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Why You Should Love Your Neighbor

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Many of us Christians have heard the phrase “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.” But what does it mean? Do we truly identify with the way Jesus Christ intended? Mark 12:31 says to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Other parables to this verse can be found in Matthew 22:39, Galatians 5:14, Romans 13:9, and Luke 10:27. 

It directly follows his commandment of loving others as God loves us. In 1st Corinthians 10:24, it tells us, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” Think of other people and what is best for them. Some people have a great fear of the unknown. We can be the ones who minister during the COVID 19 pandemic and help ease their mind a little. With these verses, you can plainly see what God wants from us. So, who is God referring to when he tells us to love our neighbors?  

Jesus teaches us that everyone in need is our neighbor, and we as Christians should do what we can within our means to help. Purchase a few extra groceries for a neighbor that may be struggling financially. And, offering moral and spiritual support to a family who has lost a loved one gives us the perfect opportunity to witness to unbelievers about the love of Jesus.

In Luke 10:25-29, an expert Pharisee of the religious law stood up to test Jesus. He asked Jesus a question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” and Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say?” and “How do you read it?” He answered, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all of your mind.  And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Right! ’ Jesus replied, “Do this, and you will live.”

The Good Samaritan

The Pharisee wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In Luke 10 30-37, Jesus begins his parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, Jesus talks about a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and being attacked by bandits. He was severely beaten, stripped of his clothing, and left half dead. 

The parable goes on to say that a priest happens to be going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he passed by on the other side of the road. A Levite came by next and followed the same pattern as the priest. Then, a Samaritan traveled the same pattern, and when he saw the man, he took pity on him. The Good Samaritan bandaged his wounds, placed him onto his own donkey, and traveled him to an inn to care for him.

The very next day, he paid the innkeeper to look after him and made arrangements to pay any outstanding debt when he returns. After telling this parable to the Pharisee, Jesus asked him, “Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man?” The Pharisee answered, “The one who had mercy on him.”

So as you can see, whatever or whenever your neighbor is going through a difficult time in their life, we can love our neighbors as ourselves. Be an example of the love and compassion that Jesus Christ had for all mankind.

©All Rights Reserved – Cindy Beiler

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