The Lord Jesus commands all of us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:39). He mentioned that this command is as important as the command to love God with all our heart, mind and soul. These commands are inseparable, and will always be progressive: the more we love God with all that we are, the more we will be able to love the people that God loves because of the love He gives us.
Yet many people do not understand the meaning of the second greatest commandment. Some overdo it and limit the things they do for other people simply because Jesus said we should love others only "as ourselves." Others tend to bypass the context, and simply love others too much, saying that it's because they love themselves in doing that.
What does it mean anyway?
What the Lord Jesus likely meant in this passage will only be understood when we read the whole passage.
"Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments'" (Matthew 22:37-40).
We see that we are to do two things:
1. Love God with ALL our heart, soul and mind; then
2. Love others as ourselves.
Simply put, we are to give all that we have for the Lord. He alone is deserving of all our heart, including its secret longings and cries; all our soul, including all emotions and feelings we could possibly have; and all our minds, which means all our thoughts and imaginations.
In short, all that we are is supposed to be for the Lord alone.
What about loving others?
How about others? Look at yourself first: you know that you cannot save yourself. You should see others in the same way: that only Christ can save them, too. We should understand that if we all need Christ to be forgiven, saved and redeemed, then we will love our neighbours enough to share the gospel of Christ's salvation to them no matter what!
Christ Jesus once said, "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:12-13).
Brothers and sisters, what the Lord Jesus meant in the Matthew 22:37-40 passage is that first, we should give all that we are to the Lord: for His praise, glory and pleasure. Second, we are to be willing to give our lives to reaching out to others for the sake of the gospel, because we know only Christ can save all of us.
