What Jesus Did! 'Love Your Neighbor' — Mark 12:31

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

"The second most important command is this: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' These two commands are the most important."
— Mark 12:31 NLT
Illustration of Mark 12:31 NLT — "The second most important command is this: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' These two commands are the most important."

Key Thought

The second great commandment also deals with love. This time, however, Jesus focuses our attention on our love for other people—our neighbors. In giving these two commandments—love God and love neighbor—Jesus has summed up the heart of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), God's blueprint for morality. The first four commandments focus on honoring God. The remaining six focus upon treating our neighbors fairly. However, Jesus takes them a step deeper and makes them simpler to remember. More than honoring God and treating others honorably, we are called to love them. Our motivation and passion are suddenly at issue and not just our behavior. God made us for relationship with him and with others. Our relationships are to all be marked by our love.

Today's Prayer

Father in Heaven, I do love you and I want that love to be shown through all that I am. I confess, dear God, that loving my neighbor can often be much harder than loving you—of course I also know that I can't really love you without loving my neighbor. Please fill my heart with your love as I seek to love my neighbors—those whom I like and those whom are my enemies. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Exodus 20:2-17
  • Luke 6:27
  • Romans 5:5

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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