Table of Contents
This is the fourth installment of the “Did God Really Say” series. In the previous post, we looked at the answer Jesus gave to the lawyer of the Pharisees when asked what the greatest commandment was. Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matt 22:37-38). However, Jesus did not stop there. He continued: “And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:39-40).
In today’s article, we look at the second part of Jesus’ answer. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Using the Christian Bible, which is the Word of God, we will answer questions such as:
- Who is my neighbor?
- What is meant by loving them ‘as yourself’?
- What does this ‘love’ look like?
A Reminder
Biblical prophecy is converging exponentially, which indicates that the 7-year Tribulation is closer than many believe. Furthermore, this means that the Rapture of true believers is at hand. Moreover, we need to be ready to leave when Jesus calls us to “Come up here”! Therefore, as I have stated previously, the goal of this series is to examine ourselves to ensure that our lives line up with God’s Word. If not, we need to ask forgiveness and get back on track. We are not perfect and at times wander off the path.
“Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…” – 2 Cor 13:5 – (see also 1 Cor 11:28-30). “What people say about themselves means nothing. What counts is whether the Lord says they have done well” – 2 Cor 10:18 ERV (Easy-to-Read Version).
If you have not had the opportunity to read the first three posts of this series, you can find them here, here, and here.
Who Is My Neighbor?
One day, an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” – Lk 10:25-29
At this point, we need to keep in mind that in the Jewish mindset, your neighbor was anyone as long as they were a member of the Hebrew race and nation. Therefore, Jesus answered the question by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke: 10-25-37).
Paraphrasing: A Jewish man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked and left half dead beside the road. A Jewish priest and a Levite saw the hurt man and did not stop to help.
However, a despised Samaritan came along and felt compassion for him. Therefore, the Samaritan soothed and bandaged him, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day, he gave the innkeeper money to cover any further expenses needed to care for the man. The Samaritan promised that if the cost was higher, he would cover the extra expense the next time he came by.
Jesus asked, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Bringing It Closer To Home
In our day, we could say that a homeless man had been attacked and was moaning for help. A successful mega church minister and a youth pastor would not stop to help for whatever reason. Perhaps they were late for a meeting, or didn’t want to deal with the possible germs and diseases in all the blood that covered the man and the surrounding ground.
Eventually, a man came by who most would consider a despised outsider. (I’m sure something came into your thoughts.) This despised outsider was truly a neighbor to the homeless man because he stopped and took care of the man.
This parable not only highlights the importance of loving one’s neighbor but also challenges deep-seated prejudices. When we are saved, we are all equal in Christ, no matter our race, status, or sex.
We read in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (NKJV).
As believers, we are called to a higher standard of love and acceptance. We are to love others as Christ loves us (Jn 13:34).
Our Neighbor is Anyone and Everyone
GotQuestions.org shares:
Our neighbor is anyone in our proximity with whom we can share God’s love. We are called not only to love those who are similar to us or with whom we are comfortable, but all whom God places in our path.
In fact, Jesus said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Matt 5:44-48)
You can read GotQuestions’ full article here.
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
In a culture that’s obsessed with self-care and self-love, it’s easy to misinterpret this verse to mean that you have to love yourself first before you can truly love others.
However, Jesus tells us to do the opposite in Luke 14:11: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The biblical idea of “loving yourself” has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with God and His love for us. Our worth is not found in ourselves but in God’s love for us. All mankind was created in the image of God. God does not have favorites.
John 13:34-35 states, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we’re putting their needs first. We are to set aside our own desires for the moment and demonstrate God’s love to them.
How Do I Love My Neighbor if I Don’t Love Myself?
My friend asked, “But what if someone doesn’t love themselves?” That is a good question. Moreover, even as a follower of Christ, there have been times I didn’t love myself very much. Especially when I would let my guard down and begin to listen to the world’s idea of how I should act or think. Big mistake for sure.
However, it wasn’t that I didn’t love myself; it was more accurate to say that I didn’t like myself very much at the time. Perhaps that is what most people really mean. Moreover, when thinking about it, I believe the reason a person could be dealing with one of the following reasons:
- It could be that God is showing you an area that needs to be dealt with.
- Have you behaved ungodly in an area that you know was wrong, and have not gone to God for forgiveness?
- Perhaps you think you have messed up too many times and you have crossed God’s line in the sand. Therefore, surely, He wants nothing to do with you anymore… The demonic realm excels in using this tactic.
- Is it possible that you have been deceiving yourself by calling yourself a “Christian?” As we have seen in previous posts, 96% of those claiming to be “Christians” in the USA do not have a Biblical Worldview.
Loving Discipline
If God is showing you an area that needs to be dealt with, praise God! Thank Him that He loves you enough to bring this to your attention. This is part of becoming a mature Child of God. None of us is perfected yet. God disciplines those He loves as the following Scriptures reveal.
- “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.” – Rev 3:19
- “Consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin”. – Job 5:17
- “Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.” – Deut 8:5
- “I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it.” – Ps 119:75
- “I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.” – Ps 119:67
- “If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.” – Heb 12:8
Forgiveness Awaits the Repentant Soul
If you have behaved ungodly in an area, have you gone to God for forgiveness? I encourage you not to delay any longer. Repent and seek God’s forgiveness. His arms are wide open and waiting for you. Just as the father was looking daily for the return of his prodigal son, God is waiting for you. Take comfort in the following Scriptures.
- God said: “I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” – Isa 57:15b
- “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” – Ps 51:17
- “There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.” – Lk 24:47
- “Change your hearts and lives! Turn back to God so that your sins may be wiped away.” – Acts 3:19
The Devil is a liar
For those who may think you have messed up too many times and God wants nothing to do with you anymore, let go of that stinkin’ thinkin’! The Devil is a liar.
That is why it is imperative that we do not forsake gathering together with true followers of Christ to worship God and encourage each other!
If you are not attending a Church fellowship in person, then you are ripe pickings for the demonic realm. The stray sheep gets attacked first. Eventually, as you mature, you will become aware when he tries to slither in a crack you may have left open. I have been there. For me, it’s usually when I begin to feel rundown.
God did not create us to be islands. We need each other. We, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are to look out for the wiles of the devil, and we snatch each other out of his reach when the other is being stalked. And as we draw near to the Lord’s return, the Devil is showing no mercy. He hates our guts. Especially Christians and Jewish people.
- “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”. – Heb 10:24-25
- “And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” – Ecc 4:12TLB
- “I don’t want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming.” – 2 Cor 2:11 NOG
- “He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” – Jn 8:44
Jesus Reminds Us
Finally, if you call yourself a Christian but do not obey the Word of God, this is the time to stop deceiving yourself. If you doubt that the Word of God is true, there is a huge chance that your eternal destination is not Heaven. I love you enough to challenge you and tell you the truth. Don’t allow the father of lies to sweet-talk you into joining him in hell. He will not be lonely. He will have plenty of company with him.
- “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” – Lk 6:46
- Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” – Mk 7:6
- “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” – Mk 8:38
- “On judgment day, many will say to me, Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.” – Matt 7:22-23
Choose Today
You must make a choice NOW. Tomorrow is not promised. Once you take your last breath, there are no do-overs. Only Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life that leads to eternity with Father God in heaven. Stop listening to the lies of what people of the world tell you and hold on to the truth of God’s Word. If you don’t love yourself, your focus is on what the world has to say instead of what the Word of God states.
No one else has given his life for you, except Jesus Christ. No one else loves you the way Your Creator does. I challenge you to take the time to review the precious verses I have gathered to show how much God loves you! God loves you so much that He allows us to decide where we spend eternity. Love yourself enough to live your life in obedience to Him. After all, He died for you, won’t you live for Him?
My Prayer
Father, I pray that this has helped readers to understand how much You love us. I ask that You open our eyes and hearts to receive the truth of your precious Word. Help and guide us as we reach out to love others as you love them and us. We give You all the glory for what You have done and will do. Come, Lord Jesus, Amen.
Maranatha! I am Passionately Loving Jesus, The Anchor of my Soul!
Bonnie
In part 5, we will review scriptures that will help us understand specifically how the Lord expects us to love our neighbors.
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