“All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
- 6-4 BC – 30 or 33 AD
- From Judea (present-day Israel/Palestine)
- Religious leader and evangelist
- Founder of Christianity, who had a major impact on religions and cultures around the world
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Quote
“All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
Explanation
In this quote, Jesus emphasizes the centrality of love in God’s commandments. The list of commandments—“You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet”—represents various laws that govern human behavior, particularly regarding how people should interact with one another. However, Jesus teaches that all of these laws are encapsulated in the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This radical statement shifts the focus from a list of prohibitions to a principle of proactive, selfless love. The command to love one’s neighbor becomes the foundation for living according to God’s will, as it naturally leads to actions that honor and respect others’ dignity, rights, and well-being.
Historically, this teaching is found in the Gospels, where Jesus responds to a question about the greatest commandment in the law. In Matthew 22, He combines the command to love God with the command to love one’s neighbor, demonstrating that love is the essence of all the commandments. By focusing on love, Jesus highlights the deeper spirit of the law, not merely the external actions of obeying rules but the internal disposition of care, compassion, and respect for others.
In modern contexts, this quote challenges believers to look beyond rules and legalism and embrace a life centered on love and kindness. It teaches that true morality and righteousness are not simply about avoiding wrongdoing but about actively loving and serving others. For example, in a community or workplace, instead of focusing solely on avoiding conflict or following strict guidelines, this teaching encourages individuals to foster genuine relationships built on respect, empathy, and care for one another. It serves as a timeless reminder that love is the highest calling and the key to fulfilling God’s will in any situation.
