Love Your Neighbor

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'”
— Matthew 5:43

The command to love your neighbor is in the Law of God (Leviticus 19:18). The part about hating your enemy was a supposition drawn from Moses’ Law by the Pharisees. They supposed that if we loved the one, we must, of course, hate the other. But in their ignorance, they overlooked the conclusion of the Law, which is all about love. The definition of a neighbor who lives near us is someone close to us through acts of kindness and friendship. A touching story in the Bible, found in Luke 10:25-37, illustrates genuine compassion in action. I rephrased a few lines to make it sound like a modern-day conversation.

“One day, an instructor of Moses’ laws came to test Jesus’ orthodoxy. He asked Jesus, ‘What must someone do to live forever?’ Jesus replied, ‘What does Moses’ law say about it?’ The instructor answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. And you must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Jesus told the instructor, ‘That’s right! So, do this, and you will live.’ However, the instructor sought to justify his lack of affection for certain types of people. He asked Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?'” To truly love our neighbor, we must embrace everyone, even those who differ from us.

The Good Samaritan

“Jesus replied with this illustration. He said, “Bandits attacked a Jew traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him, and left him to die beside the road. By chance, a Jewish priest came along. When he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road. He passed him by.

“Not long after, a despised Samaritan came along. When he saw the man lying there, he felt compassion for him. He knelt beside him, soothed his wounds with medicine, and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked beside him until they came to an inn. He nursed the man through the night when he arrived at the inn. The next day, he gave the innkeeper two wages and told him to take care of the man. He told the innkeeper, ‘I will pay the balance if his bill exceeds that. I will settle it the next time I pass through here.’ In loving your neighbor, actions speak louder than words.

“Now, I am going to ask you a question. ‘Which one of these three would you say was a neighbor to this helpless victim?’ After a moment of reflection, the instructor replied, ‘The one who showed him compassion.’ Then Jesus told him, ‘That is correct. Now, go, and do the same.”

Who Is Your Neighbor?

The Pharisees, though prominent in keeping the Law, lacked compassion. They concluded that their neighbor was the nearest Pharisee, and they harbored hatred towards the Samaritans (John 4:20). The religious leaders rejected the man who fell among the robbers. In a powerful contrast, a Samaritan, an outcast, demonstrated selfless love. He was the only one willing to help the man. Jesus, like the Samaritan, was the outcast, the One willing to seek and save people who were perishing. Our Samaritan is Jesus. He came to seek and save the lost and will show up for you in your darkest hour.

The instructor had a general concept of who his neighbor was. Still, Jesus challenged him to consider a specific person in need. To genuinely love your neighbor, we can easily discuss abstract ideals. Yet, we might fail to address real, tangible problems. We can talk about poverty and job opportunities. However, taking action is entirely different. We can help feed a hungry family. We can also help someone find a job. Action is the key to making a real difference in the lives of those in need.

The good Samaritan had a different perspective. He loved those who hated him. He risked his life, spent money, and was never publicly acknowledged or rewarded for his efforts. His actions were a testament to the transformative power of compassion. Like the Samaritan, we should help others in need. Before we can love our neighbor, we must first show ourselves neighborly. If we develop the heart of a neighbor, we will see and help our neighbor. Are you a good Samaritan or an Instructor? Are you showing compassion, or do you only suggest that others show compassion?

Authenticate Mercy and Compassion

In a surprising twist, Jesus portrayed the Samaritan as the hero. This unexpected narrative disarmed the Jews, who were traditionally enemies of the Samaritans (John 4:9; 8:48). By doing so, Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees that it was not the Jew helping the Samaritan but the Samaritan helping a Jew whom his fellow Jews had ignored.

The Samaritan’s selfless actions, as depicted in Luke 10:37, offer a profound insight into the concept of showing mercy. This act of mercy mirrors the ministry of Jesus Christ. The Samaritan, moved by deep compassion, identified with the stranger’s needs and had compassion for him. His actions were not driven by rationality or self-interest but by a pure, selfless form of mercy that transcends logic and motivation. To love your neighbor involves crossing boundaries and showing mercy without prejudice.

Note how wisely Jesus flipped the script on the lawyer. To evade responsibility, he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” But Jesus asked him, “Which of these three men was a neighbor to the victim?” The more paramount question we should ask ourselves is, “To whom can we be neighbors?” This has nothing to do with our geographic location, race, or religion. Wherever people have a need, there we can introduce ourselves as neighbors. When you help others, you illustrate the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ.