A Prayer
of Jesus
I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
 
ON LOVE
SAYINGS OF JESUS THAT INCLUDE FORMS OF agape AND philos

There are three Koine Greek words that translators into English render as "love".  This is because English does not have an exact equivalent for each ot the three Greek words, which are agape, philos, and eros and their Greek variants.  The last of these yields itself as the name of the Greek goddess Eros and our English word, erotic, which defines it.  It is not found in the New Testament, hence has no relevance to this page except for comparative purposes.

Eros is love as sensual emotion, the kind one "falls into" or learns as a deep affection. 

Agape Is a difficult concept for English to define because it does not define an emotion or feeling.  It is the love of the Great Commandment, and as such can be commanded.  It is volitional and rational, the reasoned choice of a free will.  Unlike agape, one cannot command either philos or eros.

Philos may or may not be emotional, and generally is the bond of friendship, more like the English, "affection."  It also cannot be commanded.  The point to remember is that "love" appears in the gospels for both agape and philos for lack of better words, and this will effect the meaning of the sentence in a not obvious way. 

Agape, philos and eros all have the effect of binding one to their objects and are therefore counter to "hate," which severs one from its object.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
Matthew 3 

16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;
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17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved (agapetos) Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Mark 1

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove;
11 and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
Luke 3

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,
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22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Matthew 5

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love (agapao) your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, Love (agapao) your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
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46 For if you love (agapao) those who love (agapao) you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
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48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6

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27 "But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
30 Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.
31 And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.
32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love (agapao) your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
"'THEY LOVE TO STAND AND PRAY"
Matthew 6

5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love (phileo) to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
ON SERVING TWO MASTERS
Matthew 6

24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love (agapao) the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
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Luke 16

13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
THE COST OF ETERNAL LIFE
Matthew 19

16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
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17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
18 He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love (agapao) your neighbor as yourself."
20 The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
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22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Mark 10

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments: 'Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"
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20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth."
21 And Jesus looking upon him loved (agapao) him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Luke 18

18 And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
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19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"
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21 And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth."
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22 And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
23 But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
Matthew 22

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together.
35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him.
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
37 And he said to him, "You shall love (agapao) the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the great and first commandment.
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39 And a second is like it, You shall love (agapao) your neighbor as yourself.
40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
Mark 12

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"
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29 Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one;
30 and you shall love (agapao) the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
31 The second is this, 'You shall love (agapao) your neighbor as yourself.' 
There is no other commandment greater than these."
Luke 10

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?"
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27 And he answered, "You shall love (agapao) the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; 
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and your neighbor as yourself."
28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."
WOE TO YOU PHARISEES!
Matthew 23

23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
6 and they love (phileo) the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.
Mark 12

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38 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places
39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
Luke 11

42 "But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, 
and neglect justice and the love (agape) of God; 
these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
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43 Woe to you Pharisees! for you love (agapao) the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places.

Luke 20

46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and love (phileo) salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
LOVE GROWN COLD
Matthew 24

9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another.
11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love (agape) will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.
Mark 13

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13 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 
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But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Luke 21

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17 you will be hated by all for my name's sake.
18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
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19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
SIMON THE PHARISEE
Luke 7

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."
40 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?"
41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love (agapao) him more?"
43 Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."
44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved (agapao) much; but he who is forgiven little, loves (agapao) little."
48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
THE TWO MASTERS
Luke 16

13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love (agapao) the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
THE FOURTH GOSPEL
John 3

13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
16 For God so loved (agapao) the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved (agapao) darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.

John 5

19 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise.
20 For the Father loves (phileo) the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

39 You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me;
40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
41 I do not receive glory from men.
42 But I know that you have not the love (agape) of God within you.
43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

John 8

41 You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God."
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love (agapao) me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

John 10

14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves (agapao) me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.

John 12

23 And Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 He who loves (phileo) his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 13

33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love (agapao) one another; even as I have loved (agapao) you, that you also love (agapao) one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love (agape) for one another.

John 14

14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
15 "If you love (agapao) me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves (agapao) me; and he who loves (agapao) me will be loved (agapal) by my Father, and I will love (agapao) him and manifest myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered him, "If a man loves (agapao) me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love (agapao) him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 He who does not love (agapao) me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved (agapao) me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love (agapao) the Father. Rise, let us go hence.

John 15

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved (agapao) me, so have I loved (agapao) you; abide in my love (agape).
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love (agape), just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love (agape).
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 "This is my commandment, that you love (agapao) one another as I have loved (agapao) you.
13 Greater love (agape) has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 This I command you, to love (agape) one another.
18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love (phileo) its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 16

26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;
27 for the Father himself loves (phileo) you, because you have loved (phileo) me and have believed that I came from the Father.
28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

John 17

20 I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved(agapao) them even as thou hast loved (agapao) me.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love (agapao) for me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me.
26 I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love (agape) with which thou hast loved (agapao) me may be in them, and I in them.

John 21

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love (phileo) me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (phileo) you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go."
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