1. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life.
2. The Greatest Commandment; Scribes
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.
Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all
the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one,"
answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is
one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love
your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater
than these." 32 "Well said,
teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one
and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your
neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 When Jesus saw that he had
answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of
God." And from then on no one dared
ask him any more questions.
3. The Greatest Commandment; Pharisees
Matt 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had
silenced the Sadducees, the
Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 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.' 40 All
the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
4. Love for Enemies
Matt 5:43 "You have heard
that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you
get? Are
not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more
than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
5. Definition of friend
John 15:12 My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life
for his friends. 14 You
are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know
his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for
everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go
and bear fruit--fruit
that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.