07.30.2023 Commissioned: Following the Commands of Jesus
Ever wondered when Jesus responded with Love your neighbor as yourself what he meant? Who that included? What limitations there were on this?
The verse is part of a dialogue between Jesus and a Pharisee, an expert in religious law, who asks Jesus, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” (Matthew 22:36, NLT). This question was designed to test Jesus, as the Pharisees were often trying to trap Him in His words.
Jesus responds with two commandments, quoting directly from the Old Testament. The first, from Deuteronomy 6:5, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, NLT).
Then, Jesus presents the second commandment, from Leviticus 19:18, as being equally important: “‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39, NLT).
The Pharisees had, over the years, complicated the Law with their numerous interpretations and additions. Some 600 additional laws to the ones Moses gave them that these leaders didn’t comply with. Plus they were always trying to find a quick summation of all these laws and debated frequently as to what the greatest commandments were. Here, Jesus brilliantly summarizes the entire law, asserting that all the Laws of Moses and the teachings of the prophets hang on these two commandments.
On another occasion the question is poised to Jesus again, it was a popular point of discussion and debate, and according to Luke Jesus turns it back to the questioner. Interesting, the expert in religious law answers correctly.
But then attempts to justify his actions and asks, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus would answer that with a profound story that has become embedded in our culture even today.
A powerful story that caught everyone off guard and probably miffed a bunch of the listeners.
So who is my neighbor?
In the cultural context of first-century Palestine, the word ‘neighbor’ would traditionally have been understood as a fellow Israelite or someone within one’s immediate community.
Some have seen a technical distinction in the titles of “brothers”, neighbors, and enemies. Understanding a set of guidelines for each segment. I suppose you could make a case for that saying that brothers are fellow Christians, neighbors are those that are not Christians and enemies are those who purposely become our adversaries. Again, I can see some sense of that but I don’t think Jesus was being technical here.
Maybe “And who is my neighbor?”, isn’t your question but if you were standing there that day what would you like to raise your hand or come to the microphone and ask?
How can I love my neighbor if I don’t love myself? This question is often asked by those struggling with self-esteem or self-worth issues. It’s important to understand that the command assumes a healthy love for oneself—a recognition of one’s inherent dignity and worth as God’s creation. Honestly, I prefer the term God-worth as I am incredibly valuable because I was created in the image of God and as one redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus of incredible value. Only then can one truly value and love others.
Does ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ mean putting others’ needs above my own? This question reflects the tension between self-care and care for others. While we are called to sacrifice and serve others, it does not mean neglecting our own legitimate needs. Yet, we are too quick to think or ourselves rather than others.
How can I love my neighbor who has wronged me or who I find difficult to get along with? This question arises from personal conflicts or difficulties in relationships. The Apostle Paul jumps in here with, “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 13:7-8 Sometimes it is good to back up and ask yourself, “What if the roles were reversed?’
What does it look like practically to love my neighbor as myself? This question seeks concrete ways to live out this command. The answer will look different for everyone, depending on their context, but it always involves action like showing kindness, empathy, respect to others AND as the expert was about to find out time, money, delay, and maybe even a hit to his reputation.
Does it mean accepting everything a neighbor does?
I have had people quote this verse as a way to telling me that I should accept and even celebrate people’s decisions to transition their gender or such. To accept and celebrate decisions that will offend God and lead a person to not finding peace or to harm is not love but probably fear.
Should I love my neighbor as myself even if it’s not reciprocated? This question can be tough. It’s important to remember that our call to love others does not depend on their response. It’s about reflecting the unconditional love that God has shown us.
Does loving your neighbor as yourself apply to strangers or people far away who I will never meet? This question probes the extent of our responsibility. Yes, the command does apply even to those we do not personally know. We can show love to them through acts of kindness, charity, and justice. If our neighbors are those far away and we have the ability to help them through missions giving and prayer we must. A little boy in Ghana named Kingsley became our neighbor and a way was found to help him.
Think of these questions again and ask yourself, “What is at the heart my questions about loving my neighbor?”
1. Attempt to Excuse Ourselves: Sometimes, we might find ourselves looking for loopholes or justifications to avoid fulfilling this command, just like the expert of the law in the story of the Good Samaritan. We need to acknowledge this tendency and challenge it. The Good Samaritan, an outsider and an enemy in the eyes of the Jews, demonstrated what it means to be a neighbor. His actions were driven by compassion, not obligation. He went above and beyond to help the man, incurring personal cost without expecting anything in return. This is the kind of selfless love that we’re called to embody.
2. Fear: Fear can be a powerful deterrent. In the story of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite might have been afraid of the potential danger, but fear didn’t stop the Samaritan. He faced potential danger to help someone in need. Fear of rejection or misunderstanding can also prevent us from reaching out to others, particularly those who are different from us. But as Lisa Wingate wisely said, “Fear builds walls instead of bridges. I want a life of bridges, not walls.” We must strive to build bridges of understanding and love, even when it feels risky.
3. Prejudice: Prejudice can severely hamper our ability to love our neighbors. The story of Jonah is a vivid example. Despite God’s direct command, Jonah was initially unwilling to go to Nineveh because of his deep-seated prejudice against the Assyrians. It took a dramatic encounter with a big fish for Jonah to obey God, but even then, his heart was not fully aligned with God’s mercy towards the Ninevites. Like Jonah, we need to examine our hearts for hidden biases and ask God to replace our prejudice with His love.
4. Selfishness: The parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 illustrates the danger of being engrossed in our own comfort to the extent that we ignore the needs of others. The rich man lived in luxury while Lazarus suffered at his doorstep, a stark image of selfishness. We should ask ourselves, “How often do we ignore the needs of our neighbors because we are too focused on our own comfort?”
I get it. The need is always with us. And every time I see a streetside person with a carboard sign I want to help.
5. Lack of Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Without empathy, it’s difficult to love our neighbors as ourselves. The priest and Levite lacked empathy for the beaten man in the story of the Good Samaritan. However, the Samaritan felt compassion when he saw the man. He empathized with his suffering and was moved to action. We need to pray for God to fill our hearts with empathy so that we can truly understand the struggles and needs of our neighbors.
Today we need to respond and defeat any of these heart issues before anything else.
Yet, it is never a real heart change until action is taken.
One more question
What can we do to better love our neighbors as ourselves?
A. See
Jesus said to open our eyes as the harvest is ready. Meaning people are there and the need is great if we will open our eyes and say God use me to love my neighbor.
B. Serve
Stopping to pick up a guy that was beaten to a pulp would be not only dangerous but potentially schedule wrecking. I wonder if the other 2 excused themselves as too busy to stop.
He may have had to travel a distance and maybe even out of his way to leave him at the inn.
May we not say we are too busy to respond to a legitimate need.
Then of course he paid for the guy and promised to pay more if necessary when he returned.
C. Share
Jesus set a high bar for neighborliness didn’t He? Out of his own money he pays for the guys care and promises to pay more if needed when he returns.
What can you do to help a neighbor in need? What could you share with a neighbor that would bless them?
(Debbie and the 3 young guys next door)
Love and care and then share the Gospel.
Let’s make a shift
Shift-from knowing to DOING!
It’s not enough to know we should love our neighbors, we must act on it.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill.
Final rhetorical question: How will you choose to love your neighbor this week?
OH!
That promise to repay the expense of the beaten man to the innkeeper?
That’s the promise of Jesus to repay you for all you have done for Him when He returns. Ever wonder how much he will be reimbursing you for? I hope it is a great deal.
Let’s pray.
Prayer for hearts to be transformed, for the removal of barriers preventing neighborly love, and for opportunities to show love in practical ways.
- Attempt to excuse ourselves?
Are we like the expert who was trying to find an excuse to not comply with this command of Jesus?
Jesus would go for the heart in the story of the Good Samaritan when a person hated by Jewish society would act better than the priest and religious professional that left the beaten man lying on the side of the road. He jumps into action and even though it costs him he goes above and beyond to care for the man.
2. Are we afraid?
Why did the other 2 men pass the man by on the road? Maybe they were afraid they might be caught by the same band of robbers. Are we afraid we might say the wrong thing and offend? Obviously, I have crossed up with people in different cultures and made innocent comments that people took great offense to. “Fear builds walls instead of bridges. I want a life of bridges, not walls.” – Lisa Wingate.
Sharing the good news of Christ’s love is the ultimate way to love our neighbors.