Mark 12:31

DISCOURSE: 1450
LOVE TO OUR NEIGHBOUR

Mark 12:31. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

A QUESTION had been put to our Lord, What was the first and great commandment? To this he had answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” But, lest the Scribe should overlook his duties towards his neighbour, and plead perhaps the answer of Jesus as sanctioning such conduct, our Lord reminded him that there was another commandment, similar to that which he had already mentioned; namely, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
In discoursing upon this commandment, we shall shew,

I. What is the meaning of it—

Self-love is generally represented as a base affection of the mind; and doubtless it is so, as it exists in fallen man; because it is always inordinate, and excessive: but, as it existed in the heart of Adam in Paradise, it was a good disposition, and absolutely necessary for his well-being. It has even now its legitimate exercise; and when directed to its proper objects, and confined within its just bounds, it deserves our approbation, and affords a correct standard for our love towards others.
Agreeably to this idea, we should shew an affectionate regard to our neighbour,

1. In relation to his temporal welfare—

[If we were labouring under any bodily disease, or misfortune of any kind, we should wish our neighbour to sympathize with us, and if possible to relieve us. Such regard then should we shew to his person, participating his joys and sorrows, and, like the good Samaritan, exerting ourselves to the utmost for his good [Note: Luke 10:30.] — — —

Towards his property also we should maintain the same disinterested regard. We would not that another person should “wrong or defraud us in any matter:” we should wish to find in all his dealings the strictest integrity. Such then should be our conduct in all our intercourse with him. We should take a lively interest in whatever relates to him, and rather suffer wrong ourselves, than commit the smallest trespass upon him [Note: 1 Corinthians 6:7.]— — —

We should extend our concern also to his character. We are extremely hurt if others take up prejudices against us, and listen to vague reports, and even by true representations lower us needlessly in the estimation of our fellow-creatures. We should therefore be candid in the construction which we put upon his actions; and be ever ready to cast a veil over his infirmities [Note: 1 Peter 4:8.]: we should “hope and believe all” the good of him that circumstances will admit of [Note: 1 Corinthians 13:7.] — — —

We should consult as much as possible his peace and happiness. There are innumerable ways in which others may grieve us without speaking any thing false, or doing any thing palpably unjust: and there are many ways in which they may promote the comfort of our minds. And there is no one who would not wish to see a benevolent disposition exercised towards him. Such then is the spirit which we should maintain towards others: we should seek our happiness in making others happy; and if necessitated to grieve them for their good, we should feel no rest in our own minds till it was restored to theirs [Note: 2 Corinthians 2:2.] — — —]

2. In relation to his spiritual welfare—

[Men, it is true, have but too little concern about their own souls: and therefore we must speak of the self-love that ought to exist within them, rather than of that which actually does exist. Suppose then a number of persons to be sensible of the value of their souls, and to be earnestly desirous of obtaining mercy; would they not wish that one, whom they thought capable of instructing them, should labour to promote their eternal interests? Would they not wish that he should cheerfully endure reproach, or indeed even risk his own life, in order to effect their everlasting salvation? Such then is the concern we should express for the salvation of others; we should “greatly long after them in the bowels of Christ [Note: Philippians 1:8.];” we should “gladly spend and be spent for them, even though the more we loved them the less we were loved [Note: 2 Corinthians 12:15.]:” if we had a prospect of being “offered upon the sacrifice and service of their faith, we should consider it rather as a ground of congratulation and joy [Note: Philippians 2:17.],” than of sorrow and condolence: yea, we should actually, if called to it, “lay down our lives for the brethren [Note: 1 John 3:16.].”

It appears indeed, at first sight, that the love here inculcated, is to be confined to those of our own community [Note: Leviticus 19:18.]: but other passages in the same chapter prove, that it is to be extended even to strangers [Note: Leviticus 19:33.]; and our Lord’s illustration of it shews, that it must reach even to our enemies [Note: Luke 10:29; Luke 10:36.]

Having, though very imperfectly, ascertained its meaning, let us proceed to inquire,

II.

Wherein it resembles the foregoing commandment—

It is like the former,

1. In extent—

[The duty of loving God comprehends every action, word, and thought that relate to God: and as the first four commandments are contained in that, so every thing relating to our neighbour is included in the love which we should bear towards him. St. Paul enumerates not only the prohibitions of adultery, or murder, or theft, or perjury, as implied in this commandment, but even that prohibition which relates to the inmost emotions of the soul, “Thou shalt not covet [Note: Romans 13:9.].” There is not a disposition of the mind towards our neighbour, which is not either a violation of this commandment, or a positive compliance with it — — —]

2. In excellence—

[What can be more excellent than love to God? It is the brightest ornament and perfection of our nature. Such is also the love of our neighbour. View it as it manifested itself in the Apostle Paul; and contrast the exercises of his mind with the selfishness which obtains in the world: how beautiful the one! how deformed the other! Let us only suppose all persons as studious to advance the interest of others, as they are to promote their own: let us suppose them as kind, as candid, as forbearing, as forgiving towards others, as they would wish others to be towards themselves: what a world would this be! it would be a very heaven upon earth — — — Truly, the commendation bestowed upon a compliance with this commandment [Note: James 2:8.], amply attests the mind of God respecting it — — —]

3. In importance—

[Without the love of God, all that we can possess is of no value. The same also may we say respecting the love of our neighbour. On it, no less than on the former, do the law and the prophets depend [Note: Matthew 22:40.]: without it, all our pretences to the love of God are vain [Note: 1 John 4:20.]. We may have the most eminent gifts, and appear to exercise the most distinguished graces, and after all be “nothing” in the sight of God, if we be not under the influence of this Divine principle [Note: 1 Corinthians 13:1.]. By this we fulfil the law [Note: Galatians 5:14.]; and therefore the want of it must constitute us transgressors of the deepest die — — —]

We may learn from hence,
1.

How much we need a Saviour—

[Ignorant people not only reject the Gospel, but cut off also one half of the law, omitting what relates to God, and retaining only the duties of the second table. But we will suppose for a moment, that our duty to God is of no consideration; and that our duty to our neighbour comprehends all that we need regard; yet who will venture to rest his hopes upon this ground, that he has fulfilled his duty? Ah! we must be ignorant indeed, if we do not see that we have violated this commandment every day of our lives, and that “our mouths must be stopped as guilty before God.”
Put away then, my beloved brethren, your delusive hopes; and look for mercy through the merits of Him who fulfilled the law for you. It is through his vicarious sufferings that your selfishness must be pardoned [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:21.]; and through his obedience alone that you must find acceptance with God [Note: Romans 5:19.]

2. How we may best approve ourselves to him who has become our Saviour—

[The fulfilling of this law is that which Christ regards as the most acceptable expression of our regard for Him. He has enforced it by new motives, and exemplified it in a new manner, and has taught us to consider our obedience to it as the best evidence of our sincerity. Behold, then, ye professors of religion, what ye have to do: get your self-love mortified, and your love to others strengthened and increased. Get your hearts enlarged towards enemies as well as friends (“for if ye love your friends only, what do ye more than others?”), and “let your love to them be without dissimulation.” There is indeed a peculiar love due to “the household of faith;” but though it should be superlatively exercised towards them, it should not be confined to them exclusively. Every human being should have an interest in your regards; and towards all, you should do as you would be done unto. Let this be the invariable rule of your conduct; so will you adorn your holy profession, and glorify your Father that is in heaven.]