Love in the Teachings of Jesus
Love of God
God’s Love for Christ
John 10:17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.”
John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”
God’s Love for All Mankind
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s Love for the Disciples
John 16:27 “The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.”
John 17:20, 23 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; . . . that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
God Commands that Men Love Him
Matthew 22:37,38 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”
Love of Christ
Christ Loves God
John 14:31 “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.”
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.”
Christ Loved His Disciples
John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and keeps them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Christ Loves the Individual
Mark 10:21 “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [Emphasis mine]
Christ Taught that Love is the Sum and Substance of the Law
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” [Emphasis mine]
Human Love
Love in the Family Circle
Matthew 10:37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
Love among Believers
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Love Toward our Neighbor
Matthew 5:43-47 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?”
Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan