WIiv did our Lord call love a " new " commandment? Tliis is a rather difficult question, and has called forth great variety of opinions. One thing only is very clear. Jesus did not mean to say that " love " was a grace peculiar to the Gospel, and was nowhere taught in the law of Moses. To say this, is a mark of great ignorance. The point is set at rest by the words in Lev. xix. 18 : " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." What then does this word " new " mean ?
Some think, as Chrysostom, that our Lord refers to the degree with which Christians should love, — even as He had loved them. This was a new and higher standard than had been yet known. Hitherto, as Cyril says, men were to love others as themselves. Now they were to love them more than them- selves.— Some think that our Lord refers to the great duty of Christians to love one another, aad cling to one another with a special and peculiar love, over and above the love they had generally to all mankind. This was in a sense a novelty. — Some think that our Lord only meant that He renewed and re- created the great law of love, and raised it to so much higher a position than it had ever held among the Jews, that it might be truly called a " new commandment." The parable of the good Samaritan shows how little the Jews realized the duty of loving their neighbors. He had in view the utter neglect into which the law of love had fallen among Jewish teachers like the Pharisees, and like Isaac digging the earth out of the old well, would give the law a second beginning, as if it were new.
Some, as Maldonatus and Suicer, think that the expression is only a Hebraism, and that " new," " rare," and " excellent " are synonymous. Thus a new name, a new song, a new wine. (Rev. ii. 17 ; Psalm xcv. 1 ; Matt. xxvi. 29.)
Perhaps there is something in each and all of these views. One thing is very certain : nothing could exalt the value of love so highly as to call it a " new commandment."
Scott observes that the law of love to others " was now to be explained with new clearness, enforced by new motives and obligations, illustrated by a new example, and obeyed in a new manner. 85. — [Bi/ this shall all men know, etc.] There can be no mistake about these words. Love was to be the grand characteristic, the distinguishing mark of Christ's disciples.
Let us note that our Lord does not name gifts, or miracles, or intellectual attainments, but love, the simple grace of love, a grace within reach of the poorest, lowliest believer, as the evi- dence of disciple ship. No love, no grace, no regeneration, no true Christianity !
Musculus observes, with withering scorn, how little likeness there is between our Lord's mark of discipleship, and the dresses, beads, fastings, and self-imposed austerities of the Church of Rome.