Why was John 13:34 called a new commandment?
The new commandment in the New Testament:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
So many people believe that this verse is saying that something was being brought into existence that had never existed before: The creation of a new commandment fresh off the production line. I’m not trying to be cheeky but I’m trying to make clear how the reading of this verse has been interpreted in the past. The Christian churches use it as one of their proofs that the Old Testament Covenant was replaced with this New Testament covenant. Let’s find out what the Bible has to say about it.
We are going to probably end up covering a lot of scriptures so I want to show you what this verse looks like in Hebrew. After all, Yeshua was a Jew speaking to Jews in a Jewish society who were living the Torah to the best of their ability from their understandings of what was written in the Torah that was given to them through Moses. That’s a wordy sentence but I wanted you to move your mind out of Western thinking into a different cultural perspective. The culture the Old Testament was delivered to was the culture the New Testament was written to.
Here is John 13:34 written in Hebrew:
The word new in Hebrew does not always mean something that is newly produced or created. New Moon in the Torah is simply called the chodesh a derivative of chadesh. It is best used to say the moon is repairing itself or renewing itself, it is waxing or growing into a full moon on a daily basis. It’s not something that was newly created rather It is the beginning of a new cycle. But from the perspective of a single 30-day cycle, the moon is new, on the day the moon is first seen it is a new moon. Today we call the New Moon ‘Rosh Chodesh’ which literally means ‘head new’. The New Moon is new and renewed.
What about when we say New Year? Is the year being newly created as not having existed before or are we indicating a new cycle? We are beginning a new cycle. But the first day of that cycle is a unique day that begins a new season or cycle. The year is new and renewed.
In Greek, the word new in John 13:34 is G2537 with the meaning: new (especially in freshness). In Greek, it can mean something new or fresh. We can kind of see the same idea in the Greek word as in the Hebrew word. While the Hebrew and the Greek word do not match exactly any linguist will tell you that there are certain words in any given language that cannot be directly translated into another language. Pick your two languages: English to Spanish or Hebrew to Russian or French to Italian, it doesn’t matter which you choose. There are words with unique specific meanings in every language that reflects and developed from their cultural influence. I’ve seen this in my life more than once. It was true even between the Spanish spoken in the Republic of Panama and the Spanish spoken in Guatemala. Both speak Spanish but both also had their own unique words that didn’t exist in each other’s vocabulary. Certain words had to be explained in order to be understood. This is the exact situation we are working with when we look into the Greek words of the New Testament and try to understand with only the Greek works written there.
If we are to look at John 13:34 from a Hebrew language and cultural understanding we will also have to look for verses and patterns in the Old Testament to prove IF they were required to “love their neighbor as themselves” or IF this was a commandment that had never existed before this point in time.
Lev 19:9-18 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life a of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
The first time the command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ is given is given in Leviticus. John 13:34 was the renewing or repairing (chodesh) of this commandment by Yeshua the Living Word made Flesh in His daily example of serving and laying His life down for His brothers (repairing, renewing). It was also the first time this generation was presented with the true and perfect understanding of this verse (it was new to them). Much like a new moon appears in its thirty-day cycle, this scripture was given with the light of clarity in the season the Yeshua ministered on earth.
1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (also inMat 4:16-18)
Mark 12:21 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
1 John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new (G2537 new (especially in freshness ; while G3501 is properly so with respect to age): – new.) commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
Jonathon loved David as himself and it was given as a demonstration of our subject of “love one another” :
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit (tied) with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved his as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18:1
Johnathon protected David from his father, King Saul.
In Hebrew, it says: the nefesh (soul) of Jonathon was tied to the nefesh (soul) of David.
Yeshua said:
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Mark 12:21 And the second I like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Do we see anyone in the Old Testament laying down their lives in obedience to Elohim? Yes, Hagar laid down her life to Sarah at the command of the angel of Yehovah, she afflicted herself.
Gen 1:6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, they maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly (anah: drepress, afflict) with her, she fled from her face.
Gen16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit (anah: depress, afflict) thyself under her hands.
Jacob submitted (anah) himself to Esau
Gen 32:7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and heard, and the camels, into two bands.
Gen 33:3 And he pass before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until the came near to his brother.
The New Testament speaks of loving your neighbor as yourself and laying down your desires so preferring your brother above yourself and we can see the same principles being given in the Old Testament in the verse above. It’s easy to see the commandment of John 13:34 was being renewed or repaired when Yeshua spoke it as a new revelation to that generation.
The new covenant of the New Testament
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
In Matthew 26:28 the word new is G2537 as in John 13:34. Here is the Matthew 26:27 in Hebrew
In the book of Hebrews, we are shown one of the key places the new blood covenant in the blood of Yeshua is mentioned. I’ll show you the verse and then we will look at when and why the book of Hebrews was written. With that knowledge, we will look at what the verse is saying.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
When I read the book of Hebrews this is what I see: It was written to people that had access to Herod’s Temple and it was written to prepare them to live without the temple. The book of Hebrews was explaining to them that the Levitical priesthood was imperfect and the Perfect (Messiah) had come. The ceasing of authority the Levitical priesthood happened in the days of Yeshua and was prophecized in 1 Sam 2 :
1 Sam 2: 27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house (Aaron), that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 35 And I will raise me up a (one) faithful priest (Yeshua), that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
The book of Ezekiel speaks of them, too:
Eze 44:10 And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity. 11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them. 12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity. 13 And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
These are prophecies that were fulfilled in the physical body of Christ, the prophecies from Samuel and Ezekiel. After His crucifixion and His resurrection Yeshua replaced the Levitical High Priest by becoming the High Priest in the eternal order of Melchizedek by His blood and body (symbolically the bread and the wine of Mark 26:27) therefore the offerings and sacrifices of the temples have ceased to be of effect and the soon destruction of the temple would cause the sacrifices and offerings being made by the Levities to stop being present in the temple.
10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Now we are going back to Hebrews 8:8
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new [G2537 new (especially in freshness) ; while G3501 is properly so with respect to age]: – with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
In the covenant with the fathers, they were carried out of Egypt and the Law was written on stone tablets. In New Testament covenant, the people were still subjected to Roman rule because they were not lead out of captivity as in Egypt, but the Law was given again (renewed) and written on hearts of flesh to a new generation and the law was no longer written on stone tablet .
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
The priests in the Old Testament were the teachers of the Torah, they were the judges of the people. They were dispersed among the tribes. They were the ‘learned ones’ ,למוד limmud in Hebrew.
Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned (למוד), that I should know how to speak a work in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning to morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned (למוד).
The root word is lamad למד. Deuteronomy 4:10 uses both limmud and lamad together, it will let you see them in use:
Specially they that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn (lamad) to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach (lamad) their children
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new G2537 covenant (without the Levitical priesthood), he hath made the first old (G3822 to make worn out, or declare obsolete). Now that which decayeth (G3822 to make worn out, or declare obsolete) *that is the Levitical Priesthood* and waxeth old (G1095 be senescent) is ready (G1451 near) to vanish away (G854 disappearance, abrogation).
The new element in the covenant originally given at Sinai was that the body of Messiah became the final sin offering. He offered His body once for all and then the offerings and sacrifices which continued in the temple were no longer accepted in heaven. And after he rose and became our High Priest, the work of the Levities and the Cohenim at Herod’s temple was no longer acceptable. This is the new covenant in Matthew 26:27,28:
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins
Those that rejected the Messiah continued to offer the sin offerings in Herod’s temple. Those that followed the Messiah rested from their work of presenting offerings just as the Messiah entered His rest as the High Priest. He no longer making an offering to heaven, we the people rest from our work of bringing the offerings to the temple.
Hebrews 4: 9 There remaineth therefore a rest (G4520 From a derivative of G4521; a ” sabbatism”, that is, (figuratively) the repose) to the people of God. 10 For he (Yehsua) that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour (G4710 use speed, make effort, be prompt or earnest) therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
This amendment to this clause in the covenant was not the ‘decaying and disappearing’ of the whole covenant given at Sinai. This clause only dealt with the things of the temple and the servants of the temple who were the Levitical priests and the work required of the people in delivering their offerings and sacrifices to the temple.
Mal 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. 4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
1 Sam 2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house (Aaron), that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 35 And I will raise me up a (one) faithful priest (Yeshua), that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
This was the New Covenant that was made. The covenant with the tribe of Levi was taken from them and given to Yeshua and His Body.
First Peter sums up very well the message of the new covenant in the blood of Yeshua and it is summed up the message in the book of Hebrews. There would not be temple as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. There would be no Leviticus priesthood as we are Yeshua’s brethren and a royal priesthood under Yeshua. Uncircumcised Ephraim who was once not a people can again be called the people of God. These are the NEW things that have been carried into the covenant of Abraham, that was carried into the covenant with Isaac, that was carried into the covenant with Jacob, that was carried into the covenant with King David, that was given in the covenant with our Yeshua Messiah, our Brother, or Kinsman-Redeemer, our Priest, and our King!
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
We are a Spiritual house of the Holy Spirit of the Living Elohim. We are a holy Royal Priesthood
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Ephraim who had been divorced, set out of Elohim’s house and called Loammi (not my people) could again be called the People of God.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul :12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Yeshua said if we do the will of the Father we are His brethren:
Mark 3: 34 Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
This is the new life that has been carried into what was being built from the beginning. This is the New Covenant, new clause that was established in the blood of the Messiah.