In the ancient world, was it better to be born a girl or a boy? It was better to
be born a boy. One historian writes:
Exposure of unwanted female infants ''the practice of just abandoning them until they
would die outside somewhere'' was legal, morally accepted, widely practiced by all
social classes in the Greco-Roman world.
This is a letter that I just read this week. It was written during the first century by a Roman
husband to his wife. Apparently, she was pregnant. This is what he writes:
Know that I am still in Alexandria. I beg you to take good care of our baby son. If you
are delivered of a child before I come home, if it is a boy, keep it. If it is a girl, discard it.
You have sent me word, ?Don't forget me.? How could I forget you? I beg you not to
worry.
This is a guy who thinks of himself as a good husband , loves his wife.
There's a new community that remembers that Jesus treated women differently. He taught
them when no other rabbi would teach a woman. He valued them. He included them in His
community. He thought that all of life was sacred. Jesus, when asked what was the greatest
commandment, said:
This is the heart of the whole deal. ''The fundamental commandment in Judaism was
from Deuteronomy 6:4, the shema'':
Hear O Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is one. Him shall you love with all your
heart, your soul, your strength. ''Deuteronomy 6: 4-5'' and ''Mark 12: 29-30''
Then Jesus adds to it, as a sign of His great authority, the second great commandment found
in Leviticus:
Love your neighbor as yourself. ''Leviticus 19:18'' and ''Mark 12:31''
All of life is sacred. All of life is to be revered. Little girl babies as well as little boy babies were
prized in this new community. They were not discarded.
Why does Jesus place commandments to actively love above commandments to refrain from evil (thou shall not???)? Note: Jesus answered with two quotations from the Jewish law about loving God (Deuteronomy 6:4), and about loving neighbors (Leviticus 19:18)
I think love is key, when you have love for your brother i don`t think you will like to kill or hatre him. By: thomas akanvese - June 05, 2007 - Public Category: The Greatest Commandment
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Love itself explains all. It does not has expectations neither selfishness. It does not have demarding rules and is very free and peaceful. So if one loves another there is a beautiful feelings and to care for neighbors and love them is as important. By: Kathleen Terado - September 01, 2006 - Public Category: The Greatest Commandment
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Why does Jesus place commandments to actively love above commandments to refrain from evil (thou shall not???)? Note: Jesus answered with two quotations from the Jewish law about loving God (Deuteronomy 6:4), and about loving neighbors (Leviticus 19:18)
the power is in our hand , the power that change the world into paradise i know you have that power ... no other than LOVE , because God is Love ;always remember that; romans 13:10 shalom! emmanuel !! AMEN ! JR SC# 19.8.25.451.18 By: antero jr pasamba - August 29, 2006 - Public Category: The Greatest Commandment
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Jesus christ was changed the ten commandment, he summarize it into two gretest commandment and we are now following the teaching of our lord jesus christ in the gospel of new testament, which we are now belongs to this teachings or living to this years of of our lord jesus. By: nathaniel villaruz - August 23, 2006 - Public Category: The Greatest Commandment
One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"
Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. The second is like this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.
