The following is part of our series exploring the Gospels and how they are illuminated by the Revelation of Baha’u’llah. This post reflects on a passage from the Gospels where Jesus was teaching in the Temple and answering questions from the religious leaders.
Then one of the scribes approached him. He had been listening to the discussion, and noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he put this question to him, “What are we to consider the greatest commandment of all?”
“The first and most important one is this,” Jesus replied – ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength’. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’. No other commandment is greater than these.”
“I am well answered,” replied the scribe. “You are absolutely right when you say that there is one God and no other God exists but him; and to love him with the whole of our hearts, the whole of our intelligence and the whole of our energy, and to love our neighbours as ourselves is infinitely more important than all these burnt-offerings and sacrifices.”
Then Jesus, noting the thoughtfulness of his reply, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God!” After this nobody felt like asking him any more questions.
——-
As Jesus tells us above, to love God and love humanity is the basis of all true religion. Baha’u’llah similarly told us that “The beginning of religion is the love of God…, and the end of it is love for HIs servants”. His declaration that religion should always be a source of love and harmony, to elevate people’s thinking and make their perspective more noble. “Conflict and contention are absolutely forbidden in the Book of God”. Baha’u’llah tells us that this truth- the fundamental oneness of humanity before an All-Loving God- is the source of unity for our world.
O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since we have created you all from one same substance, it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth, and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel unto you. O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel, that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory. (Baha’u’llah)
Next post in series- Purity of Heart Amidst Persecution