We are reminded to love our neighbor eight times in the Scriptures, suggesting that we often neglect this duty and need frequent prompting. Loving our neighbor is perhaps more challenging than we realize. This love, defined by the Greek word agapao, means to have a warm regard for and interest in another, to cherish and have affection for them. Jesus elevates this to an unconditional love, a heartfelt response to do good for another as the occasion requires, no matter who they are—family, friend, enemy, or stranger. Showing this kind of love to our neighbor goes beyond wishing them well; it extends to actively benefiting them by showing favor and goodwill, whether through kindness, providence, or even discipline, focusing on what is good for them rather than what pleases them. Who, then, is our neighbor? Jesus answers this question with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrating that a neighbor is not limited to those of the same race, group, or beliefs. In the story, a Jew is robbed, beaten, and left half-dead by the roadside. A priest and a Levite, men expected to show compassion, pass by without helping. Yet a despised Samaritan, moved by compassion, tends to the man's wounds, provides for his care, and spares no expense to ensure his recovery. Jesus asks which of these was a neighbor to the injured man, and the answer is clear: the one who showed mercy. Jesus instructs us to go and do likewise, demonstrating that God expects us to show love and mercy to all, regardless of differences or enmity. God the Father and Jesus Christ are the perfect examples of what it means to be a neighbor. Like the wounded man, we were left to perish, ignored by the world and even by those claiming to represent God. Yet God, despised by the world, tended to us, paying the ultimate price through the sacrifice of His Son to heal and save us. They embody the love that builds up, heals the brokenhearted, binds up wounds, proclaims liberty to captives, and sets the oppressed free. We are called to follow in Their steps, treating others with the same love and care They have shown us.

The commandment to love your neighbor as yourself is inseparably linked to loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. These two principles are so closely connected that they must be considered together as a whole, for one cannot truly love God without loving man, nor love man without loving God. Neglecting one while focusing solely on the other breaks the entirety of the responsibility, rendering neither commandment kept. In the account of the lawyer questioning Jesus, the challenge of loving one's neighbor is highlighted through the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan, despite cultural and ethnic divides, showed mercy and compassion to the injured man, proving himself to be the true neighbor. This act demonstrates that biblical love is primarily an action, often accompanied by emotions of pity and compassion, which moved the Samaritan to provide vital assistance. Jesus emphasizes that being a neighbor extends beyond personal or societal boundaries, obligating us to help those in need who cross our path, regardless of differences or drawn lines in our minds. These lines, whether based on race, gender, cultural status, or other distinctions, can limit our responsibility to love others. Yet, the Samaritan pushed aside such barriers, illustrating that true neighborly love requires overcoming personal reservations. Jesus sets a high standard, showing that loving one's neighbor is not merely a calculated act but involves genuine concern for others' well-being, even extending to enemies with a measure of emotional compassion. Loving one's neighbor as oneself is a practical, day-to-day expression of worshiping God. It is not confined to specific times or settings but must be lived out in every aspect of life, whether in mundane tasks or interactions with difficult individuals. Even in the face of provocation or persecution, we are called to serve willingly, without retaliation, following the example of Jesus Christ, who responded with thoughtful patience and kindness. This love prioritizes serving those within God's spiritual family, yet it extends to all of God's creation, recognizing that every person is made in His image. Loving man completes the love for God, fulfilling it through actions toward others. Jesus urges us to elevate our love beyond mere self-interest or loving only those who are like us, pushing us toward a maturity that mirrors our Father in heaven, who shows generosity to both the righteous and unrighteous. The love of Christ constrains us in this direction, transforming how we view and treat others, guiding us to live for Him and to extend love outward, ultimately encompassing all.

God's instructions in Leviticus 19 provide a profound framework for loving our neighbors, reflecting His holy nature in our actions. His people are to be distinct, embodying His character in their treatment of others, so that the world may see an image of God through their conduct. Loving one's neighbor begins within the family, where children first learn to revere their parents, establishing a foundation for love that mirrors our relationship with God. Beyond the family, love extends to the poor and the stranger, as seen in the command not to fully harvest one's field or vineyard, leaving portions for the disadvantaged. This teaches generosity, encouraging us to give with an open hand rather than hoard our resources. Love for neighbor also demands fairness in dealings, ensuring that wages are paid promptly to workers who depend on them for their livelihood. Compassion is further emphasized in the injunction not to curse the deaf or place obstacles before the blind, urging us to refrain from exploiting anyone's disadvantages. We are to treat others as we would wish to be treated in their circumstances, embodying the principle of doing to others as we would have them do to us. In judgments, we must uphold justice without partiality, neither favoring the poor nor honoring the mighty, ensuring equity as an expression of love. Additionally, love requires us to avoid spreading gossip, which sows discord and destroys relationships. By refraining from talebearing, we foster harmony among neighbors. In all these ways, showing love to our neighbors reflects the loving nature of God, setting us apart as His people and aligning our actions with His character.

As God's called-out ones, we must grasp the vital, unbreakable connection between love for God and love toward our neighbor. These are not separate; they are deeply intertwined. The failure of the worldly "love, love, love" crowd to make love work stems from ignoring this connection, focusing only on neighborly love without the love of God. Even within the church, we sometimes disconnect these loves, causing both to suffer. Loving God must come first as the greatest commandment, but we must not neglect the second—loving our neighbor. These two commandments underpin all the law and the prophets. A true love for God manifests in love for others; without it, claims of loving God are empty. The Pharisees, for instance, claimed great love for God but showed none to their neighbors, even hindering others from entering the Kingdom of God. The apostle John emphasizes this principle repeatedly, showing that loving God, loving our neighbor, and keeping the commandments are facets of the same truth. If we love God, we will love our neighbor and keep His commandments. If we love our neighbor, we demonstrate love for God and fulfill His commandments. If we keep the commandments, we prove our love for God and extend love to our neighbor. These are inseparable, working together as foundational tenets of God's way of life. Jesus Christ teaches that our love for neighbors, even enemies, should imitate God's impartial love, which extends to the just and unjust alike. He admonishes us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, indicating that growing in selfless, outgoing concern for others advances us toward spiritual perfection. The love we show to others gauges our love for God. At the scene of judgment, Christ declares that the love we show our brethren reflects how much we love Him. Words of praise for God are easy, but actions—feeding, clothing, visiting, caring for, and helping our brethren—reveal true love. Such acts, even if unnoticed by others, are seen by God. Practicing real godly love for our brethren manifests the depth of our love for Him. If we love one another, God's love is perfected in us. To reflect the perfect character of the Father and Christ, we must practice and perfect loving our brethren, starting with our closest relationships—spouses and children—and extending outward. This focus is essential as we prepare to enter His Kingdom.

Jesus Christ, in addressing the Pharisees' challenge, presented the essence of the law with clarity, declaring that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your being, surpassing all worldly temptations and personal desires. Following this, He introduced the second great commandment, equally vital, to love your neighbor as yourself. This commandment demands a profound change within each of us, serving as a means to bring peace and harmony among all nations and races. When adhered to, it fosters successful marriages, proper child-rearing, and unity within the church and eventually the world. Loving one's neighbor, though challenging, is not about superficial affection but about esteeming and holding others in high regard, directing the will to do good and find joy in their well-being. This love involves duty, respect, and wishing well to others, even enemies, through acts of kindness or necessary discipline. It mirrors the love shown in correcting children, guiding them with care despite their perception. The scope of who constitutes a neighbor is broad, encompassing everyone without distinction of race, social status, or personal affinity. Jesus Christ illustrated this through the parable of the Good Samaritan, who, despite being despised by the Jews, showed mercy to a wounded man, forgiving past animosities and providing aid beyond mere obligation. This act of compassion—cleaning wounds, ensuring care, and covering expenses—demonstrates that loving one's neighbor includes forgiveness and mercy, transcending personal or cultural barriers. God's instruction is clear: we are to treat our neighbor as we would wish to be treated, showing consideration to the poor, refraining from taking advantage of others' weaknesses, and judging righteously without bias toward wealth or status. We must avoid destructive speech, bearing tales, or harboring hatred and revenge. Instead, we are to approach conflicts directly and privately with the intent to reconcile, fostering peace rather than discord. Jesus Christ further emphasized the gravity of this commandment by teaching that unresolved enmity hinders worship; God will not accept offerings while anger or differences persist without attempts at resolution. Forgiveness is paramount—if we forgive others, our heavenly Father will forgive us. This principle extends to repeated forgiveness, as Jesus instructed to forgive seventy times seven, underscoring the boundless nature of this love. The ultimate example is Jesus Christ Himself, who, despite brutal treatment, sought forgiveness for His tormentors, showing complete love for humanity. As His disciples, we are to reflect this love, identifying ourselves by it as a sign of our calling. This love, unhindered by race, attitude, or status, must manifest in our families, communities, and beyond, marking us as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Though difficult, loving our neighbor as ourselves is a fundamental part of our obedience to God's law, requiring persistent effort and dedication.

The call to love our neighbor as ourselves is deeply intertwined with our love for God, forming a unified principle of conduct. We cannot emphasize one commandment while neglecting the other, for they are inseparable in fulfilling God's will. Loving our neighbor, despite their flaws, becomes an expression of our love for God, as we serve His creation. Our attitude and treatment of fellowman stand as a witness to God's reality in our lives. The scriptures reveal that loving our neighbor fulfills the essence of the law, suggesting that even the command to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and being is encompassed in this act. When we love what God has created, we demonstrate our love for Him. Conversion transforms our perspective, compelling us to view others with compassion and empathy rather than anger or bitterness, following Christ's example as the guiding principle of our lives. The standard of attitude and behavior God expects is high, demanding that we love our neighbor across various relationships. These relationships, though diverse in closeness, all fall under the umbrella of brotherly love, with differing levels of priority and responsibility. Judgments must often be made regarding how we can help, recognizing our limitations in resources, time, and ability. Yet, we owe respect, kindness, and tenderness to all, striving to be a neighbor to those in need, even when we must entrust their care to Christ in faith.