Man by nature loves himself in a wrong way; in fact, he loves only himself. This perverse disposition cannot be corrected, unless he puts the neighbor in his place. … the command can be understood in the sense that we love only our neighbor, and this alone for love’s sake. … because man on account of the evil corruption of his nature loves himself above all things. So he seeks himself in all things and loves all things on account of himself even when he loves his neighbor and friends. In all things he looks out for himself only.
This command therefore is immeasurably deep, and every Christian, should thoroughly explore himself with respect to it, as he conscientiously examines himself. By the words ‘as thyself’ all hypocritical love is ruled out. Hence, whoever loves his neighbor on account of his money, honor, learning, favor, power and comfort, and would not love him if he would be poor, lowly, ignorant, hateful, submissive and boorish, would manifestly have (only) a hypocritical love. He does not love the neighbor as such, but on account of what he has, and this is his own interest and so not ‘as thyself’.
Martin Luther
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