In the Fulness of Time/Part 20

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The Matter of Love

It is appropriate at the beginning of this new year, which also begins a new millennium, that we should discuss the matter of love, an eternal principle which supersedes all time and dispensations. Indeed, “love is the fulfilling of the Law” (Romans 13:10) and when we love, we are imitators of God, for “God is love” (I John 4:8).

In considering The Matter of Love in Matthew 5:43-48, Christ continues as in His five previous antithetical statements, by stating first how the Pharisees misinterpreted the Law:

Matthew 5:43 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemies.”

This is not the Law; it is merely teaching from the Law. Jesus quotes it as the Phari­sees taught it, showing how they subtracted from Scripture as well as adding what was not there. Rabbinic Tradition used Leviticus 19:16-19 to define neighbor as “thy people” (v. 16), “thy brother” (v. 17), “the children of thy people” (v. 18).

The twelve New Testament quotations of Leviticus 19:18 use the Greek word plesion for “neighbor.” It is relatively common knowledge that the Jewish religious leaders did not consider everyone their neighbor. Plummer draws attention to this:

The question was a very real one to a Jew of that age. Lightfoot, ad. Loc., quotes from Maimonides, “he excepts all Gentiles when he says, ‘His neighbor.’ An Israelite killing a strange inhabitant, he doth not die for it by the Sanhedrin; because he said, ‘if anyone lift up himself against his neighbor.’” (Alfred Plummer, Luke, Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1953, p. 285).

Geldenhuys asserts that the Jews try to deny this limited concept of “neighbor”:

It is alleged from the Jewish side that the Jews already at that time used the concept of “neighborly love” in the wider sense of “love toward all fellow men.” This is, however, contradicted by Strack-Billerbeck, in loc. “All available data indicate that the Jewish religious leaders regarded only their fellow-countrymen as their neighbor.” According to the Hakalah an Israelite neighbor is any member of his nation, but not one who is not an Israelite. (Norval Geldenhuys, Luke, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1966, p. 313).

Two words subtracted by the rabbinic teaching of the day were “as thyself.” Thus, the Law taught something that the Pharisees could not do; love others as themselves! In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus illustrates this: “And he spoke this parable unto certain who trusted in them­selves that they were righteous and despised others (verse 9) . . .The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” It is interesting that the New American Standard Bible translates: “The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself.” Self-righteous people do not allow for the love of neighbors to be as great as love for themselves! Yet, every time this verse is quoted, these two words “as thyself” appear in the text (Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8).

Then, there are four words added by these self-righteous teachers: “And hate thine enemy.” It is just as bad to add to the Word of God as it is to take anything away from it! The Old Testament did not teach hatred of one’s enemy on a personal level. As a matter of fact, Leviticus 19:34, just sixteen verses later, God says, “But the stranger among you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were so­journers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” Proverbs 25:21 says, “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty give him water to drink.”

Someone is sure to note that in the imprecatory (judgment) Psalms there is allowance for hatred, such as in Psalm 139:20-22. This Psalm speaks of hatred for evil men who speak against God: “Do I not hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? Am I not grieved with them that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred.” Such wicked men were those who served idols, who offered up their children as burnt offerings to their idols! This was the national aspect of anger and hatred against idolatry. Even Christ pronounced official judgment and woes upon the scribes and Pharisees. Some of His harshest state­ments were leveled against them in Matthew 23. He called them “hypocrites” (vv. 13-15), “fools and blind” (vv. 17,19), “serpents, ye generation of vipers” (v. 33). In John 2:15-17 Jesus made a scourge of small cords with His own hands, and “he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things from here; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

Remember, when the Messiah returns to earth to begin His thousand year reign, there will be people born during that period of those who persevere through the seven years of Great Tribulation, and the King will rule with a rod of iron, and “the sinner, being an hun­dred years old shall be cursed.”

Yet, personally, Christ’s love extended to all men, even to those who were responsible for His suffering and death. One of His last requests was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke. 23:34). That same love is extended to you, today, when you desire to know Him as personal Savior. Then, “in the fulness of time,” you will live with Him in glory!

Read Part 21