The new commandment

The "new commandment" is a phrase used in the New Testament of the Bible to describe a new way of living that Jesus taught his followers. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says:

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

In this passage, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of loving one another as he has loved us. This is a radical departure from the traditional Jewish understanding of love, which focused on loving God and obeying his commandments. Jesus is saying that loving one another is not just a secondary aspect of following God, but it is a fundamental aspect of being a disciple of his.

The "new commandment" is not a new law or a new rule, but rather a new way of living that is characterized by love. It is a way of living that is marked by selflessness, sacrifice, and compassion. It is a way of living that is centered on the love of God and the love of others.

In the book of 1 John, the apostle John writes extensively about the "new commandment" and its implications for Christian living. He says:

"This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. And this is the way we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us" (1 John 3:23-24).

John also writes:

"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death" (1 John 3:14).

In these passages, John is emphasizing the importance of loving one another as a sign of our faith in Jesus Christ. He is saying that if we do not love one another, we do not truly know God or have eternal life.

The "new commandment" is a call to a new way of living, a way of living that is characterized by love and selflessness. It is a way of living that is centered on the love of God and the love of others, and it is a way of living that is marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.