Applying the Law of Love to Non-Biblical Moral Examples
The "law of love" is a central tenet in Christian ethics, summarizing the moral requirements of God's law as love for God and neighbor [2, 7, 9]. This concept is rooted in biblical passages such as Leviticus 19:18, which commands love for one's neighbor, and Jesus' teaching that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments: to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and to love one's neighbor as oneself [7, 9]. Paul reiterates this in Romans 13:10, stating that "Love does not work evil to the neighbor. Then love is the fulfillment of law" [1]. Similarly, Galatians 5:14 teaches that "the whole law can be summed up... by exercising love toward every neighbor" [7].
This law of love is not merely an abstract principle but an active one, demonstrated by Christ's example and taught by God [2]. It is considered the "end of the commandment" and a fruit of the Spirit [2]. The law of love is contrasted with selfishness, which is contrary to God's law and inconsistent with Christian love [6]. Liberality, for instance, is pleasing to God, but unprofitable without love [5].
Applying the law of love to non-biblical moral examples involves discerning how this core principle guides ethical decision-making in situations not explicitly addressed by biblical commands. The "Law of Nature," as described in Easton's Bible Dictionary, is the will of God concerning human conduct, discoverable by natural reason and binding on all people at all times [3]. This law is often associated with conscience and the capacity to be influenced by moral relations [3]. This suggests a framework where universal moral principles, discernible through reason, align with the biblical command to love.
The Apostle Paul, in his ministry, demonstrated a flexible approach to those "without law" (meaning the Mosaic law), adapting his conduct to reach Gentiles without compromising core principles [11]. This suggests that while the specific regulations of the Mosaic law might not apply universally, the underlying principle of love remains constant. The law of love is not seen as burdensome but as a "law of liberty," an internal inclination rather than an external constraint [4, 10]. It frees believers from the curse of the law, enabling them to love and obey willingly [10].
The concept of "one law" for both Israelites and sojourners, as seen in Numbers 15:15, can be understood as an invitation to proselytes and a foreshadowing of the calling of Gentiles in Gospel times, where there would be no difference between Jews and Gentiles in matters of religion [8]. This implies a universal applicability of God's moral expectations, transcending specific cultural or ethnic boundaries.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 13:10 (LITV) — Love does not work evil to the neighbor. Then love is the fulfillment of law.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Man — Is of God -- 1Jo 4:7. Commanded by God -- 1Jo 4:21. Commanded by Christ -- Joh 13:34; 15:12; 1Jo 3:23. After the example of Christ -- Joh 13:34; 15:12; Eph 5:2. Taught by God -- 1Th 4:9. Faith works by -- Ga 5:6. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22; Col 1:8. Purity of heart leads to -- 1Pe 1:22. Explained -- 1Co 13:4-7. Is an active principle -- 1Th 1:3; Heb 6:10. Is an abiding principle -- 1Co 13:8,13. Is the second great commandment -- Mt 22:37-39. Is the end of the commandment -- 1Ti 1:5. Supernatural gifts are nothing without -- 1Co 13:1,2. The greates”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Law — A rule of action. (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things. (2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb. 7:9, 11; 10:1; Eph. 2:16). I”
- I John “I John 5:3 (BBE) — For loving God is keeping his laws: and his laws are not hard.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:14: 5:14 the whole law can be summed up (or the whole law is fulfilled): Christ’s followers fulfill the law by exercising love toward every neighbor (Lev 19:18; see Matt 7:12; Luke 6:27-36; 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; 15:9-17; Rom 13:8-10).”
- Numbers (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Numbers 15:15: One law, and one manner,.... One law respecting these sacrifices, and one manner of offering them; one and the same precept to be observed, and one and the same judgment or punishment inflicted in case of non-observance: shall be for you, and the stranger that sojourneth with you; for Israelites and proselytes; which is said to invite and encourage the latter, and may have a distant view to the calling of the Gentiles in Gospel times, when there should be no difference between Jews and Gentiles called by grace in matters of religion, but would be one in Christ, Ga”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:14: all the law--Greek, "the whole law," namely, the Mosaic law. Love to God is presupposed as the root from which love to our neighbor springs; and it is in this tense the latter precept (so "word" means here) is said to be the fulfilling of "all the law" (Lev 19:18). Love is "the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2; Mat 7:12; Mat 22:39-40; Rom 13:9-10). is fulfilled--Not as received text "is being fulfilled," but as the oldest manuscripts read, "has been fulfilled"; and so "receives its full perfection," as rudimentary teachings are fulfilled by the more perfec”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 2:12: Summing up of the previous reasonings. speak--referring back to Jam 1:19, Jam 1:26; the fuller discussion of the topic is given Jam 3:5-12. judged by the law of liberty-- (Jam 1:25); that is, the Gospel law of love, which is not a law of external constraint, but of internal, free, instinctive inclination. The law of liberty, through God's mercy, frees us from the curse of the law, that henceforth we should be free to love and obey willingly. If we will not in turn practice the law of love to our neighbor, that law of grace condemns us still more hea”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 9:20: To them that are without law, as without law,.... Meaning the Gentiles, who, though they were not without the law of nature, nor without many good civil laws, by which the more cultivated and civilized nations among them were governed, yet they were without the written law of Moses; a description of the Gentiles, usual with the Jews; see Rom 2:12. And to these the apostle accommodated himself, as if he was without the law; by conversing with them without any difference; by eating any sort of food with them; by not circumcising Titus, when the Jews would have ha”