Often, when we think of commands, we think of things we must do, orders we must obey. Yet, when asked which was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

By saying this, Jesus was saying that loving goes way beyond actions. It involves our whole being and finds it’s root in what is happening in our heart, our soul and our mind. The Bible also tells us that we love because God first loved us. What does God mean when he declares that He loves us? And what does it mean to love God and to love our neighbour? In this study, we begin to ponder these all-important questions.

Questions to ponder:  The first rule of philosophical discussion is: Define the terms under discussion. Before discussing love, it is a good idea to seek to define it. Why not take some time to ponder some or all of the following questions, either alone, or with family or friends?

What is love?  Is there a definition of love everyone will recognize as the true definition or is such a universal understanding of love impossible?  Why do some languages  distinguish between different types of love by using different words for each type, while other languages use the same word for all forms of love?  What definitions of love are being presented in the media? What is God’s definition of love? Is His definition of love the only true one?

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