Love: Exemplification of the Love of Man for Man

So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves.

Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! …

Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

…or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.

…and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. …

Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” …

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.

Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

…that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. …

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me

I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

…so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. …

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. …

No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, …

…as you have already understood us in part, that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.

I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. …

You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; …

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. …

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. …

…and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. …

Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up. …

In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain. …

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

I thank my God every time I remember you. …

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. …

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.

For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

…because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,

For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.

…and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,

On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—

…encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense. …

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith. …

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,

…and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.

Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

…no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord. …

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness.

Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.

For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

Continue in brotherly love. …

I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.