Study Notes: The New Commandment
Hello! Welcome to your study notes for the "New Commandment". This might sound like just one simple rule, but it's actually one of the most important ideas in Christian ethics. In this chapter, we'll break down what this command is, why it was considered "new," and what it means to live it out today. Understanding this is key to understanding the Christian worldview on how people should treat each other. Let's get started!
What is the New Commandment?
The New Commandment is a direct instruction given by Jesus to his followers. The most famous version is found in the Bible in the Gospel of John.
The Commandment: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)
This seems simple, right? But the most important part is the second sentence, which sets a completely new standard for what it means to love.
Let's Break It Down
Think of this command as having two parts:
The "What": Love one another. This is the basic action.
The "How": As I have loved you. This is the new, super-important part. It's the example and the standard to follow.
An Everyday Analogy: Following a Recipe
Imagine your friend gives you a recipe for a cake and says, "Just bake a cake." You might bake any kind of cake, and it would be okay.
But what if your friend, who is a world-famous pastry chef, says, "Bake this cake exactly the way I bake it"? Suddenly, the standard is much higher! You now have to follow their specific techniques and use their high-quality ingredients.
The New Commandment is like the second scenario. It's not just "love people" – it's "love people with the same kind of love that Jesus showed."
Quick Review Box
Core Concept: The New Commandment is to love one another.
The Standard: The love must be modelled on the way Jesus loved his disciples.
Why is it "New"?
This can be a tricky point. The idea of loving others wasn't brand new. The Old Testament already had a command: "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). So, what makes Jesus's command "new"?
Don't worry if this seems a bit confusing at first! The newness isn't in the idea of love itself, but in the standard and example of that love.
The Standard is New: The standard is no longer "as you love yourself." The new standard is "as I (Jesus) have loved you." This is a much higher and more demanding level of love. It’s a sacrificial love.
The Example is New: For the first time, people had a perfect, living example of this love in Jesus himself. They saw how he healed people, served them (like washing their feet), and ultimately gave his life for them.
Did you know?
Jesus gave this New Commandment during the Last Supper, just hours before he was arrested and crucified. This was one of his final, most important messages to his closest followers, making it incredibly significant.
Key Takeaway
The command is "new" not because it introduces the idea of love, but because it sets a new, higher standard for love, which is the self-sacrificial love demonstrated by Jesus.
Exploring the Key Texts from the Syllabus
The syllabus points to specific Bible passages from the writings of John. Let's look at what they say.
1. The Gospel of John (The Original Command)
John 13:34: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
This is where Jesus first gives the command. The context is the Last Supper. He is showing them that their love for each other will be the main sign to the world that they are his followers.John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
Here, Jesus repeats the command for emphasis. He immediately follows it up by explaining the ultimate expression of this love: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). This directly links the command to his upcoming sacrifice.
2. The First Epistle of John (Explaining the Command)
The First Epistle of John is a letter written to early Christians, helping them understand how to live out their faith. It expands on the New Commandment.
1 John 2:7-11: This passage talks about the command being both "old" and "new".
It's old because Christians had heard it from the very beginning of their faith. But it's new because its reality and true meaning are seen in Jesus, and it should be continuously lived out in a fresh way. The author contrasts this love with hatred, linking love to living in the "light" and hatred to living in "darkness."1 John 3:11-18: This part gets very practical. It shows that love isn't just a feeling, but something you do.
It contrasts the love of Jesus (who laid down his life) with the hatred of Cain (who killed his brother). It then challenges the reader: if you see a brother or sister in need and do nothing to help, how can you say you have God's love? The key message is in verse 18: "let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Common Mistake Alert!
A common mistake is to think the New Commandment is just about being nice to people. The texts from 1 John show it's much more demanding. It's about tangible, active, and sometimes costly help for others, especially those within the community of faith.
The Core: How Did Jesus Love His People?
To follow the command "As I have loved you," we must understand the key characteristics of Jesus's love. This is the most important part to remember!
It is a Sacrificial Love: This is the ultimate measure. It means putting others' needs before your own, even when it costs you something significant. The ultimate example is Jesus giving his life.
It is a Serving Love: Jesus demonstrated this by washing his disciples' feet (John 13) – a job that was reserved for the lowest servant. This love is humble and looks for ways to serve others, not to be served.
It is an Unconditional Love: Jesus loved his disciples even knowing they would be weak, doubtful, and would even betray him (Peter and Judas). This love is not based on whether someone deserves it; it is given freely.
It is an Active Love: Jesus's love wasn't just a nice idea. He showed it through his actions every day: healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and teaching the crowds. As 1 John reminds us, love must be shown through actions.
Key Takeaway
Loving like Jesus means loving in a way that is sacrificial, serving, unconditional, and active. It's not just a feeling, but a choice and a commitment demonstrated through actions.
Let's Wrap It Up! - Final Summary
The New Commandment is to love one another in the same way that Jesus loved his followers.
It's called "new" because it sets a much higher standard than before – the standard of Jesus's own self-sacrificial love.
The writings of John show that this love must be put into action. It's not enough to just talk about love; you must live it out by helping others.
The key characteristics of this love are that it is sacrificial, serving, unconditional, and active.
Great job working through these notes! This is a central theme in Christianity, and understanding it well will be a great help in your exams and in understanding different ethical perspectives. Keep up the great work!