The Bible describes four different kinds or levels of love – family love, brotherly love, philanthropic love (which means giving to others when you see a need) and a special kind of love that is selfless and unconditional. Unconditional love means loving without expecting or requiring anything in return. The word for this level of love is translated from the Greek words “agapao” or “agape,” so you might hear this type of love also referred to as “Agape Love.”
Agape love is the highest form of love in the Bible. It is selfless and rare. It helps, comforts, cheers, blesses and inspires others to love and good works! Agape love is especially important because it is associated with God. In 1 John (see 1 John 4:16), we read that God IS love – this special agape love! This means His very nature is this special, selfless love flowing from everything He does. He acts in the best interest of ALL of His creation! In Matthew, Jesus said we should have this kind of love for God. (22:37, NIV) “‘…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
If we have agape love for God, then we will do our best to be pleasing to Him with our thoughts, words and actions.
Jesus encouraged the necessary agape love among his disciples – just as he himself loved them. In John, he said, (15:17, NRSV) “I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.” Jesus gave and gave without any expectation of return. He respected others regardless of who they were. If we have agape love for others, we’ll be kind, forgiving and generous – which is love in action. We should give without expecting anything back. We’ll try to make friends with everyone at school, especially new students who might be nervous or scared, or those who come from different backgrounds. Jesus had agape love for his enemies and said we should too. In Matthew, he preached about having agape love for those who don’t treat us kindly: (5:44, NKJV) “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,…”
This may be a difficult commandment, but if we have agape love, we will do our best to love those who hurt us and never try to hurt them back. So, what is the highest form of love in the Bible? Agape love. This highest, selfless form of love gives and expects nothing in return. Jesus had agape love for both his disciples AND his enemies. Let’s try our hardest to love others with this highest form of love, using God and Jesus as our examples. 1 Corinthians (16:14, RSV) says, “Let all that you do be done in love.”
This video is from Christian Questions Podcast. For more information please go to https://christianquestions.com
