Thoughts from the Grist

(this is part two in a series. Please see previous articles below. Check back for further interactions)

This statement by Jesus is used in the New Testament three times. In all three cases (Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8) the context is completely committed to pointing out the evil of self-centeredness and selfishness. Jesus statements are never used to explain how one is to love themselves. Quite to the contrary, it is always used to explain how one is to love his neighbor.

So, what exactly does Jesus mean when He says one is to “Love your neighbor as yourself?” In the Matthew and Mark passages there is very explanation of its meaning so the student will have to look elsewhere. That Jesus quoted from Leviticus 19:18 is without doubt and so should be the first place for investigation. In examining the text itself we discover that there is nothing more to shed on the subject. However, when looking at the context it becomes evident in the verses that precede that God has something specific He wants to teach. The preceding verses are a long laundry list of “thou shalt not’s” and concludes with how one must live. It is important to notice that the entire list of “not’s” is about how to treat others. It is the natural reading of the text to understand that the concluding remark would also be others oriented. This pattern has already been seen above in the other three passages.

So, the teaching of Jesus must not be seen as teaching one must love themselves as that is missing in the teaching as well as the extra uses of the statement. To the contrary, when one understands the greater teaching found throughout the Scripture the teaching becomes evident. One of the great themes running throughout the Scriptures is that man has a “hard wired” desire for himself. Pursuit of self pleasure, pursuit of happiness, pursuit of fulfillment, pursuit of contentment, pursuit of purpose, etc. The problem is not in these by themselves. The problem is in the pursuit of these apart from God. That is, by it’s very definition, a love of self. Yet the question must be asked; do the Scriptures teach this?

The answer is resoundingly yes.

 (more in upcoming installments)

(this is part one in a series. Please check back for further interactions)

Someone is struggling with guilt. Another is wrestling with depression. Yet another is struggling with rejection. These and many other experiences have one common element in many theories of counseling and ministry. The cry goes out that the person, at least on some level, has a problem of not loving themselves enough. And once the call for greater self love is made seemingly everyone stands in agreement. However, it would seem important that one examine the basis of the prescription to determine its value.

One may very well find himself at this point somewhat surprised that someone would even bring up the question. He may say, “Well, hasn’t it been well established for quite some time of this need?” Or he may say, “Everyone knows this is true.” Is it? Or have we just not thought through the issue critically and Biblically? Does the Bible say anything about this? Where does this idea come from?

When the above questions are asked the following answers are given. First, Observation. When observing those who are struggling in the above areas and in others it becomes clear that the person is typically “down” on themselves, have bad feelings about themselves and their situation, speak down about themselves, etc. As this certainly causes one to continue down the downward spiral it is said that the way to stop this journey is to place love upon self so as to begin the upward spiral. However, if one would think about this critically one would have to ask if this seeming lack of self love is causal or effect. Also, one would have to ask if what seems like a lack of self love is really what it seems. Is it perhaps something else? More about that later.

Second, for Christians, the Scriptures are open to argue for a need of more self love. The passage most commonly referenced is Matthew 22:36-40:

“And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” ^[1]

Of course, the primary focus is upon the second commandment where Jesus says “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The point is made that Jesus surely does not say that you should not love yourself. Quite to the contrary, it is argued, since Jesus said you shall love your neighbor as yourself He is establishing the need for one to love themselves in order to love their neighbor. So, if self love is lacking the natural result would be that loving others would be lacking.

There are several hermeneutical misunderstandings in this approach however. First, if Jesus is either saying or implying that self love is needed then there is a problem with Jesus statement. Notice, He declared that there were two commandments. If self love is needed according to this passage there are three commandments, not two. It should be noted also that Jesus lumps the statement “love your neighbor” and “as yourself” into one heading called “the second.” In other words, this statement is, in its entirety the second commandment.

Second, Jesus declared that these were the greatest commandments. In fact, He lumps them so tightly together that He describes them as the greatest commandment (singular). However, if loving oneself is necessary in order to love ones neighbor, by necessity it would become predominant. That is, if “A” is necessary in order to have “B” then “A” is more necessary or important than “B.” If loving oneself is foundational then that becomes the greatest commandment because it produces the other. Yet, Jesus Himself declared that these two (Love God and Love neighbor) are the greatest. Further, in the parallel passage in Mark 12:31 we find Jesus saying there are no greater commandments than these two.

(more in upcoming installments)

^[1] New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Mt 22:37-40