A New Commandment

A New Commandment is a concise yet deeply challenging hymn text by Roy Crabtree, written in 1952. Though brief in structure, the hymn carries substantial theological weight, centering on Christ’s command that His followers love one another as He has loved them. Crabtree’s text is directly rooted in the words of Jesus spoken on the night before the crucifixion, when love was set forth not merely as an ideal but as the defining mark of true discipleship.

The hymn emphasizes that Christian love is not optional, sentimental, or abstract. It is a commandment given by Christ Himself and modeled by His sacrificial life and death. By grounding love in obedience to Christ, the hymn corrects the tendency to treat love as a vague feeling rather than a deliberate, costly commitment. The love described here is active, visible, and relational, meant to be lived out within the community of believers and witnessed by the world.

Crabtree also highlights the evangelistic dimension of Christian love. Jesus declared that love among believers would serve as the primary evidence that they belong to Him. The hymn reflects this truth by presenting love as the church’s most powerful testimony. Orthodoxy, worship, and service all find their credibility weakened if they are not shaped and sustained by genuine love.

The simplicity of the text mirrors its message. There is no elaborate imagery or extended poetic flourish, which allows the command itself to stand plainly before the congregation. This simplicity makes the hymn especially effective in communal worship, where its words can be easily learned, remembered, and practiced. It is often used in services focused on Christian unity, discipleship, communion, and mission.

A New Commandment continues to serve the church as a searching reminder that love lies at the heart of Christian faith and practice. It calls believers to examine whether their lives reflect the self-giving love of Christ and challenges the church to embody that love in a divided and watching world.