A meme that’s been circulating on social media, originally posted by a man with the title of Reverend, in front of his name, highlights one of Jesus’ most important teachings: the command to “love your neighbor.” The meme reads:
“Part of the greatest commandment Christ gave to his disciples is to ‘love your neighbor.’ Not control your neighbor. Not mock your neighbor. Not shame your neighbor. Not dehumanize your neighbor. Not demonize your neighbor. Not defeat your neighbor. Love your neighbor.”
On the surface, this sentiment resonates with many of us, particularly in today’s polarized world. Love is, after all, central to the Christian faith. But when used as a standalone teaching, it can dangerously simplify the complexity of what Jesus taught His followers, especially when dealing with the spiritual challenges of living in a fallen world. In a world of “wicked darkness”, as I like to call it, Christians are not only called to love but also to discern, defend, and uphold the truth.
Loving God Comes First
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus didn’t stop at “love your neighbor.” He started with a deeper call—to love God:
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
This is where the conversation often gets sidetracked. We focus on the second commandment and forget the first. Jesus’ first commandment demands the totality of our being: our heart, soul, and mind. As I explained in depth in another article, the entire person—their spirit, soul, and body—must be sold out to love the Lord thy God, and it’s only through that experience of loving God first that we have any hope to love our neighbor as ourselves. If you put these two commandments out of their proper order, you not only miss the context of what Jesus was saying, but it also becomes an impossibility to ever truly love your neighbor as yourself. This is because it is a love that encompasses not only emotional affection but also intellectual and spiritual discernment. As I will explain further, this love of God involves recognizing that we live in a world filled with wolves, false prophets, and spiritual dangers that threaten our relationship with God.
It’s not enough to simply “love your neighbor” without considering the full scope of Christ’s teachings. Jesus himself made it clear that wisdom and vigilance are necessary when walking in faith.
Beware of Wolves, Dogs, and Swine
Jesus gave His followers explicit warnings about the dangers of this world. He told them to guard what is sacred:
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6).
This isn’t a call to stop loving others, but rather to exercise discernment. There are forces in the world that seek to defile what is holy, and Christians are called to protect the sacred truths of their faith. Jesus wasn’t advocating for blind acceptance of everyone or everything. He understood that there are those whose intentions are not of God, and we must be able to recognize them.
Further in Matthew 7:15-23, Jesus warned His followers about false prophets:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
We are not to be naïve. There are people and ideologies that may appear benign or even virtuous on the surface, but their true nature is revealed by the fruit they bear. We are called to examine the actions and outcomes of people, not just their words. A “good tree” brings forth good fruit, and a “corrupt tree” brings forth evil fruit. As Christians, it is our responsibility to be watchful, discerning who the wolves, the dogs, and the swine are among us.
Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus again emphasizes the importance of wisdom:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Jesus acknowledges that we are sent out into a world filled with spiritual predators. He doesn’t tell His disciples to close their eyes and love without thought. Instead, He calls for a balance—wisdom and innocence. We must be able to recognize danger while remaining faithful to the commandment of love. Love, in this sense, does not mean enabling evil, endorsing wickedness, or turning a blind eye to falsehood.
Jesus warns His followers that they will face persecution. They will be “delivered up to councils” and “scourged in synagogues” (Matthew 10:17). In such a world, love alone is not enough; we must also have the wisdom to navigate these dangers while remaining faithful to God. Why? Because this is the first commandment.
Far too many people today, who claim to be Christians (which means that they are following the teachings of Christ), promote and cling to the second commandment while completely ignoring the first. What they are really doing is becoming pleasers of men rather than followers of God, by trying to love others out of their fallen, natural state, instead of following in obedience to the teachings of the life-giving Spirit. This is why Jesus warned that many would claim to have done great works in His name, even casting out devils and performing wonders, but He will still say to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).
At first glance, this doesn’t sound like the same Jesus who calls us to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” To many, this may seem harsh—how could Jesus, who preached love, also issue such stern warnings? The reality is that these people knew of Jesus, but He didn’t know them. And this is a critical point that many who profess to follow Him often miss: it is far better to be known by God than to merely know of Him.
I may know of someone, like a candidate for President of the United States, and I may run around putting up signs, doing everything I can to support their campaign, and telling all my friends what a great job they’ll do for our country. But that doesn’t mean the candidate knows me.
This brings us back to the importance of wisdom and discernment—not just parroting a cliché or quoting scripture, as if Jesus were some political candidate we’re trying to promote. The real question is: Are you born again? Do you not only know who Jesus is and what He has done to overcome the wicked darkness in this world, but far more importantly, does He know you? This is wisdom, my dear reader.
Fear God, Not Men
This brings us to the all-important point Jesus left us with in Matthew 10:24-28. It is here that Jesus delivers a powerful reminder of where our ultimate allegiance must lie:
“Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Where is your allegiance today as a Christian? I’m not just speaking to my fellow Americans, but to all my brothers and sisters around the globe who follow Christ. It’s easy to get caught up in fearing men rather than God. In today’s world, where Christians are often mocked, shamed, and demonized for holding to biblical truths, this passage reminds us of where our true fear should be placed. We are not to fear the opinions of others or the earthly consequences of standing for truth. Instead, we are to fear God, who holds ultimate authority over our lives—both now and in eternity.
The Christian walk requires courage, discernment, and vigilance. It’s not enough to love without thought. We must recognize the spiritual battle at play, and we are called to be both loving and wise. Yes, we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves and to treat others as we would want to be treated, but it doesn’t begin or end there. True obedience comes from following the One who has defeated death itself. As Christians, we must stand firm against falsehood and protect what is holy.
Jesus made this clear to Pontius Pilate during His trial. Pilate thought he held the authority over whether Jesus would live or die, but Jesus reminded him that no one has power except what is given by God. This is a reminder for every Christian: while love covers a multitude of sins, many people remain in rebellion against the God we serve. Those who refuse to bend their knee before the King of Kings will face the consequences of their choices.
Consider the scene before Jesus’ crucifixion:
“Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:5-15).
Even in the face of overwhelming pressure from both religious and political leaders, Jesus stood firm. He knew where His authority came from—and He knew where Pilate’s authority came from as well. As Christians, we must have this same clarity. Our allegiance cannot be to the systems of this world, but to the One who rules over all, the One who has the power not just over life and death, but over eternity itself.
Conclusion: Love and Discernment Go Hand in Hand
The message of “love your neighbor” is important, but it must be understood in the context of Christ’s broader teachings. Love, in its biblical sense, is not about blind tolerance or passive acceptance. It is a love rooted in truth and discernment, grounded in our first and greatest commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
In a world of wicked darkness, we cannot afford to lose sight of this balance. Love without wisdom leads to compromise with evil; wisdom without love leads to harshness. Christ calls us to walk the narrow path between the two, being “wise as serpents” and “harmless as doves.”
So yes, love your neighbor, but love them as Christ commands—with the full counsel of scripture guiding your steps, keeping your heart and mind fixed on the eternal truths of God’s word.
