Neighbors and How We Treat Them

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”  (Mt 22:35-40)

‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  (Mt 19:19)

Here is the “Golden Rule” which is God’s standard for how we treat other people, including our neighbors:  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  (Mt 7:12)

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate the principle of loving your neighbor as yourself.  See Luke 10:29-37.

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  (Rom 13:8)  Scripture directs us to love our neighbors. 

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  (Rom 13:10)  Love does no harm to a neighbor.

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.  (Eph 4:25)  The Lord teaches us to be honest with our neighbor. 

Here’s a recap of what the Bible says about loving our neighbor:

• Treat neighbors as you would like to be treated. (The Golden Rule)
• Love your neighbor as [you love] yourself.
• Do no harm of any kind to a neighbor.
• Be honest and trustworthy with your neighbor.
• Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan illustrates that even a person passing us on the road is to be considered our neighbor, and to be treated kindly and mercifully.

May God bless you richly as you live for Him and bring Him honor and glory.