The Eleventh Commandment – Exclusivity

Previously:

The Eleventh Commandment – Introduction

The Eleventh Commandment – Authority

Now Jesus is not only speaking forcefully here, but also exclusively. Let me point out that Judas was not in the room when Jesus shares the eleventh commandment. If you come back to me to John 13.30, we read, “He [that’s Judas] then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.”

Therefore, when he was gone out, in verse 34, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Jesus was speaking at this point to the eleven. He was speaking exclusively. Do you know why? Because those who are related to Jesus have a special relationship with one another. They have a special responsibility to each other, a heightened responsibility. A responsibility that’s greater even than our relationships with others who are in the world. The commandment makes us a special family of believers.

Remember I told you that this commandment doesn’t sound altogether new? Especially if you know Leviticus 19:18.

Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

How is this command in Jn 13.34 different? This commandment is different in that it’s not addressed to loving our neighbor. This commandment is about loving our brother, our Christian brother. That makes it different. It’s a new commandment. I’m not saying that we don’t still love our neighbors as we love ourselves. No, we’re still called to do that. But the new commandment is a commandment to love our brothers.

There’s a special love that Jesus Christ demands of those who call themselves his followers, of those who are inhabited by the Spirit of God. In fact, Galatians puts it this way: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal 6.10)

We have a clear New Testament responsibility to love other believers in especially. In fact, 1 Peter 3:8 says, “be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren.”

I want to be clear. I’m not saying that believers should not love unbelievers. Surely, we’re to love unbelievers. Jesus said in Luke chapter 6: “as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Lk 6.31)

The golden rule applies to every relationship, but there’s a special commitment, a special love that is required of those who would understand and keep the eleventh commandment. 1 John 4 says in verse 21: “this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 Jn 4.21)

I think it’s easy to see this commandment lived out in places where persecution is real. In places where persecution is real, the church often demonstrates love for one another very clearly. Way back in church history, Julian of Rome testified that their master implanted the belief in them that they’re brethren. Lucian the Greek who lived between 120 and 200 AD said, “It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator, Jesus, has put in their heads that they’re brethren.”

Aren’t you glad that’s in your head? It should also be in your heart. Because we’re brethren, because we have this special relationship within the family of Christ, we’re called upon to pray for one another. We’re called upon to love one another. We’re called upon to bear one another’s burdens. We’re called upon to exhort one another. Why? Because there’s a special relationship that brethren have.

Two hundred thirty times in the New Testament, the little word brother is used to remind us that we’re brothers and sisters in the Lord, that we have a special relationship. And the Lord intends the church to be a special family on earth. Jesus addressed the eleventh Commandment forcefully, and exclusively to all believers, “A new commandment I give unto you,” he said to the eleven, “that you love one another.” He applied to the eleven.

Now, do you still recall what I asked earlier, to think of that person you’re having a tough time loving? That one is a fellow professing believer. As you think of that person, you need to pay special attention to this message and to the eleventh commandment. We are under special obligation to love one another — an exclusive obligation.