This second manifestation of love (that is, being harmless to others) is greatly emphasized throughout the Scriptures, even though many persons seem to overlook it. In fact, apart from the fifth of the ten commandments, which speaks of a positive duty of good work, namely, to honour our parents, all the other commandments of the last six (which deal with love to our fellowmen) speak of the evil that we should not do to our neighbour (Exodus 20:13-17). The apostle Paul, after listing the five other commandments of the last six concluded:

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8 -10.

Thus, regardless of the supposed good work that we claim to do or actually do, if we do ill to our neighbour, whether by word, deed or silence we are in contravention of the principle of love and are therefore being unrighteous. Further yet, if we do not actually do ill but have the mind to do it or wish for it to be done to someone we are just as unrighteous. Love is not just about appearances, it is about our real attitude towards others. Jesus further explained:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:21-24.

From this, it is evident that being at peace with others and not offending them is far more important than religious ritualism and ceremonies.

A very important aspect of being at peace with others is highlighted as having a wholesome attitude toward our fellowmen; that is, not being angry with them without cause. A mark of evil is having a spirit of getting angry with other people who did not do us any wrong. Some people take offence over the simplest things. But a characteristic of love is that it is not easily provoked (1 Cor. 13:5). Therefore, people who find that they get upset very easily should beware of the evil that lurks in the shadows of that fragile temperament.

Before Cain slew his brother, Abel, God warned him about his being upset without good reason:

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” Genesis 4:6, 7.

Of course, Cain did not heed the warning and his anger eventually led him to kill his brother who had done him no wrong. True Christians are not quick to get upset and they seek at all times to make peace. Jesus summed it up with the following words:

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9.

So important it is that we seek to be at peace with others that Jesus said:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Matthew 5:38-42.

SERIES: Are you harmless?

PART ONE: Mark of True Christianity
PART 2: Forgive them because they do not know any better
PART 3: Love is harmless
PART 4: For Peace Sake
PART 5: True Christians are harmless
PART 6: Following Jesus
PART 7: Like Father, Like Son
PART 8: Understanding the wrath of God
PART 9: God’s Character
PART 10: Acquiring a new heart
PART 11: Are you truly harmless?

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matt. 22:36-38)

I think one of the main problems in the matter of discovery and clarification of truth is that, invariably, people tend to set up ‘infallibles’ (gods, idols) for themselves, besides Jehovah (as He has revealed Himself in Jesus). Examples of such ‘infallibles’ are: The pope, the church, the Bible, Ellen G. White, prophets, angels, the government, particular political parties, societal norms and even themselves. How many people are prepared to accept that God alone is infallible and that Jesus Christ is the only perfect revelation of Him? – recognizing even the possibility that there are imperfections in the gospel-writers’ portrayal of Jesus in some specific details but that the truth concerning His life and teachings can still be known, fairly accurately, by the corroborated evidence of the different writers?

Professed Christians do not even know why Jesus died or who killed Him. For the most part, they think that the Father required the death of His Son (or the death of the sinner) as a condition for His granting forgiveness and in order that His purposes might be fulfilled. In this, they portray God as being no different from pagan deities. Nothing could be further from the truth. They cannot even make up their minds as to who (whether God or the Devil) is responsible for natural disasters. Do they even care to investigate or seek clarification on these matters? Perhaps, it might not be possible to get them to move even if someone were to rise from the dead. They are so wedded to their idols and yet delude themselves that they are “rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing” (Rev.3:17). Unless that should change, perhaps, nothing else can.

The first and great commandment recognizes God – Jehovah as the only infallible. Yet, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18). Therefore, to know and appreciate God, we must look at Jesus and take our queues and final authority from Him – not Moses, Elijah or anyone or anything else, regardless how good they might be (or perceived to be). In one of the rare cases when the Father Himself spoke audibly to human beings, on the mount of transfiguration, when Peter thought of making tabernacles (houses of worship) for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, the Father responded by pointing them to Jesus, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).

After pointing out the first and great commandment, Jesus said, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:39,40). In conclusion, the very first step in the process of attaining righteousness requires liberation from the various ‘infallibles’- idols that hold the lock and key to our minds. In this, and all other regards, only Jesus offers salvation. But who will receive it? Only those who realize and accept that they need it.