How to Love Others "as Yourself"

Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

Almost everyone knows the Greatest Commandment. We find it in the books of Moses, in the writings of ancient Jewish rabbis, and on the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles. The first part of the Greatest Commandment is fairly easy to understand. We’re to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind. The second part of the Greatest Commandment, however, isn’t very easy to understand. Down through the past five centuries, most English Bibles say: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” So, what does “as yourself” mean? I think a couple of new Bible translations finally make the meaning crystal clear when they say: “Love others as much as you love yourself.” First, “Love others” reminds us that everyone is our neighbor. Second, “as much as you love yourself” reminds us of the Golden Rule which says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” That is also a quote from Jesus Himself. If you’re happy that you know the Lord, if you’re grateful that your sins are forgiven, if you’re thankful that you’re a son or daughter of the King of kings, what’s the loving thing to do? Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Let’s do just that again today. This is Andrew Palau.