The word commandment, even in the religious context, has for many a certain harsh connotation to it. For many Christians, the first thing that comes to mind when the word commandment is uttered is the Ten Commandments, a wide ranging list of “thou shalt nots.” “Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Even the commandments which are not straight-out prohibitions, like remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy, are often reduced to series of prohibitions.
The Savior Jesus Christ, though, while not dismissing the importance of other commandments, even the Ten Commandments, did not confine Himself to the same series of prohibitions. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35.
And when asked which was the first and greatest commandment in the law, what did the Savior say? Did he say, the greatest commandment is to diligently adhere to the prohibitions listed in the Ten Commandments? Or to be strictly obedient to the words of the prophets? To pay your tithing? To remove yourself from any association with sinners? To do nothing to soil your garments? To make and keep covenants?
No.
When asked what is the greatest commandment, this is what the Savior said:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40.
“There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31.
But then the Savior is asked, “Who is my neighbor?” And what did He answer? Did He say your neighbor is the one who lives next to you? Your neighbor is any one of the other of my disciples among you? The other people that live in your town, your city, your country? Members of your congregation, or those who share your faith? Those you choose to call neighbor?
No.
The Savior doesn’t answer directly, but instead tells a little story that is familiar to many.
“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” Luke 10:30-35.
And the Savior ended with this admonition to His followers regarding the Samaritan who helped the fallen man, the fallen man who was not a Samaritan like himself, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
So our neighbor is another of Our Heavenly Fathers’ children, who we happen upon on our moving to and fro across this earth, who is fallen and in need. “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40.
An easy commandment to follow day by day, it is not. The greatest commandment which Our Savior set before us, it is.
Very nice, Chris. I would like to share some reflection on “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35. Our Lord spoke this to his eleven Apostles on the night before he arrested. Judas Iscariot had already left the supper with Our Lord saying “What you are going to do, do it quickly.” So two thoughts stand out, first that this was Our Lord’s parting commandment, so in a sense his final word on the subject of commandments. Second, it was said to those who were closest to him, who truly knew how He had loved them. So they had the commission to show how He loved them by showing that love for one another.