Ed Jones
In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus declared that loving God and loving others to be the greatest commandments. In that passage, Christ commands the teacher of the Law to “love your neighbor as yourself.” “Who is my neighbor?” then becomes a natural question to ask.
The command to love one’s neighbor as oneself originates in Leviticus 19:18, which says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” The Jews of Jesus’ day understood their “neighbor” to be fellow Israelites. However, loving one’s neighbor is more than simply loving those who are like us and who can love us in return.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked and left for dead. A priest sees the man but passes by on the other side of the road. The same happens when a Levite travels through. Two Jews, both of whom were from the priestly line of Israelites and should have known and followed God’s law, instead, failed to show love to a fellow Israelite in need. However, Christ added that along came a Samaritan, a person despised by the Jews. Yet, it was the Samaritan who stopped to help the injured man. He cared for the man’s wounds and paid for him to stay at an inn. In short, a person whom the Jews would have considered “unclean” and outside of God’s covenant demonstrated compassion for one who would have considered him an enemy. Jesus asked which of the three passersby was a neighbor to the injured man. “The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Our neighbor is thus anyone in our proximity with whom we can share God’s love. We are called not only to love those who are like us or with whom we are comfortable, but all whom God places in our path. In fact, Jesus said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44-48).
We love our neighbors, including our neighbors who seem like enemies to us, when we act toward them with a heart that first loves God. We love our neighbors out of an overflow of God’s love for us and as a way of demonstrating our love toward God.
Ed Jones pastors Fellowship At The Ranch Church at Robson Ranch. This nondenominational church meets at the Robson clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. For information, visit Fellowship’s website www.fellowshipattheranchchurch.com.