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Love Believes All Things
13: 7b

In addition to covering all things, love also believes all things. Of the four qualities listed earlier (to see link click Df – Love Covers All Things), the two verbs in the center, covers and believes are joined with love in 13:13 to form an unshakable triad. When love throws its mantle over a wrong it also believes in the best outcome for the one who has done the wrong – that the wrong will be confessed and forgiven and the loved one restored to righteousness. Love also believes all things in another way. The flesh is ready to believe all the negative things about a brother or a sister, but love does just the opposite. If there is doubt about a person’s guilt or motivation, love will always opt for the most favorable possibility. If a loved one is accused of something wrong, love will consider him innocent until proven guilty. If he turns out to be guilty, love will give credit for the best motive. Love errs on the favorable side. It is confident and believes to the last.

Job’s friends show few signs of love. They were ready to believe the worst about him, being thoroughly convinced that his problems could only have been caused by his sins. Job did not himself understand why he was suffering so terribly, but he knew it was not because of his sins. Look, I know what you are thinking, he responded, and your plans to do me wrong (Job 21:27). They gave Job no benefit of the doubt because they had no true love for him. Knowing the uprightness of Job’s life, loving friends would have realized that his sufferings were out of proportion to whatever shortcomings he had.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being willing to not just talk of love, but to show Your great love, though it cost You so much pain and shame. Focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). To love someone who is wonderful is easy, but You loved us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). How wonderful that Yeshua is now in heaven lovingly preparing our eternal home (John 14:1-3). What great love and mercy You have! For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy for those who fear Him (Psalms 103:11). It is a great joy and privilege to think of loving and praising You in heaven for all eternity. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The loveless attitude of the scribes and Pharisees is seen in their predisposition to see the worst in others, including Yeshua. When Yeshua forgave the paralytic for his sins, the Pharisees immediately concluded He was blaspheming (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Co – Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man). To prove that He was truly the Messiah (see the commentary on Isaiah Gl – The Three Messianic Miracles), Yeshua healed a blind man who was also mute (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ek – It is only by Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons, That This Fellow Drives Out Demons). Most of the crowd that had gathered were in total awe of the miracle and glorified God. But we know from their later words and actions that the scribes and Pharisees remained convinced that Yeshua was evil.

Hatred believes the worst; love believes the best.

Love is a harbor of trust. When that trust is broken, love’s first reaction is to heal and restore. Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too (Galatians 6:1).