The command to love one's neighbor is a fundamental principle of God's law, as expressed in Leviticus 19:18 and reaffirmed by Jesus in Mark 12:31. This teaching is rooted in the Golden Rule, which is stated in Matthew 7:12, and is further illustrated in Luke 6:27, where Jesus instructs His followers to love even their enemies. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus emphasizes the importance of loving one's neighbor as the second greatest commandment, after loving God. By following this command, believers demonstrate their love for God and fulfill a crucial aspect of their Christian duty.
Relevance Score
30%
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”