LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (AND EVERYONE ELSE)

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—would you use your lips to mislead? Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.”

Proverbs 24:28-29        

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Do you have neighbors?

I do and I have to say it’s what makes living in my neighborhood such a joy.

We’re just surrounded by wonderful people who always are there to support us and one another, always quick to share a kind word or do a kind deed. I love all of them, those I proudly refer to not only as my neighbors but also my friends. Maybe you can relate.

If you know the scriptures, they are rife with references to neighbors which include guidance on how we are to treat them and how we are to be a good neighbor ourselves. Consider the following:

Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Leviticus 19:13

Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. Leviticus 19:16

Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Proverbs 3:28

Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Proverbs 3:29

It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor. Proverbs 14:21

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘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.’^” Matthew 22:36-38

He asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  Luke10:29-37

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:16-17

We can add to these scriptures the wise words of Solomon from our two verses from the 24th Chapter of Proverbs which echo the very commandment God gave to the Israelites via Moses at Mount Sinai during their exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 20:16).

Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—would you use your lips to mislead? Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.” Proverbs 24:28-29

Solomon’s words touch on two key subjects when it comes to dealing with our neighbors.

First is the matter of false testimony. There have been more than a few neighborhoods rocked by feuds between neighbors after one falsely accused another of doing something. God’s word is crystal clear from Proverbs and elsewhere in the Bible. We are never to allow our lips to speak words that mislead or deceive. Such action is simply sinful wickedness and the Lord will simply not stand for it.

The other sinful behavior we can adopt against our neighbors comes in our actions toward them. For even if our neighbor has done wrong to us, we are not to reciprocate the wrong against them. There is to be no payback.

Jesus had this to say about the matter:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42

His words offset an earlier Old Testament word that simply instructed people to:

Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Deuteronomy 19:21

Jesus brought a new attitude as He made a new covenant with God’s people, both Jew and Gentile. The new attitude was centered not on revenge but forgiveness, not on getting even but in getting saved, not on anger but rather on love.

We’re to simply love one another, loving not only as we love ourselves but even more so in the way the Lord loves us.

If we do this, we will love everyone unconditionally, including our neighbors. Think of how much better a world we would live in if we did just that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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