To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”
Save to my list
Remove from my list
Society says one thing, but morals and ethics say another. Today the world says get revenge when one does another wrong. Revenge is a sign of hate. From a worldly perspective hate is accepted. On the contrary, it is known that one should love their neighbors and enemies regardless. It is even taught to pray for the enemy. This teaching is expressed by some of the greatest leaders to ever exist. Jesus and the Apostle Paul have educated many on the importance of loving one another as oneself.
They teach the same concept. Although, how they explain the notion differ. Jesus teaches how to love by expressing love in various acts and illustrations. Paul takes Jesus’ teachings and illustrations to explain love throughout the world.
Loving one another is not a choice, it is a commandment. Jesus explains the importance of loving each neighbor by labeling it as the second most important commandment in the law. As Jesus says, when he is asked “The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39).
Verified writer
Proficient in: Importance Of Ethics And Values
4.9 (984)
“ Ok, let me say I’m extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. I really enjoy the effort put in. ”
In this Jesus does not mean neighbor as in next door, he means any human being that exists. This includes people that are considered as enemies. Instead of hating the enemy, Jesus teaches from the moral standpoint of how one is supposed to love the antagonist. The Messiah explains love from the worlds perspective. He uses the worldly perspective to compare to what is commanded of the people. As mentioned within the Word by the Holy One, “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of you Father in heaven . . .” (Matthew 5:43-45). Scripture calls people to live in the world, and not of the world. In the book of Matthew chapter five, versus 43-45 exemplifies what Jesus commands. The world says to hate those who hate. Jesus teaches that hating those who hate is wrong. Jesus teaches with morals and ethics by emphasizing to love as he first loved everyone. From a Christlike perspective, everyone must pray for one’s enemies. Revenge is left in the Lords hands to deal with. This is how Jesus teaches the matter of loving one another. Paul takes a different approach at the same concept.
The Apostle Paul’s goal of instruction is love. As Paul mentions in 1 Timothy “Now the goal of instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 5). With this in mind, Paul wants to accomplish spreading what love is. Love sums up the New Testament. Paul the apostle describes what love is like. He says the fulfillment of the law is the second most important commandment, which is loving everyone as a neighbor. Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians he says this, “Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Paul here is explaining what love is. As a Christian, it is necessary to abide by these teachings from Paul. These characteristics Paul explains as ethics to follow coincidentally happen to be the characteristics of the Corinthian saints (Deffinbaugh 2). This is a shortened guideline for people to be more Christlike. Jesus and Paul both emphasize that loving each neighbor is a step towards an eternal life with the Holy Spirit. This is valuable in many aspects for people. Worldly treasures amount for nothing in the Kingdom of the Lord. In the end, what it comes down to is the love people have for God and the love people have for each other. It is known that Paul teaches that the fulfillment of law is love. It is known that Paul was teaching to the Gentiles and Jesus was teaching to the Jews. This can result in the different ways they have expressed the importance of love. However, the teaching of love was brought about in a unique way.
The parable of the good Samaritan is what prompted Jesus and Paul to address the law and the explanations of love. Jesus deals with how to sum up the law when he was questioned of the greatest commandment is. In the Gospel(s) of Luke, it says, “Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” Jesus replies to the law expert saying, “What is written in the law?” (Luke 10:25-26). The expert goes on to explain what is written in the law. As mentioned previously, the law is to love the neighbor as oneself. Jesus here is teaching how to inherit an everlasting life with the Holy One. As continues by the law professional, he goes on to ask Jesus who is considered as the neighbor. Jesus replies with and illustration to explain the concept of neighbor. As mentioned in Luke “Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead . . . But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw [the man], he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and win. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend’ (Luke 10:30; 33-35). In this illustration that Jesus uses to explain to the lawyer educates what Scripture calls people to do to fulfill the law of having an eternal life.
Jesus continues to use illustrations to express the importance of ethics Christians should present to show love towards others. Jesus goes on to say, “‘Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell in the hands of the robbers?’ “The one who showed mercy to him, he said . . . ‘Go and do the same’” (Luke 10:36-37). This is Jesus commanding to have compassion for those in need. This is a sign of love, as this is exemplified through the parable of the good Samaritan. The good Samaritan is showing love and compassion to someone who was in need. This is exactly what Jesus calls his people to do when he commands to love the neighbors which is the fulfillment of the law. Paul goes on to carry on this concept through different teachings as already mentioned. According to the article “Galatians 5:14 Loving Your Neighbor” “Paul’s point is that if one is loving one’s neighbor as themselves, then they are already doing the “Spirit of the Law.” By walking in the Spirit, the believer is already fulfilling the whole law. . .” (n.a. 1). What the author means by this is in the Apostles Paul’s teachings he explains that walking in the spirit morally then one is already pleasing the law. Also, as described in the article of Galatians 5:14 Loving Your Neighbor, “Paul’s point is not, “if you want to keep the law, love your neighbor.” He has said repeatedly that the age of the Law is done and over with and the one who is in Christ. . .” (n.a. 2). With this in mind, the author is saying that Paul is explaining that if one wants to keep the law then one must love each neighbor, but if one wants to fulfill the law then one should walk with Christ. Jesus typically says the same thing. However, he approached it differently. He says the law is fulfilled through showing mercy, compassion, and love. In the end, it comes down to the same scenario, just approached differently.
Hate is the last thing God commands people to do. Unfortunately, this is accepted in the world that exists today. The world says hating other and getting revenge is the right way to approach situations. On the opposition, from a moral standpoint it is commanded to love those, even people who may do one wrong time after time. Jesus and the Apostle Paul express this teaching. However, they educate this concept in different ways. Although, in the end they mean the same thing. Jesus explains the matter by giving examples of illustrations. These teachings are taught in a way for Christians to grasp the connotation of what it is to love a neighbor as God loved everyone first. The various teachings help people understand the importance of morals and ethics that the Christian religion has to offer.
Ethics and Morals Are Vital Within the World Today. (2021, Dec 20). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/ethics-and-morals-are-vital-within-the-world-today-essay
👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
get help with your assignment
