First Love
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Absolutely, DB.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34 NIV)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV)
This love precedes all others.
"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." (Luke 10:30-35 NIV)
Was it self-love that motivated the Samaritan to stop and help, DB?
Do you think compassion and empathy are things that can be indoctrinated in a person, or do those qualities come natural. ?
Correct, Elvis Samaritan on the road beaten and in need. Empathy born of self love.
Please illuminate the concept of self-love for us, DB : )
The priest and the Levite who walked on by.
Do unto the other as you would have the other do unto you.
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
No he saw himself and felt the others pain as his and could only releave his pain and want by releaving the others.
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no it isn't, but that is the beginning of the story, that is where the empathy comes from, if the love of God is in you, you will love you. If God loves you enough to give you life with his essense of love why can't you love yourself? Should you hate yourself for loving yourself? Should you deny the love you have for your own life and limb?
You are right, LL, there is more to the story.
"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." (Luke 10:30-35 NIV)
In context, Jesus is being publically challenged by a Jewish religious leader. Jesus responds with the greatest commandment. The man then challenges with a second question. In response, Jesus gives the parable of the Samaritan.
"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?' 'What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?' He answered, '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, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied. 'Do this and you will live.' But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:25-29 NIV)
The victim in this story is not identified. He is the neighbor. The priest and Levite are Jewish religious leaders. The compassionate man is a Samaritan. Samaritans are despised by Jews because they hail from an historically mixed Gentile-Jewish race. The religious leaders walk on by. It is selfless, other-centered love that motivates the man from Samaria to risk life and limb on a dangerous road using his own material resources to help the injured man.
Nope. Long before the Bible and your god were born some 4000 years ago, many humans found love. Humans that weren't even H. sapiens even.