Chizuk Emunah (Pt 2) Under the Microscope: Chapter 54

John 13:34, Jesus asserts, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another," etc. This commandment was by no means a new one. Moses had inculcated it in the words, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self." Matthew 19:19, and 22:39, admit that Moses was the first who promulgated this precept

 Again, it's hard to pinpoint Troki's exact objection. He argues that by calling it a "new" commandment, Jesus was contradicting himself and the book of Leviticus. In fact, the objection is pretty silly given the context of the two verses:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 Jesus is not just telling his disciples to love one another. He is saying that they should love one another as Jesus loved them. They should love one another in the way that they have been loved by their master. Jesus repeats this command two chapters later.

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

This is the meaning of the statement. Jesus is telling his disciples to love one another to the point of self-sacrifice. This is in stark contrast to the conventional Jewish wisdom of the day. Bava Metzia 62A states:

If two are travelling on a journey [far from civilization], and one has a pitcher of water, if both drink, they will [both] die, but if one only drinks, he can reach civilization, - The Son of Patura taught: It is better that both should drink and die, rather than that one should behold his companion's death. Until R. Akiba came and taught: 'that thy brother may live with thee:' thy life takes precedence over his life.

Jesus taught to the contrary: you are to lay down your own life for your companion.