Matthew 22:36-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’(A) 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’(B) 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”(C)
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1 Corinthians 13
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The Gift of Love
13 If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.(A) 3 If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast[a] but do not have love, I gain nothing.(B)
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant(C) 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs;(D) 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.(E) 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.(F)
8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.(G) 13 And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.
Footnotes
- 13.3 Other ancient authorities read body to be burned
Romans 8:33-39
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.(A) 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ[a] who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.(B) 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”(C)
37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us.(D) 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,(E) 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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- 8.34 Other ancient authorities read Christ Jesus
Romans 13:8-10
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Love for One Another
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.(A) 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”(B) 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.(C)
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Wisdom of Solomon 11:21-12:2
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God Is Powerful and Merciful
21 For it is always in your power to show great strength,
and who can withstand the might of your arm?(A)
22 Because the whole world before you is like a speck that tips the scales
and like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground.(B)
23 But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things,
and you overlook people’s sins, so that they may repent.(C)
24 For you love all things that exist
and detest none of the things that you have made,
for you would not have formed anything if you had hated it.(D)
25 How would anything have endured if you had not willed it?
Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved?(E)
26 You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living.(F)
Matthew 5:38-48
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Concerning Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’(A) 39 But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,(B) 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.(C)
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’(D) 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(E) 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.(F) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(G)
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Matthew 7:7-14
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Ask, Search, Knock
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.(A) 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.(B) 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? 10 Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? 11 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule
12 “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.(C)
The Narrow Gate
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.(D) 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
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- 7.13 Other ancient authorities read for the road is wide and easy
Mark 12:28-34
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The First Commandment
28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”(A) 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;(B) 30 you shall 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, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”(C) 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’;(D) 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(E) 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.(F)
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Luke 6:27-38
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Love for Enemies
27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you;(A) 28 bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.(B) 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again.(C) 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.(D)
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.[a] Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.(E) 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;(F) 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”(G)
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- 6.35 Other ancient authorities read despairing of no one
Luke 10:25-37
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The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.[a] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(A) 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”(B) 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”(C)
29 But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”(D) 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.(E) 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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- 10.25 Gk him
John 3:16-18
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16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.(A)
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.(B) 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.(C)
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John 13:34-35
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34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.(A) 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”(B)
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John 15:12
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12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.(A)
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Galatians 5:13-26
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13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,[a] but through love become enslaved to one another.(A) 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”(B) 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
The Works of the Flesh
16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.(C) 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.(D) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.(E) 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery,(F) 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy,[b] drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(G)
The Fruit of the Spirit
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,(H) 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ[c] have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.(I) 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
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Ephesians 3:14-4:2
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Prayer for the Readers
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,[a] 15 from whom every family[b] in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit(A) 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth(B) 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(C)
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,(D) 21 to him be glory in the church and[c] in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Unity in the Body of Christ
4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,(E) 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,(F)
Colossians 3:12-15
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12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.(A) 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[a] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ[b] rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.(B)
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James 2:8
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8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.(A)
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1 Peter 1:20-23
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20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.(A) 21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified your souls[a] by your obedience to the truth[b] so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart.[c](B) 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.[d](C)
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1 Peter 3:8-9
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Suffering for Doing Right
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.(A) 9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.(B)
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1 Peter 4:8
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8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.(A)
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2 Peter 1:5-7
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5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge,(A) 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.
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2 Peter 3:9
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9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[a] not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.(A)
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- 3.9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
1 John 4:7-5:4
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God Is Love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.(A) 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.(B) 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.(C) 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.(D) 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.(E)
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.(F) 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.(G) 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love[a] because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(H) 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Faith Conquers the World
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[b] has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.(I) 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,(J) 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.(K)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.