Matthew 10; Verses 37-39; True Love; Agape & Phileo Contrast

Thank you for taking a look †

(Matthew 10:37-39) "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Where true love and protection begins:


(True love begins at the cross. The cross is what begins to protect us in life, and protect us from ALL evil. Naturally, love begins there. Phileo and agape love are the two loves used here so we'll compare and contrast the two).

(Agape is sacrificial love basically. agape love is will and not feelings first. Therefore, naturally instilled when one goes to the cross (picking it up) and responds (walking with it following Christ). Christ love towards us on the cross, giving up His life for us, in turn Christian lay down their will and life for Christ and the sake of the Gospel. That's why Christians have agape love for all men, and good will towards them (sacrificing for Christ saying no to self). Good will is not just a fuzzy feeling everyone gets. We're certainly aware every human being gets the warm, fuzzy feelings to change the world, but they cannot give up their will in doing so. That ends at the cross).

(That is why Christ gives us the cross reference in the next verse... how to exhibit agape love. How amazing is that? The perfect plan of the Lord to live for Him first, keep His law, thus be in His will. If man does not count it as love, then it's time to learn reality and life. Christianity is reality).

Here, in these verses it is Phileo love being used because in context the comparison is family.

Phileo love = brotherly love. Hence, Philadelphia the city of brotherly love... at least in theory it is. Brotherly love is never shown to our enemies through Scripture. Hence, brotherly love = the brethren. Christian to Christian. That's why Christians call each brother and/or sister. The love putting themselves aside and protecting (Holy Spiritual) the brethren. Just as Christ laid down His life with passion. Passion for His bride. The love of Christ naturally, supernaturally, instilled in them. Pretty amazing!

38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

(Not worthy = not worth their weight, like not worth their weight in salt. We're to be the salt of the earth).

Christ went to the cross physically, we do it in heart and mind. Notice: we take it up where He paid the price for sin, changing our ways at repentance/salvation. Then walking on. Growing in the word, the MEAT of the Word. Not on the milk-- that is the salvation message. Refer to Hebrews chapters 5 and 6 as well).

(Matthew 5:13) "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

...And of course meat without salt  (being preserved with no flavor) is good for nothing, and man rules over you, not God. The goal? To get to the meat--staying salty; preserved; taste; and when eaten and digested then creating a thirst for others. So salt-tenderized meat is a beneficial 3-course meal here.

Back to Matthew 10:39,

39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

(That is where we find the Father through Christ, putting us aside, our own will. Beginning to have that agape love).

This is that agape love here, and Christ showing us the highest and ultimate in love. He did it for us, and we do it in return to Him, then people. That covers the first two commandments right there.

(John 15:13) "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

How do we stay in true love? Can we just say grace and use it for an excuse to sin and claim love? NO. Grace should leave a person wanting to keep God's law following and serving Christ... just as He kept the law (being our sinless sacrifice) in that sacrificial agape love.

And perfect (complete) love casts out fear. The love for our Father through Christ comes first. Casting out is "to have in one's hand" and "throw it away". Fear has torment because it belongs to Satan and his evil spirits/messengers. Torment is to have fear of the punishment and penalty, just as it is written in John 3:16-21; we as Christians are no longer condemned and are not given a spirit of fear. Now we can truly love the Lord, and people. The royal law.

(John 14:5) "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

(John 15:10) "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

(Just like the love of Christ is to protect from sin/harm, Satan, and evil spirits/messengers, so it is to have that love of Christ towards others. It's called agape love, and the world ought to start trying it. Until then the world cannot relate. This love is the beginning of living by the spiritual, and spiritual terms, as opposed to living by the World, and on the World's terms).

True love is also to protect from harm, as well as to keep (observe) Christ's commandments.

Naturally, when we learn these two definitions of love, our world-view and perspective will change. This means viewing people as God's creation ...rather than some expendable by-chance by-product of abiogenesis and evolution (which is complete and utter unintellectual nonsense).

Amen †