Jesus Remembered: Christianity in the Making, vol. 1

THE MISSION OF JESUS
§14.5
though that might be possible. 190 Only the neighbour — that is, as the Good Samaritan
illustrates, whoever God gives as neighbour on the road of everyday
life. 191 And it does not call for a love beyond human capacity or a love which requires
hatred of the self as a corollary, only (!) for the care which one naturally
bestows on oneself to be the measure of the love shown to the neighbour. 192
b. Matt. 5.43-48/Luke 6.27-28, 32-36
More striking still is the passage preserved in the Sermon on the Mount/Plain:
Matt. 5.43-48
43 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall
love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. 44
But I sav to vou. Love vour enemies
and
prav for those who persecute vou, 45 so that vou
may be sons of your Father in heaven; for he
makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and on the
unrighteous. 46 For if vou love those who love
vou. what reward do you have? Do not even the
tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet
only your brothers, what more are you doing than
others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Therefore, be
perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6.27-28, 32-36
27 But I say to you
that listen. Love vour enemies, do good to those
who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you,
prav for those who abuse vou.
32 And if vou love those who love
vou. what credit is that to you? For even sinners
love those who love them. 33 And if you do
good to those who do good to you, what credit is
that to vou? For even sinners do the same. 34 If
you lend to those from whom you hope to receive,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to
sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love
your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting
nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and
you will be children of the Most High; for he is
kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Here again there is good evidence that the teaching was heard and recycled in
subsequent paraenesis: Rom. 12.14 and Did. 1.3 both clearly echo the Lukan
190. 'Jesus' concern is not a vague love for the whole world, which can so easily become
sentimental illusion' (Schräge, Ethics 79).
191. Bornkamm points out that Jesus changes the question, 'Who is my neighbour?'
(Luke 10.29) to another: To whom am I neighbour?' (10.36) (Jesus of Nazareth 113); Furnish,
Love Command 40. 'One cannot define one's neighbour; one can only be a neighbour'
(H. Greeven, plesion, TDNT 6.317).
192. Note also Bultmann's observations: 'the neighbour is not a sort of tool by means of
which I practise the love of God'; 'only if love is thought of as an emotion is it meaningless to
command love; the command of love shows that love is understood as an attitude of the will'
(Jesus and the Word 115, 118); 'the example of the merciful Samaritan shows that a man can
know and must know what he has to do when he sees his neighbour in need of his help' (Theology
1.19; similarly 24).
586