In Matthew 22:36, Jesus is asked: “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus responded by giving two commandments: The first required whole-hearted love toward God; the second commands love toward one’s neighbor. Unfortunately, the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself is seen as two commandments, making the words “as thyself” into a third commandment—a mandate to love oneself. Let us be clear: Jesus is NOT giving us a new commandment to “love yourself.” Unfortunately, Joel Osteen in “Become a Better You” declares the opposite.
Most scholars believe that words “as yourself” are an assumption of self preservation and self-protection—the most natural of all human instincts. So Jesus was saying “love your neighbors” even as you take care of and protect yourself. Paul explains this in Philippians 2:3 “Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not [only] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Isn’t this the way Jesus loved us?
Why is this distinction important? Because self-love is man-centered. If we say we cannot serve God or love our brethren unless and until we love ourselves, then the foundation of our love is based on self—not God’s love. Paul says “Christ died for us while we were yet sinners,” clearly showing that our worth is established not by us, but by His love for us; it is His love that gives us value.
Martin Luther put it best: “God does not love us because we are valuable; we are valuable because God loves us” (the fourth thesis).
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