Exploring the Command to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ - Undertake acts of service / generosity (part 2)
General Introduction
This is the final Article on our development of what we have called the ‘One Page New Testament’ - #onepagenewtestament. Our approach has created a pictorial summary of the main messages for disciples of Jesus in a systematically derived, structured form. The scriptures have been considered on their own merit, Theme by Theme, without introducing much in the way of theology. Within each Theme, we let the scriptures speak for themselves - hopefully in a way that demonstrates the validity of the analysis.
Introduction to this Faith Article
This article is the twenty sixth in a series that has unpacked some of the analysis work currently being undertaken to draw out the main teachings from the New Testament from a personal discipleship perspective. The previous articles can be found in the reference at Note [1] and they focused primarily upon the New Testament’s teaching on what we have called ‘Kingdom Fundamental 1 [KF1]’ - ‘Love God’, and ‘Kingdom Fundamental 2 [KF2]’ - ‘Follow Jesus’.
This is the seventh article which looks at the third main area, Kingdom Fundamental 3 [KF3] - ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ and some of the sub-components of this. We have outlined that our work has considered there to be three Kingdom Practices at Level 2 as follows:
Make disciples [KP7]
Forgive (don’t judge) others [KP8]
Undertake acts of service / generosity - [KP9].
This article looks at [KP9] defined above and the second of two Kingdom Actions that we have developed which sit below it:
Be servant hearted towards other people - [KP37]
Give generously (for the work of the kingdom and those in need) - [KP38].
The Themes we will consider here are illustrated in light blue (encouragements) in Figure 1.
If readers take away nothing else from these articles other than the sense, logic, and directive actions in the Figures - for disciples to put into practice in the strength God gives - we will hopefully have achieved our initial objective.
Figure 1 - Investigating the Kingdom Fundamental to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
Kingdom Action 38 [KA38] - ‘Give generously (for the work of the kingdom / those in need)’
There are Greek 19 words, from the references at [2] and [3], that support this Theme at this level. Example scriptures include:
Matthew 2:11 - On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts (Strong’s 1435) of gold, frankincense and myrrh [4].
Matthew 5:42 - Give (1325) to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 6:2-3 - “So when you give (4160) to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give (4160) to the needy, do not let your left hand (740) know (1097) what your right hand (1188) is doing.”
Matthew 20:15 - “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous (18)?”
Romans 15:27 - Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister (3008) to them also in material things (LSB).
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart (2588) to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (1395).
2 Corinthians 9:12 - For the ministry of this service (3009) is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God (LSB).
1 John 3:17 - If anyone has material possessions and sees (2334) a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
There are around 34 verse instances where these words related to this main Theme.
Our analysis has identified four sub-Themes that cover the extent of this Theme more fully. These are:
Set aside alms / money for the saints / gifts to the poor / charity - [KA38.1]
Practise hospitality - [KA38.2]
Feed the hungry / thirsty - [KA38.3]
Clothe the naked - [KA38.4].
Let us explore these in the sub-sections below.
Kingdom Action 38.1 [KA38.1] - ‘Set aside alms / money for the saints / gifts to the poor / charity’
We have identified 7 relevant Greek words that relate to this sub-Theme, and they appear in these verses:
Matthew 19:21 - Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give (1325) to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Luke 12:33 - Sell what you have and give alms (1654); provide (4160) yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys (NKJV).
Luke 19:8 - But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give (1325) half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Acts 24:17 - “Now after several years I came to bring alms (1654) to my nation and offerings (NKJV).”
Romans 15:26 - For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution (2842) for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:10 - All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager (4704) to do all along.
2 Corinthians 9:12 - This service (1248) that you perform (3009) is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
There are 31 verse references (above) where these Greek words appear that support this sub-Theme.
Kingdom Action 38.2 [KA38.2] - ‘Practise hospitality’
There are 8 Greek words and one idiom we have identified here which explain this Theme. Example verses where some of these occur are presented below:
John 13:5 - After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash (3538) his disciples’ feet (4228) (Idiom - wash the feet (3538 & 4228)), drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:14 - Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed (3538) your feet (4228) (Idiom - wash the feet (3538 & 4228)), you also should wash (3538) one another’s feet (4228) (Idiom - wash the feet (3538 & 4228)).
Romans 12:13 - Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality (5381).
Romans 16:23 - Gaius, whose hospitality (3581) I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
1 Timothy 5:10 - having a reputation for good works; if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers (3580), if she has washed (3538) the saints’ feet (4228) (Idiom - wash the feet (3538 & 4228)), if she has assisted (1884) those in affliction, if she has devoted herself to every good work (LSB).
Hebrews 13:2 - Do not forget to show hospitality (5381) to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Titus 1:8 - Rather, he must be hospitable (5382), one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
1 Peter 4:9 - Offer hospitality (5382) to one another without grumbling.
We have found around 18 verse instances where these Greek words are translated in a manner that fits with this sub-Theme.
Kingdom Action 38.3 [KA38.3] - ‘Feed the hungry / thirsty’
There are 6 Greek words we have identified here which relate to this Theme. There are 5 verses where these are relevant:
Matthew 14:19 - Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves (740) and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves (740) to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes (NKJV).
Matthew 15:32 - Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry (3523), or they may collapse on the way.”
Matthew 25:35 - “For I was hungry (3983), and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty (1372), and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in.”
Mark 8:3-5 - If I send them home hungry (3523), they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread (740) to feed them?.” “How many loaves (740) do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
Luke 14:12-14 - Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon (712) or dinner (1173), do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet (1403), invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:23-24 - “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet (1173).’”
Romans 12:20 - On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry (3983), feed him; if he is thirsty (1372), give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We have identified just over 20 verse instances where these words support this topic.
Kingdom Action 38.4 [KA38.4] - ‘Clothe the naked’
We consider there are 3 Greek words of relevance here. The verses where they occur that justify this sub-Theme are as follows:
Matthew 25:36 - I was naked (1131) and you clothed (4016) Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me (NKJV).’
Matthew 25:38 - When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked (1131) and clothe (4016) You (NKJV)?
Matthew 25:43-44 - I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked (1131), and you did not clothe (4016) Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked (1131) or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? (NKJV)’
Luke 12:22-23 - Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes (1742).”
James 2:15-16 - Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes (1131) and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
There are some 10 verse instances where these Greek words relate to this sub-Theme.
Summary
In this twenty sixth Faith Article, we have explored some of the Greek words (presented in Louw and Nida’s [2] and Mounce’s [3] reference materials) and particular scriptures that have completed our consideration of what it means to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ - [KP7]. We have concentrated upon the details that collectively explain how we are to ‘Undertake acts of service / generosity’ - [KP9] and the second of two supporting Kingdom Actions [KA37] and [KA38].
To date we have explored the challenges of Christian discipleship across some 26 articles, and the next article will seek to draw all this work together in a final summary.
Just as with many English words, Greek words can have more than one meaning and consequently when translated into Biblical texts can be used to convey several different sentiments. Which is used is dependent upon the context.
Ultimately, this analysis and these groupings are subjective, as will be the inclusion (or exclusion) of many verses within each Theme and sub-Theme. We should note that some verses have a much stronger relevance to the derived Themes than others.
During this analysis, the aim has been to restrict the number of Themes that can be associated with any specific Greek word to eight or less - as any more implies poor analysis technique and the wrong heading choice / naming process.
Any thoughts on this Article, the process being undertaken, and related constructive feedback are welcome.
Notes:
[1] - All previous Faith Articles focusing on the One Page New Testament can be found at this page: www.teachthemtoobey.co.uk/blog/
[2] - “Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, based upon Semantic Domains” Volumes 1 and 2 - Louw and Nida - Published by and © United Bible Societies - 1988
[3] - “Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” - © William D Mounce, 2006 - Published by Zondervan
[4] - Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM.
The Bible references presented are illustrative rather than aiming to be ‘proof texts’. They are examples only as there are, generally, many more we could look at. Please note that when looking at any Bible verse references, you should ideally consider more than one translation / respected version to get a more rounded view, and look at the wider context for each verse too. When Greek words are translated, Bible scholars do not always use the same English word every time it appears in the Greek. This is why it is useful to look at more than one Bible version.
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