Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Illustration of Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Tucked within Leviticus' holiness code, this command - 'thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' - became, in Jesus' teaching, the second great commandment on which all the Law and Prophets hang. It forbids grudges and vengeance and requires active love for others, even the stranger and the enemy. Paul and James both called it the fulfilling of the Law.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Leviticus 19

Key Passages

Love Thy Neighbour

Leviticus 19:17-18

'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' - the command Jesus made the second greatest of all.

T17hou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

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Characters

Moses Moses was a prophet chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt during the Exodus. Throughโ€ฆ Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

This command is tucked into Leviticus, in the middle of the Old Testament law.

2

Jesus named it the second greatest commandment.

3

The parable of the Good Samaritan answers the question 'who is my neighbor?'

4

Paul and James both call it the fulfilling of the whole law.