Last week and this our focus is the “second half” of the Great Command, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39). Notice, Jesus was not asked “What are the top two commands?” He was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” Essentially, what Jesus in saying is that we show our love for God by loving others, specifically, our neighbors. This begs the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Many Jews in Jesus’ day understood “neighbor” to mean “fellow Israelite.” Jesus explodes that understanding by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. The result of this parable is that Jesus leaves it to the questioner to answer his own question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Scot McKnight writes, “Neighborly love begins in the home… Surely one of the most touching scenes in the life of Jesus is when, on the cross, he issues the request to John to take responsibility for his mother… Jesus clearly affirms here the duty of loving one’s family. Sadly, far too many Christians love others with abandon while their own families are starving for their love… Our home is also in our neighborhood.” (Jesus Creed, page 55).
What do the following Scripture reveal about the extent of “loving our neighbor”?
1 John 4:7-11—
John 3:16—
1 Timothy 5:8—
Galatians 6:10—
Hebrews 13:2-3—
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