Anthony Pritchard
Well-Known Member
Preferring Others: Christian Treatment
There was a question once asked of the Lord by a lawyer. Scripture says he asked the question tempting Him. He was not seeking truth with a sincere heart, but testing the Lord with a question from the law. "Master, which is the great commandment in the law." Jesus answered with words that form the foundation of all Christian duty toward others. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36 through 40.
Everything God requires of us in our treatment of others rests upon these two commandments. They are not optional. They are not cultural. They are not situational. They are the moral center of the Christian life. Love God. Love your neighbour. Prefer others. Walk gently. Treat others as Christ has treated you.
Luke records a lawyer’s words to Christ. “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour.” Luke 10:29. The Lord did not leave the question of who our neighbour is to our imagination. Jesus answered the question by giving the account of the Samaritan. Scripture says, “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him. And whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:30 through 37.
This is the Lord’s own definition of neighbour love. This command reaches into every corner of our lives. It reaches into our homes, our churches, our conversations, our disagreements, and our daily interactions. It reaches into how we speak to one another, how we respond when offended, how we treat those who wander, and how we carry ourselves when we are misunderstood. It reaches into how we treat brethren in the faith, even when they are weak, struggling, or difficult.
Scripture does not tell us to love others only when they are easy to love. It does not tell us to prefer others only when they agree with us. It does not tell us to be kind only when kindness is returned. It tells us, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Romans 12:10. Preferring one another, that is not natural. It is spiritual. It is the work of God in the conscience. It is the mind of Christ formed in us.
There is a temptation in every believer to withdraw from those who disappoint us, or to speak sharply to those who differ from us, or to treat lightly those who seem unimportant. But the Lord never treated anyone lightly. He never dismissed the weak. He never crushed the bruised reed. He never mocked the slow or the fearful. He walked among imperfect men with perfect patience. And He calls us to walk in the same spirit. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3. Esteem other better than themselves, that is not natural, it is spiritual.
The treatment of brethren is one of the clearest tests of our inward life. If we love God, we will love those who belong to Him. If we honour Christ, we will honour those for whom He died. If we understand grace, we will show grace. If we know how much patience God has shown us, we will show patience to others. The measure of our love for God is revealed in how we treat the people He has placed in our lives. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35.
This does not mean we ignore sin. It does not mean we pretend error is harmless. It does not mean we abandon truth. It means we speak truth with charity. It means we correct with gentleness. It means we restore with humility. It means we remember that every believer is a work in progress, and that God is patient with us all. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Galatians 6:1.
The greatest commandment is not only a theological concept. It is a daily practice. It is seen in the tone of our words, the softness of our responses, the willingness to listen, the refusal to retaliate, the readiness to forgive, and the quiet preference of others over ourselves. It is seen in the way we treat the brethren who wander, the brethren who struggle, the brethren who irritate us, and the brethren who bless us. It is seen in the way we carry ourselves when no one is watching.
Love God. Love your neighbour. Prefer others. Walk gently. This is the path Christ walked. This is the path He calls us to walk. And this is the path that reveals His life in us.
In closing
The life of Christ within us is most clearly seen in the way we treat others. It is not measured by the strength of our arguments or the sharpness of our insight, but by the quiet mercy we show to those around us. The Lord has told us plainly what He desires. Love God with all that is within you. Love your neighbour as yourself. Walk gently. Prefer others. Restore the fallen. Speak with charity. Carry yourself in the spirit of Christ. These things do not make us perfect, but they show that His grace is at work in us. May the Lord teach us daily to walk in this love, and to reflect His kindness in all our dealings with one another.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 – Free to use with proper attribution
There was a question once asked of the Lord by a lawyer. Scripture says he asked the question tempting Him. He was not seeking truth with a sincere heart, but testing the Lord with a question from the law. "Master, which is the great commandment in the law." Jesus answered with words that form the foundation of all Christian duty toward others. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36 through 40.
Everything God requires of us in our treatment of others rests upon these two commandments. They are not optional. They are not cultural. They are not situational. They are the moral center of the Christian life. Love God. Love your neighbour. Prefer others. Walk gently. Treat others as Christ has treated you.
Luke records a lawyer’s words to Christ. “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour.” Luke 10:29. The Lord did not leave the question of who our neighbour is to our imagination. Jesus answered the question by giving the account of the Samaritan. Scripture says, “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him. And whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:30 through 37.
This is the Lord’s own definition of neighbour love. This command reaches into every corner of our lives. It reaches into our homes, our churches, our conversations, our disagreements, and our daily interactions. It reaches into how we speak to one another, how we respond when offended, how we treat those who wander, and how we carry ourselves when we are misunderstood. It reaches into how we treat brethren in the faith, even when they are weak, struggling, or difficult.
Scripture does not tell us to love others only when they are easy to love. It does not tell us to prefer others only when they agree with us. It does not tell us to be kind only when kindness is returned. It tells us, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Romans 12:10. Preferring one another, that is not natural. It is spiritual. It is the work of God in the conscience. It is the mind of Christ formed in us.
There is a temptation in every believer to withdraw from those who disappoint us, or to speak sharply to those who differ from us, or to treat lightly those who seem unimportant. But the Lord never treated anyone lightly. He never dismissed the weak. He never crushed the bruised reed. He never mocked the slow or the fearful. He walked among imperfect men with perfect patience. And He calls us to walk in the same spirit. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3. Esteem other better than themselves, that is not natural, it is spiritual.
The treatment of brethren is one of the clearest tests of our inward life. If we love God, we will love those who belong to Him. If we honour Christ, we will honour those for whom He died. If we understand grace, we will show grace. If we know how much patience God has shown us, we will show patience to others. The measure of our love for God is revealed in how we treat the people He has placed in our lives. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35.
This does not mean we ignore sin. It does not mean we pretend error is harmless. It does not mean we abandon truth. It means we speak truth with charity. It means we correct with gentleness. It means we restore with humility. It means we remember that every believer is a work in progress, and that God is patient with us all. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Galatians 6:1.
The greatest commandment is not only a theological concept. It is a daily practice. It is seen in the tone of our words, the softness of our responses, the willingness to listen, the refusal to retaliate, the readiness to forgive, and the quiet preference of others over ourselves. It is seen in the way we treat the brethren who wander, the brethren who struggle, the brethren who irritate us, and the brethren who bless us. It is seen in the way we carry ourselves when no one is watching.
Love God. Love your neighbour. Prefer others. Walk gently. This is the path Christ walked. This is the path He calls us to walk. And this is the path that reveals His life in us.
In closing
The life of Christ within us is most clearly seen in the way we treat others. It is not measured by the strength of our arguments or the sharpness of our insight, but by the quiet mercy we show to those around us. The Lord has told us plainly what He desires. Love God with all that is within you. Love your neighbour as yourself. Walk gently. Prefer others. Restore the fallen. Speak with charity. Carry yourself in the spirit of Christ. These things do not make us perfect, but they show that His grace is at work in us. May the Lord teach us daily to walk in this love, and to reflect His kindness in all our dealings with one another.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 – Free to use with proper attribution