Jerusalem in the hills to Jericho in the river valley. On the way thieves attacked him, stripped him and left him dying. By chance a priest arrived, but having seen the wounded man he hurried by on the other side of the road. Likewise a Levite, who also hurried on. The priest and the Levite were two upstanding members of the Jewish community. Later on a Samaritan arrived (the Samaritans were the Jews’ northern neighbours, and the Jews despised them). Moved by compassion and heedless of the danger he was in, he stopped to help. He treated and bandaged the man’s wounds, set the man on his own donkey, and took him to an inn, where he promised to pay whatever was necessary for his care.
‘Which of these three,’ Jesus asked, ‘proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?’ (v. 36). Of course, it was the Samaritan, he who had shown love for the man.
But let us notice that there was no emotional bond between the Samaritan and the victim. The man was unconscious, a stranger on the roadside. The Samaritan had seen someone in need of help and he helped without any questions about race or creed. He shows to us the meaning of the word ‘love’.
Before we leave the parable, let us notice that it was more than a simple story. It has layers of meaning. The Samaritan (despised by the Jews) can represent Jesus (whom they despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3)). The victim can represent us. We are travelling a downhill road, and we are attacked and mortally wounded by sin (Romans 7:11). But Jesus has come to our aid; he has ‘paid the price’ for our healing (1 Corinthians 6:20).
But this is the important point—it is possible to show ‘love’ to an unknown stranger. The parting words of Jesus were, ‘You go, and do likewise’ (Luke 10:37).
Love Your Enemies
Here are some more words of Jesus: ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44). Did Jesus mean, “Have a strong emotional bond with everyone?” No! That would be impossible. The Samaritan had come across the victim and he helped without hesitation. Jesus teaches, therefore, that “love” is like that. It would be easy to behave like that to our friends, to people who would help us if the need arose: that would be normal human behaviour. But Jesus calls upon us to do better, to behave like that even to people who have been unkind to us and whom we dislike.
It is not easy—but the call of Jesus is not intended to be easy. It is a call to self-denial. ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’ (Matthew 16:24). “Self” would say, “That person has been unkind to me so why should I help them?” But Jesus calls upon us to overcome “self” and to behave as he did, our own ‘Good Samaritan’.
Jesus does not ask for the impossible; he calls us to be kind to all, friends and enemies alike.
Let us consider a practical example in Jesus’ life. Judas Iscariot was the disciple who betrayed Jesus.
Did Jesus “like” Judas? He knew that Judas was a thief and a liar (John 12:5–6). He knew that Judas would betray him
(John 6:70–71). Surely the daily company of Judas must have been a trial to Jesus. But did Jesus “love” Judas? Yes he did! Jesus taught that we should “love” those who treat us badly—and certainly he put his own teaching into practice!
At first this looks like nonsense, that Jesus could love someone like Judas. How did he show that love? He treated Judas just like the other disciples—he washed his feet (John 13:3–5). When it was Judas’s turn, were those 30 coins still in his pocket as he held out his feet (Matthew 26:15)?
Deeper Love
But can the word “Love” have a deeper meaning too? Yes, it can. Among Jesus’ twelve disciples there was an inner group of three, who witnessed the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37), Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:2), and his suffering in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). It seems that the relationship between Jesus and John, especially, was very close (John 21:20). It is obvious, too, that Mary Magdalene loved Jesus very deeply (Mark 16:9).
And so it is with ourselves. There are individuals whom we love deeply; we value their advice and would share our innermost thoughts with them. There are many others whom we “like” but we would not seek out their company especially. There are others whom we find it very difficult to like. But Jesus tells us:
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:44–45).
Finally, let us consider the love of God. God wants us to be like Him, in our character, our thoughts and our actions. God is love
(1 John 4:8). He has shown to us true love in all its splendour.
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)
David Budden