Gospel of Luke Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #4

A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more? […] Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. (NRSV 7:41-42, 47)

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? […] Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (KJV 7:41-42, 47)

Jesus loves him some rhetorical questions. That means the answer is easy. Less easy is to explain what this little anecdote means in light of the context, where a Pharisee is whining because Jesus is allowing a woman described as a "sinner" to fondle his feet. Ready, set, explain!

Quote #5

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." (NRSV 10:25-28)

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." (KJV 10:25-28)

No vampire bites needed. Following these two commands is apparently the recipe for living forever. They both require "love" and come from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

Quote #6

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. (NRSV 11:42-43)

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. (KJV 11:42-43)

It's definitely possible to love the wrong things, and doing so probably won't end well.