Matthew 22:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This lawgiver initially sought to test, but upon receiving a wise reply from Christ, he gained understanding and was commended by Christ, as noted in St. Mark: "Jesus, seeing that he answered wisely, said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God'" (Mk. 12:34).

Just as you wish for someone to feed the hungry, provide drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, grant rest to the weary, visit those in prison and the sick, console the grieving, offer understanding to the doubtful, educate the uninformed, liberate the captive, and support the vulnerable, so too should you endeavor to fulfill these acts of kindness for your neighbor. “And as you would have men do unto you, so do ye also unto them,” teaches Christ (Matt. 7:12). In addition, St. John the Theologian, who deeply loved both Christ and his neighbor, emphasizes this message: “He (Christ) laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our souls for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). While all who aim to follow Christ’s example are called to this love, it is particularly essential for those entrusted with shepherding His flock. They must be the first to take a stand for their sheep when danger approaches in the form of wolves seeking to disrupt and scatter Christ’s flock; they should confront and repel these threats — even to the point of sacrificing their own lives, unlike the hirelings who flee (see John 10:1-16).

We need to cultivate a holy love for our neighbor as taught in the Gospel, love that emanates from Christ. The attributes of the new creation must be entirely fresh; nothing from the old self suffices. The love rooted in carnal desires has no value in the context of the Gospel. What worth is it when, in a moment of fervor, one vows to give their life for the Lord, only to declare ignorance of Him hours later (Matthew 26:33, 35, 74)? The Gospel dismisses love that relies on emotional turbulence, driven by the desires of the flesh and blood. The Gospel states, "Think not that I am come to bring peace on earth: I came not to bring peace but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: and a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10:34-36). The fall has placed the heart under the rule of carnal desires and, through those desires, under the sway of worldly distractions. The Gospel liberates the heart from such bondage, guiding it through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit instructs us on how to love our neighbor in a sacred manner. This love, ignited and sustained by the Holy Spirit, is like a purifying fire that extinguishes the remnants of natural, carnal affection tainted by our sinful state. "He who claims that one can possess both types of love is deceiving himself," St. John of the Ladder stated. How deeply our nature has fallen! One who can naturally love their neighbor fervently must exert extraordinary effort to love in accordance with the Gospel's teachings. The most passionate natural love can quickly deteriorate into revulsion and irreconcilable bitterness (2 Kings 13:15). This natural love can even manifest through violence. The wounds of our carnal desires are many. Addiction to this love brings a grievous affliction; a heart enslaved by such addictions is capable of every wrongdoing just to satisfy its tortured love. "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight" (Proverbs 11:1). Natural love provides only for earthly matters and gives no thought to the eternal; it stands at odds with Heaven and the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit calls us to crucify the flesh. This love opposes Heaven and the Holy Spirit because it is subject to the evil spirit—a spirit of impurity and decay.

Let us turn to the Gospel, dear brother; let us examine ourselves through this reflection! As we do so, we must shed the old garments brought about by the fall and don the new attire God has prepared. This new garment is Christ. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). The new attire represents the Holy Spirit. "And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49)—the Lord spoke of this clothing. Christians are to be adorned with the qualities of Christ, achieved through the work of the benevolent Spirit. A Christian can indeed be clothed. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14), states the Apostle. First, in alignment with the gospel, one should cast away hostility, wickedness, wrath, judgment, and everything that directly opposes love. The Gospel urges us to pray for our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and forgive our neighbors regardless of their actions toward us. Strive, you who wish to follow Christ, to fulfill these commands through your actions. It is insufficient to merely enjoy reading the precepts of the Gospel and admire their high ethical standards. Sadly, many find contentment in this alone. Upon beginning to live by the Gospel’s precepts, the entities ruling your heart will resist this endeavor. These rulers include your own carnal nature, which relies on flesh and blood, as well as fallen spirits that prey on humanity’s weaknesses. The wisdom of the flesh will insist that you defend your pride and all the temporary benefits you possess. Yet you must resist this invisible battle courageously, inspired by the gospel and led by the Lord Himself. Be prepared to sacrifice everything for the fulfilment of the Gospel’s commands. Without such sacrifice, you cannot genuinely adhere to them. The Lord instructed His disciples, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself" (Matthew 16:24). When the Lord is by your side, hold onto hope for victory: the Lord can only triumph. Seek victory from Him, appealing to Him through persistent prayer and earnest supplication. In those moments, the work of grace will transform your heart, filling you with a profound spiritual love for your enemies. There will still be challenges ahead! You will still need to stand firm! Reflect on the objects of your affection: do you feel strongly toward them? Is your heart deeply entwined with them? Let them go. The Lord, the source of true love, asks you to renounce this attachment not to deprive you of love, but so that, freed from fleshly love tainted by sin, you may become receptive to divine, pure, and holy love—the ultimate joy. One who has experienced spiritual love will regard carnal love as a distasteful distortion of true affection. How can we detach from those who are dear to our hearts? - Bring your concerns before God: "They, Lord, are Yours, but who am I? A fragile being of little worth." "Today, I may still roam the earth, possibly aiding my loved ones; but tomorrow, I could vanish, rendering myself insignificant to them!" "Whether I desire it or not, death will come, and circumstances will unyieldingly separate me from those I believed to be mine, and they will cease to be mine. They were never truly mine; there merely existed a connection between us, and in my misjudgment, I claimed them as mine. Had they indeed belonged to me, they would remain mine forever." "All beings belong to one Creator: He is their God and Sovereign. To You, my Lord, I return them: claiming them for myself was misguided and fruitless." It is just and right for them to belong to God. God is eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, and infinitely good. For those who are His, He is the most loyal and dependable Advocate. God bestows His own upon humanity: and for a time, man may claim others as his own in the flesh, but spiritually, he retains them forever, should God choose to grant this gift. Genuine love of neighbor is rooted in faith in God; it exists in God. "That they all may be one," the Savior proclaimed to the Father, "as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us" (John 17:21). Humility and devotion to God extinguish carnal love, which thrives in pride and disbelief. Engage in beneficial acts for your loved ones within the bounds of the law, but always entrust them to God; as you do so, your blind, carnal love will gradually transform into spiritual, rational, and holy love. However, if your attachment is rooted in unlawful passion, reject it as detestable. If your heart is bound, it indicates favoritism. When your heart is held captive, it signifies a destructive, sinful passion. Holy love is pure, liberated, and entirely centered in God. It manifests through the Holy Spirit as the heart is cleansed. By renouncing hostility, passions, and carnal affection, you will embrace spiritual love; "Depart from evil, and do good" (Psalm 33:15). Honor your neighbor as the very image of God—honor them in your soul, unseen by others but visible only to your conscience. Let your actions align mysteriously with your spiritual disposition. Honor every neighbor, regardless of age, gender, or status, and gradually holy love will flourish within your heart. The source of this divine love is not the flesh, nor the allure of the senses, but God Himself. Those who may lack the recognition of Christianity are not deprived of the inherent glory bestowed upon them in creation; they retain the image of God. If the divine image finds itself cast into the harrowing flames of hell, I must still honor it. What do I care for flames or for hell? The judgment of God casts the image there, and it is incumbent upon me to maintain reverence towards it, thus safeguarding myself from damnation. I must honor the blind, the leprous, the mentally impaired, the infant, the criminal, and the pagan; regardless of their shortcomings and vulnerabilities, we should concern ourselves with ensuring we do not lack love ourselves. As a Christian, show reverence to Christ, who for our edification declared, and will continue to declare when judging our eternal destiny, "In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Uphold this Gospel teaching in how you treat your neighbors, and you will cultivate a small but meaningful love for your neighbor. This care for your neighbor is a manifestation of your love for God. If you believe you love God, yet harbor negative feelings toward another, then you are indulging in self-deception. "If anyone says," the Apostle John writes, "I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar... This commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:20-21). The expression of spiritual love towards one’s neighbor signifies the renewal of the soul by the Holy Spirit: "We know," the Apostle asserts, "that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (1 John 3:14). The fulfillment of Christianity lies in perfect love for one’s neighbor. This perfect love for neighbor is anchored in love for God, which knows no limit and is never perfected, for it knows no boundaries in excellence. Achieving in love for God has no end: for God is love itself (1 John 4:16). Love for neighbor serves as the foundation for the structure of love. Dear brother! Strive to uncover within yourself a spiritual love for your neighbor; as you do, you will enter into love for God, stepping through the gates of resurrection and into the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

22:37); however, the measure of our love for our neighbor is the love we have for ourselves: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (v. 39). Love your neighbor in the same way you cherish yourself. Just as you diligently care for your own well-being, so too should you strive for the well-being of your neighbor.

If we are instructed by God to love our neighbor as ourselves, it implies that self-love is not inherently sinful. However, this self-love must not evolve into a form of self-worship or idolatry. Our love for God must always take precedence over our love for ourselves and others, which necessitates a willingness to fulfill His will—even when it requires self-denial or forgoing our own desires. While it is true that fallen humanity often prefers self-love over love for others, and even above love for God, such a misplaced priority is a serious transgression. Freeing ourselves from this type of self-love is challenging without divine assistance. Self-love should not overshadow our love for others; it is permissible to love oneself, provided that such love is balanced with love for neighbors. Only then does self-love remain virtuous rather than sinful.