Matt 22:36-39 - No oxymoron here, but the very essence of love

Article text: Matt 22:36-39 -

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Where got room anymore
There are people who have problem with this Matthew passage (Matt 22:36-39): They say it is oxymoron or self-contradictory! The argument is that we are called to love God with all of us, with all of our heart, all of our soul and our mind, and then we are told to also love our neighbors; “where got room anymore!” Since all is used up in loving God, can there be any room left for anything, including loving our neighbors?

His righteousness
Call Him a jealous God, call Him a demanding God or call Him a “all or nothing” God, the point is that He is God and is a holy God; and principally, His wisdom and His holiness, working together give rise to His righteousness. Everyone just needs to conform to this righteousness, which is coming from the nature attributes of God. God is like that, it is Him; He has no choice, for He is governed by who He is. And we have no choice, for we are His Creation. No one creates something to irk himself! If what is created irks him, does he NOT have every right to destroy it or re-create it? Shall the clay talk back to the Potter or man, to God? (Romans 9:19-21 – The Potter and the clay {Many people read this article of mine, if you have the time, read it; it's about the sovereignty of God}).

Only one knows it fully!
Scripture talked about who knows the mind of God; and it is the Spirit of God who knows the mind of God. Can the Spirit be at odd with God? Never! For the Spirit is always right on, with God. For the Spirit knows what is on God’s mind, what He is thinking, wanting, desiring, and what He wants to do, and when He wants to do a thing. In other words, the Spirit is always right with God, and what is right, is about “what is right in God’s eyes”, and NOT in any other. The “rightnesses” of God is His righteousness.

The Holy Spirit is always righteous, for He is always right with God, or we say He is in sync with the righteousness of God. Even Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit that way: Jesus said that when He (Jesus) was gone (back to Heaven), the Holy Spirit would be sent, He (the Holy Spirit) would NOT speak or do anything of His own, but only that which He gets from God (which incl. Jesus Himself). You may say, “This is well and good, but what does it got to do with love, and the Matthew passage?” It is because it has everything to do with God and with love; wisdom, holiness, and consequently, righteousness, are everything to God, and are everything to matter of love or God’s love.

God only move in righteousness, including in loving Man ('ahab love)
Because of God’s holiness, God can only move in righteousness! His wisdom enables Him to do that. There is no other way; Scripture said God is holy, and in Him there is no darkness at all. There is no evil or wickedness in God. God just cannot move in any wickedness; He only moves in righteousness, and, and this is an important truth and revelation, it is that ultimately, God can only love Man unto righteousness ('ahab love). Many people have just preached about agape love, a dimension of God’s love revealed more fully in the New Testament, side-stepping that which was already revealed in the Old Testament about the love of God, and that it was a love unto righteousness, even as it was a sacrificial love.  For greater understanding of this 'ahab love, read: 'ahab love - love unto righteousness.

Agape needs to be expanded
The word, “agape” came from the Greek language, the language of the New Testament Scriptures. The Greek understanding however was NOT adequate, for their love language, so to speak, had no idea of loving unto righteousness, but “agape” is the closest love word to use (there are a few Greek love words). To me, if we do NOT want to use the Hebrew phrase of ‘ahab love, then agape love should be redefined to include love unto righteousness. Now, it should make more sense! Let me explain further below.

We too, must love Him back according to His righteousness
Now, God can only move in righteousness, and so also, God can only love men unto righteousness. Just as the Spirit can never be at odd with God, the only way men can be NOT at odd with God is for men to “read the mind of God”! Of course, men cannot read the mind of God like the Holy Spirit. But the idea is still that men are to be righteous, which ultimately is about being right on, with God, fully agreeing with what is on God’s mind (How can men know what is on God’s mind or what God considers as right? Through the Word and through the Holy Spirit). In order to be in harmony with God, we must be moving also in the ways of God. What is God’s ways? Righteous ways, according to His righteousness. So, when we love, we must also love righteously, for God loves us unto righteousness. So, we have established that when we love God, we are to love Him, righteously. Yah, what does it got to do with the “all” as in with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind?

There is no room for any other righteousness
The “all” is to denote the requirement to love God according to His righteousness; for that is the only way we can be in harmony with God; that is the only way it is acceptable to God, for He is a holy and righteous God. The “all” is to emphasize that there is no room for righteousness according to any other, NOT that of other deities, men or ourselves; only to be filled and governed by the righteousness of God. Of course, we should be clear that the fallen men have no acceptable standard of righteousness as far as the strict holiness of God demands (although in Old Testament times, I believe God did prescribe highest achievable standards (temporal), instead of The Standard); Scriptures put it that all have fallen short.

Matthew 22:37 is indicative of all of our love is directed at God, in accordance with His righteousness; and because it is in accordance with His righteousness solely, we are able still to love another, NOT with our own love, but with the love of God, or that there can be hatred even (holy hatred!), in our heart. In a nutshell, it is right to look upon our love for another, as “I love you with the love of God”. It is NOT wrong that we have no more love OF OUR OWN for anyone else; for ALL of our love is (you are supposed to) directed to God. Therefore, correctly, when we love others (other than God), we love with His love; likewise, we hate, with His hatred! You don’t get?! Let me explain below:

Loving our neighbours is flow-out from our love for God
Because when we love God, we love Him in accordance to His righteousness (you are supposed to), and so, you will do according to what God would do, as directed by His righteousness; remember we say God can only move according to His righteousness. Because we will (you are to) 100% subscription to His righteousness in our love for Him (love with all), we therefore, accordingly are to move according to His righteousness. God’s righteousness calls for loving men unto righteousness (and God loves men unto righteousness), and so, accordingly, His righteousness also called for men to love one another unto righteousness. So, when we go by His righteousness (we are to), we cannot but love our neighbors, and so, are moving in His love, because we are fully subscribed to His righteousness; or put it in another way, we love (another) with the love of God.

The second commandment which stated that we are to love our neighbors “as ourselves”, is indicative that it is with God’s love that we are to love our neighbors with, for God loves your neighbors as much as He loves you. So, if you are with your neighbor, and God gives you a pie, what is the thing to do? Think about that. What standard of righteousness God demands!

If you still have difficulty catching the point that when we love God with our all, we would be loving one another with His love, and NOT our love, for there is none left of our own, consider this:  When we love God with our all, we become true steward of God, including being the steward of His love.  Steward goes by the righteousness of God, and that righteousness calls for loving men; and so, we love men, for God, with God's love.

John 13:34 reads: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

When Jesus said "A new command I give you", what is the new thing?  The command of loving one another is NOT new.  It is new because of the words Jesus added after it - "As I have loved you, so you must love one another".  What does it mean?

The new thing is this:  In the same way Jesus has loved the disciples, so must the Disciples (and so, us, too) love one another.  How has Jesus loved His Disciples or followers?  Jesus repreatedly claimed this: that He only did what the Father wanted done or had done (John 5:19;30).  In other words, Jesus loved with the Father's love.  And so, too, we are to love one another with God's love; and the God's love for men is love unto righteousness.

Hate another with the love of God!

Many also are puzzled by this text (words of Jesus) in Gospel of Luke, Luke 14:26-27 -

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

We have established that when we love another, we love with the love of God. When we hate (another), we, likewise, can only do it according to the righteousness of God. Can we say we hate with the hatred of God? Why NOT? There is no evil or wickedness in God, but God does hate! What does God hate? Evil, wickedness, sins, that which is in opposition to His righteousness. Of course, a more pleasant way of saying the same is “We hate (another) with the love of God”, for the love of God is love unto righteousness. Very simply, the Luke text was saying that we are to deny everything and everyone, including ourselves, if it or the person, conflicts with the righteousness of God. Jesus knew it is NOT easy for men; that was why he said “carry your cross and follow Me”.


Love each other with the love of God, not your own love!
Incidentally, spouses and loved ones, with correct understanding of this, will NOT be upset with their spouses or loved ones, when they are being told (by their spouses or loved ones) that they are loved with the love of God. If the person loved you with the love of God, that is the best love he can give you, and you should be happy that he love you with the love of God, and NOT the love of His own, for the love of God is love unto righteousness, and is the only love that gives life. If the person gives you his own love, He has NOT loved God with all his heart, all his soul and all his mind, and so he is NOT in perfect harmony with God. Would you rather he, be in perfect harmony with God, or to love you with his own love? If you demand he loves you with his own love, you are NOT loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, for the righteousness of God demands that he gives all of his love to God. You want to love God with all your hearts, all your soul and all your mind, then let him to do likewise!

No oxymoron, but essence of love, embrace it
That Matthew passage (Matt 22:36-39), is NOT oxymoron or self-contradictory! Verse 37 does indicate all our love is to be directed at God, and yet because we are loving Him back in accordance to His righteousness, we are still able to love another with His (God's) love. Be opened, and receive this revelation of love; and then strive to walk in it, even as I am trying.

There is no conflict between love and commands/laws!
Those who have understanding of what I said about love, can appreciate such sayings of Jesus that those who love God obeys His commands (John 14:15), and those who obeys His commands are the ones who love Him (John 14:21a). It is all because the love Jesus was talking about, is love unto righteousness ('ahab love). The righteousness of God is given to us in His commands, in His Word, and through the Spirit; we obey in love.  Also, those who argue that Jesus came to do away laws and commandments, have no right understanding of the subject of love. To explain this specifically would take another article, but the above should be basis enough for this claim of their poor understanding.

Only one love
Love for God is NOT first, as in at the top of a list; rather it is TOTAL, ALL. We are to have only ONE love, LOVE FOR GOD; everything else is we are moving in accordance to righteousness of God. When we love God with our all, we are steward of God's love, and when the righteousness of God calls for love, we love, when it calls to hate, we hate, and when it calls to forgive, we forgive.



Anthony Chia, high.expressions – Lord, may you use this article to open the eyes of many more to appreciate that, ultimately you can only love Man unto righteousness ('ahab love), and we can love you back no other way, except in accordance with your righteousness.  In the precious name of love, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

PS: By the way, in case you are misled: these 2 pillars of love are NOT new; the greatest commandment was in Deu 6:5, and the second, in Lev 19:18.

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Who are the sheep, and who are the goats

Matt 25:31-46 –

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Verse 31-33 suggest to us that the setting is one of Jesus coming in His glory at end time, with all the angels with Him, and He will sit on His glorious throne as the King, to judge. All peoples will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep, He will place them on His right, and the goats, on His left.

The King will say to those on His right, i.e. the sheep, the ones blessed by the Father God, to take their inheritance, which is the kingdom of Heaven, prepared since the creation of the world. As a Christian, this is the side we all should want to be. But who are the sheep?

I agree with some pastors’ interpretation that the above text is a narrative, not a parable. However, I believe the sheep and goats are representations, i.e. they are allegoric of actual persons falling into the respective categories. Who then are the sheep, and the goats?

The followings are possible scenarios:

1. Sheep are Christians or believers, and goats are non-believers.
2. Sheep are persons with good works (of love), and goats are persons without.
3. Sheep are Christians with good works (of love), and goats are persons without.

If you were to choose one, which will be your answer, 1, 2, or 3, or do you have another possible scenario? For me, my choice is no. 3, but let me explain away the other 2 options.

If it were just simply sheep are Christians or believers, and goats are non-believers, then there is really no need for the subsequent verses 35 & 36. These verses talked about works. Not any works, not bad works, but good works; works characterized by compassion and love, and of giving encouragement and hope. They are also works without expectation of return, for the help was even extended to strangers. Such works as are listed here are not exclusive to Christians or believers. There are non-believers, and even many other religious faiths followers, who do such works. In later verses, 42 & 43, the same list is thrown at the goats, but the rebuke is that they did not do them. It really isn’t the case of persons who do them, are Christians, and persons who do not do them, are non-believers, for the works, per se, cannot be pointing directly to the kind of people comprised in the classes of sheep and goats.

Following what is said in the above paragraph, are sheep simply persons who do those things listed, and goats, those who do not do them, making option 2 as the answer? No, that cannot be the answer. In fact, there is a teaching in the broader Christian brotherhood that use this narrative (story) to substantiate their claim that Jesus is not even required, and that such good works in love is the ultimate criterion for salvation – this is clearly WRONG, and is a teaching that is not consistent with the overall counsel of the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is very sad that some leaders openly endorsed it in their books.

Indeed, it is true that Jesus did say that all of the commandments of God could be distilled down to 2 pillars of love, firstly to love God with our all, and secondly to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:37-40), and while it is correct that love is very important indeed, such teachers who choose to take one pillar of love, and leaving out the other, are clearly apostates.

Actually, if such teachers have been careful enough, they would have noticed that there is a hint in the text that suggested that it is not just a matter of showing love and kindness to people, solely; “righteous” is used on the sheep (v 37), meaning, they have been redeemed by Jesus, such is not used on the goats, for they are not all the redeemed of the Lord. To say that we can infer from the above text, that the ultimate sole criterion for salvation is the measure of our charity or love to men, is heretic. To further say that peoples of other religious faiths (or unbelievers) with such good works can also go to Heaven is apostate.

The fact that “righteous” is used on the sheep, I believe, is meant to imply that there is at least an additional element for a person to be classified as a sheep. The overall counsel of the Word of God tells us that righteousness is not had by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:28), and we are saved by grace, through faith (Eph 2:8-9). One can only be righteous after one is justified.

“For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Romans 3:28). For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph 2:8-9).

The “righteous” in verse 37 referring to the sheep, implies that sheep have to be Christians or believers. For this reason alone, option 2 is out.

Now, verse 32 paints to us that all peoples will be gathered; if sheep are referring to Christians who do good works of love, then goats must be referring to all the other peoples, barring no other criteria are in place. This means that among the goats will be Christians without such good works of love. In this interpretation of mine, not all Christians are regarded as sheep here, only those Christians with such good works of love. All non-believers are goats, and all Christians without such good works of love are goats. This, I believe, is the reason, “they” is used for the goats, as in verses 44, and “righteous” is not used, for included in the goats are non-believers.

Could it be that only the Christians are addressed here, and no non-believers included? My answer is that verse 32 painted for us that all peoples are gathered, and that must be including the non-believers. But if one wants to suggest that non-believers are, perhaps, separately judged, already or subsequent to this, it is fine with me, except, it still does not negate the serious implication that there are Christians not going into eternal life, but into eternal punishment (verse 46). The eternal punishment is named for us, and it is stated in verse 41 - into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. This is the burning lake of fire in Hell!

I can envision my readers who are Christians getting very disturbed at the last 2 lines above. Nevertheless, it is a conclusion arrived at, by reasonable interpretation of who are being talked about as the sheep and the goats. There is no other way, if the text is a narrative, and not a parable of an end time judgment. As I have mentioned in the preceding paragraph, we can say that only the Christians are being referred to, but that does not negate the conclusion. If you want to say only non-believers are being referred to, it cannot be, because that will be apostate, for it suggests that non-believers can enter the kingdom of Heaven by works.

This is my suggestions:

1. Accept it that we have to be righteous to get to Heaven, and we get that righteousness through the justification by Christ Jesus, meaning we have to be a Christian before we can ever get to Heaven.

2. We have to love God. We must subscribe to the 1st pillar of love referred to, by Jesus; it is the greatest commandment, according to Jesus. If you read carefully at both, the replies of both the sheep (vv37-39) and the goats (v44), and the replies of the King to their replies (v40 & v45), you will catch that it is implied in there, and apparently it is understood by all. Only those who are blind to say such apostate statement as, being a Christian is not a must, cannot see it implied in the verses, and follow on to say that non-believers, including followers of other religious faiths, can be admitted to Heaven on the basis of good works of love.

3. We have to love our neighbors, the 2nd pillar of love, and in actions, please. The King’s replies (vv40 & 45) suggested to us that in the eyes of God, loving our neighbors adds up to the same thing, loving God, for we are pleasing God, and executing His desires and wishes.

4. Do not be gripped by fear and anxiety at the knowledge of the conclusion painted here. The text does not specify in any way concerning adequacy or sufficiency of the works of love; there is no measure of quantum specified, nor is there a measure of quality given. But decide today, you are not going to come before the King on that day without any works of love. Adopt 1 John 3:18-19 given at the end of the article (at the sign-off).

5. Be careful of teachings that seek to turn believers into selfish people who just bask in grace in their Christian walk. I am not against basking in grace, yet, do not be carried away with the idea that there is no such thing as Man’s part (arguing everything is wholly God’s job), for that breeds complacency and incorrectly pushes all accountability back to God; subconsciously, many overly grace believers, are adopting the attitude of “if God wants me to do such and such, He has to make me feel moved enough to do it, otherwise, it is all works which must be avoided.” Over emphasis on the notion that believers will “automatically” do good works in love, and therefore, all believers are sheep of the above, are also misplaced. Such teachings are too skewed. We have responsibility to guard our hearts against false teachings. In 2 Tim 4:3, we read this: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

6. Do not hide behind the excuse that “I do not know what is the will of God for my life, and so, I do not know what to do, and I therefore, have every reason to wait for God to speak to me before I should even do anything; and so, since I do not hear God, it is perfectly fine that I do nothing.” If you are a Christian, and you do read the Bible, including this Matt 25 text, you are self-deluding to say you do not know a single thing that can be counted as good works of love that God will accept. Start doing, start small, do something.

7. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and read His Word. At the very core of the Christian faith is the Lordship of God in our life. Do not listen to people who say that you have invited Jesus into your life as your Savior, and nothing else. That is a lie; you have invited Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior. If you have never regarded Him as your Lord, only as Savior, because you were misled, today, say sorry to the Lord, acknowledge His Lordship over your life. As you properly acknowledge Him as your Lord, and desire to serve Him, He will, through His Holy Spirit, and His Word, guide you, in your journey of loving Him in works.

Another way of the labeling the narrative, would perhaps be “My sheep and the goats”, for not all sheep are Jesus’ sheep, for only His sheep hear His voice and obey, including doing the things He wants done (John 10:27), all other sheep, might ultimately turn out to be goats!


Anthony Chia, high.expressions - Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence (1 John 3:18-19).

[Added 22 June 2011: PS:
1) Some interpreted "one of the least of these brothers of mine" in v40, as calling that works must be directed at believers, to be valid. I considered it too narrow a definition to adopt for "brothers", unless the "neighbors" in "Love thy neighbors" is also said as referring to believers only. No, I do NOT believe God is calling us to love only the believers. Yes, at the end, there is a certain end for the non-believers, but meanwhile, it is NOT for us to love only the believers, although we are to love our fellow believers.

2)There also those who avoided the use of the word, "works", treating it like it is leperous. I think it is wrong to do that; Scriptures do NOT portray that understanding. You just need to look at 1 John 3:18-19 at my sign-off, to see that works is NOT a concept that Biblical authors shy away from. See also Eph 2:10, Matt 3:10]

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