Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, March 16, 2024 \
Shabbat Shalom,
Natural Agape
By David Harwood
Continuing to explore biblical agape we will find this:
Agape can describe natural affection: Sinners and tax collectors love (agapaō) those who love (agapaō) them (Luke 6:32; Matthew 5:46). A centurion loved (agapaō) Israel and built a synagogue for the people (Luke 7:5). Agape may wane (Matthew 24:12), and agape can increase (1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).
This is important. When you are in touch with the love (agape) you feel for friends you will be able to relate a little bit to how God feels about you.
Agape can describe natural affection:
We’ve looked at the love (agape) a parent has for a child. That is certainly natural agape. However, who would guess this?
Sinners and tax collectors love (agapaō) those who love (agapaō) them (Luke 6:32; Matthew 5:46).
Yeshua, exhorted His disciples to a higher level of love. He appealed to a common observation: people tend to agape those who agape them. Okay, but look at the examples He gave. Here’s Luke 6:32.
If you love (agape) those who love (agape) you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love (agape) those who love (agape) them. (Luke 6:32)
Look at a parallel verse from Matthew.
For if you love (agape) those who love (agape) you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? (Matthew 5:46)
According to the Gospels, mutual affection, reciprocal agape, is found among reprobates and traitors. This is common agape amongst the worst of society. Perhaps we might say that terrorists or pedophiles agape those who agape them. These are not sanctified people.
On the other hand, here’s an example of agape found within the context of a generous pagan.
A centurion loved (agapaō) Israel and built a synagogue for the people (Luke 7:5).
Here’s what happened. A centurion’s valued slave was sick. He heard about the Messiah and sent elders to intervene upon his behalf.
When they came to Yeshua, they begged Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this, for he loves (agape) our people and even built our synagogue.” (Luke 7:4–5)
Note. Agape is not confined to born-from-above believers. This man may have been a God-fearer, who knows? He was a normal human being – a “good guy.” And he loved (agape) Israel. This is natural agape.
It is often taught that agape is a divine love that is utterly and totally committed all the time. However, Yeshua prophesied about the end-times and warned about a phenomenon we see in our day.
Agape may wane (Matthew 24:12),
Yeshua said, “Because lawlessness will multiply, the love (agape) of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)”
Here we find that agape can cool off. It is still agape, but it is not on fire. It is tepid agape.
On the other hand, Paul revealed that agape can grow in power.
and agape can increase (1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Paul prayed for their agape to overflow towards one another and, in fact, for everybody. This is wonderful. Agape is not static. It is dynamic and it can grow.
May the Lord also cause you to increase and overflow in love (agape) for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you, (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
In 2 Thessalonian 1:3 we read that the agape of these believers was continually increasing.
We ought to always thank God for you, brothers and sisters, as is appropriate, because your faithfulness grows wonderfully, and the love (agape) of each one of you for one another continually increases. (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
Let’s end this meditation with a review of what we studied. Here it is:
Agape can describe natural affection: Sinners and tax collectors love (agapaō) those who love (agapaō) them (Luke 6:32; Matthew 5:46). A centurion loved (agapaō) Israel and built a synagogue for the people (Luke 7:5). Agape may wane (Matthew 24:12), and agape can increase (1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).
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