John was referring back to Jesus when He said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give 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.” But even this is a new take on the Old Testament Scriptures from Leviticus 19:18 that taught God’s people to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The “new ” part is found in the word changes Jesus used. He changed neighbors (a specific group) to one another (a much broader group)… and yourself (a selfish & personal love) – to as I have loved you (the sacrificial love of Christ). So it becomes both a old and new commandment…old because love is defined by all God’s commandments, and new because we are to continually reapply the love of Christ in our everyday acts of love for one another.
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