LOVE THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

LOVE THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

Article by: Wayman DFavis

I think it's safe to assume that most Christians who are in a good Bible teaching church, will have a good understanding of the importance of doctrine for spiritual growth. Doctrines are the principles or truths taught by Christ and the Apostles. And while all of these principles and truths are vitally important to us, the Bible makes it clear that some doctrinal commands rank higher in importance than others. A case in point is found in Matthew 22:35-40, which reads as follows:

Matthew 22

35 Then one of them, a lawyer asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." 38 This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it : 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets."

Also John the Apostle who seems to have best understood the importance of love among all the Apostles wrote:

John 13

35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another"

This verse should eliminate a lot of excess baggage that we bring into the kingdom with us. Things like gossip, backbiting, and judging one another. These things are eliminated when we truly love one another. But often when someone has difficulty loving, it's because of past hurts. And when this is the case we must have faith in the Father for the love He has for us and commit the past unto Him laying it down at the cross of Jesus. He died for our past and has enough love to bear the burden of our pain.