Article February 17, 1940 Issue

"Who is my neighbour?"

ROBERT J. MITCHELL

When Jesus was asked, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" he coupled his answer with another statement. He answered that the first and great commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," and stated, "The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

The fact that Jesus combined these two statements indicates to us, as seekers of Truth, that they are of vital importance. A thorough study of his teachings shows that these two commandments are so interwoven as to be inseparable, and that obedience to one includes obedience to the other. It would seem then that a clear understanding of them is requisite to our happiness and peace.

The importance of the great commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," seems fairly well established, although there is a wide divergence of opinion as to the method and extent of obedience to it. This is not as it should be, since the Scriptures admit no circumstances under which it could be set aside and the blessings promised to obedience be realized. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, makes a very plain and emphatic statement as to our duty. She writes (pp. 19, 20), "Jesus urged the commandment, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,' which may be rendered: Thou shalt have no belief of Life as mortal; thou shalt not know evil, for there is one Life,—even God, good."

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