By Pastor Antonee Aguilar
In the Scriptures, we find a command that is so simple and yet so profound: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). These words echo through the millennia and have been central not only in the Hebrew Scriptures but also in the teachings of Jesus, who declared that loving our neighbor was second only to loving God. But what does it really mean to love our neighbor? How do we understand this commandment in its original context, and how can it guide our lives today?
Original Context
The Jewish tradition often interprets Leviticus 19:18 as a directive to "love your fellow Jew as yourself." This interpretation arises naturally when we consider the context of the commandment. In the verses leading up to this command, we read:
"You are not to hate your brother in your heart. Instead, you are to rebuke your neighbor firmly and not bear sin because of him. You are not to take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the children of your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:17-18)
The immediate context here seems to refer to "your brother" and "the children of your people," which could suggest that the commandment is directed primarily toward members of the same community — in this case, fellow Israelites. This interpretation certainly makes sense within the scope of the Hebrew Bible, which often focuses on the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Israel.
A Broader Understanding
However, a second commandment in the same chapter broadens the scope of who is included in our love. In Leviticus 19:34, we read:
"You shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Here, the "stranger" refers to someone not a member of the Israelite community, yet God commands His people to love them as they love themselves. This command is not about loving those like you or sharing your heritage but extends to those who might be seen as outsiders. This inclusion of the stranger suggests that God's love is not meant to be confined to one person's or nation's boundaries.
Thus, when we combine the two commandments, we get a fuller picture. The command to "love your neighbor as yourself" is not limited to fellow Israelites or members of your immediate community; it encompasses everyone — even those who are different and may not share your background, culture, or beliefs.
Two Facets of Neighborly Love
When we look at the verses side by side, we see two complementary dimensions of love:
1. The Neighbor in Your Community (Leviticus 19:18): This refers to those closest to you, your fellow believers, or those who share your life, struggles, and joys. Loving your neighbor, in this sense, is about solidarity, empathy, and mutual care within the community. It is easy to see how this commandment applies to our relationships with those like us — people we know, people we trust, and people who are part of our inner circles.
2. The Stranger or Outsider (Leviticus 19:34): The second command broadens this love to include the foreigner, the outsider, and the marginalized. The love here is not dependent on shared blood or belief but expresses God's universal compassion for all people. This love transcends boundaries and barriers, calling us to embrace different people who may feel like strangers in our church or lives.
The Challenge of Loving All Neighbors
In today's world, the challenge of loving our neighbors remains significant. The term "neighbor" can sometimes feel distant — it might refer to a colleague or a church member with whom we disagree, a stranger on the street, or even someone from a different culture who doesn't speak our language fluently, or we may even struggle to accept their religion. However, God's commandment to love our neighbors extends beyond our comfort zones.
The call to love is not limited by nationality, race, or ideology. The call to love encompasses both those who are near and far. It asks us to open our hearts to the familiar and the foreign. According to the Bible, the real test of love is how we treat those not like us, the stranger, the immigrant, the person from a different background or belief system.
I love how Ellen G. White wrote in Ministry of Health & Healing, page 73:
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He invited them, 'Follow Me.'
"We need to come close to the people by personal effort. If we would give less time to sermonizing and more time to personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved; the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.”
In my experience, these methods are the most effective ways to reach and guide people to the foot of the cross while demonstrating our care for them.
A Love That Reflects God's Heart
God’s commands are always rooted in His character. In Leviticus 19:34, He explains, "for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." God Himself has experienced the stranger's plight and calls His people to reflect His heart of compassion. Loving the stranger, the outsider, the different one, expresses God's justice, mercy, and love. It is a reminder that everyone is created in God’s image and deserves dignity and respect.
As followers of Christ, we are called to love our neighbor — all our neighbors — not as a vague, abstract principle but as a practical, daily action. This means helping those in need, listening to those who feel unheard, reaching out to those who are isolated, and showing kindness to all people, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Points to Ponder:
"Love your neighbor as yourself." This commandment, rooted in the heart of the Hebrew Scriptures, invites us into a radical, expansive love that mirrors the love of God Himself. Whether our neighbor is someone from our community or a stranger, the call remains to love them with the same care, compassion, and respect we would want for ourselves.
Let us commit this year, 2025, and onwards to living out this commandment daily, loving those who are like us and those who are different, and reaching out with the same love Christ has shown us.