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Singapore Moses
Supporter
An young lawyer came to Jesus and asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" He wanted to trap Jesus from the knowledge he gained from the huge & huge volumes of law books. Because it is a tricky question. There are 613 commandments, and the bible scholars consider some great and some small, so here Jesus was being trapped to answer this trickiest question ever. Jesus understood the motive of this question. But he gave an instant and immediate answer. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Jesus quoted the first commandment from Dt. 6:5; 10:12; 30:6. Love for God must come from: 1. The heart:all inward affections 2. The soul:all consciousness 3. The mind:all thoughts Jesus reply is very simple truth LOVE your GOD and love your neighbor... The whole bible is hang on these two commandments. Jesus quoted the second commandment from the following Thirty Facts about Neighbors: ► Borrowing from them (the first use of " borrow," Ex. 3: 22) ► Sharing worship with them (Ex. 12: 4) ► Not bearing false witness against them (Ex. 20: 16) ► Not coming presumptously upon them (Ex. 21: 14) ► Property in trust (Ex. 22: 7- 14) ► Lying to them was forbidden (Lev. 6: 2- 7; 19: 11). ► Not defrauding (Lev. 19: 13) ► Not robbing them (Lev. 19:13) ► Judge righteously (Lev. 19:15) ► Talebearing to them was forbidden (Lev. 19:16). ► Rebuking a neighbor if he sins (Lev. 19:17) ► Loving him as yourself (Lev. 19:18) ► The law of equality (Lev. 24:19- 20) ► Selling to them (Lev. 25:14- 15) ► Accidental death happening to them (Dt. 4:42; 19:4- 11) ► Eating their crops (Dt. 23:25) ► Smiting them secretly (Dt. 27:24) ► The righteous treatment of them (Ps. 15:1- 3) ► The private slander of them (Ps. 101:5) ► Deception of them was forbidden (Prov. 3:28). ► Not devising against them (Prov. 3:29) ► Despising them (Prov. 11:12) ► Poor neighbors (Prov. 14:20; 19:4) ► Witnessing against them for no cause (Prov. 24:28) ► Hasty striving with them (Prov. 25:8) ► Debating with them (Prov. 25:9) ► Wrong sport with them (Prov. 26:19) ► Not forsaking them (Prov. 27:10) ► Christ and neighbors (Mt. 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Lk. 10:29- 36) ► Paul and neighbors (Rom. 13:10; 15:2; Eph. 4:25) Jesus reply is very simple truth LOVE your GOD and love your neighbor... The whole bible is hang on these two commandments.
S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
An expert in the law tried to test the Lord Jesus by asking Him to declare what was the greatest commandment in the Law of Moses. In one masterful statement, Jesus condensed the entire law that God...
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Michael Morgan
Supporter
This is one of my life verses, as noted above. What it took for me to know the unconditional love of Christ, was to realize how much He loved me, and then learn to love myself in the same manner. This is not a selfish love, but one of acceptance. What this verse, and question, says to me is that I must first love myself before I can give all that I can to others. When we are full in our hearts, it is easy to deny our self wants and needs and give more fully to others. Before giving my life to Christ I had many holes in my heart. I used many different vices trying to fill the emptiness; of course none worked. So to love our neighbor as ourselves, we must first come to peace with ourselves. Focus deeply on "His UNCONDITIONAL" Love. Don't confuse this with unconditional acceptance of obvious disobedience. God bless.
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
To love your neighbor as you love yourself means to treat everyone with love and respect. As others mentioned, The Ten Commandments are the will of God for us. The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God, and the other six deal with our relationship with others. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) tell us that all humanity is your neighbor. And if we love our neighbors, it will be impossible to break any of the commandments. Jesus makes a similar statement in Luke 6:31 “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”
JD Abshire
Supporter
Matthew 22:39 "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." I believe the scripture assumes that the audience knows or should know who number 1 is, self. Although the love of a neighbor isn't the same type of love as one would have within the marriatal relationship, Ephesians 5:29 tells us: "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:" In light of the verse above, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" takes on a whole new level of intensity, doesn't it?
Janet Austin
Supporter
To love your neighbor as you love yourself means that your actions toward your neighbor (and your responses to your neighbor) need to be those that would help that person move closer to God (which is what we need to be doing for ourselves also).
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What does it mean to love your neighbour as you love yourself? Jesus answered the question, "Who is my neighbour?" through the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37. In that story, He showed that a neighbour is anyone whose need crosses your path, regardless of background, distance, or difference. Loving your neighbour is therefore not limited to familiar people; it extends to anyone you can help. To love your neighbour as yourself means giving others the same seriousness and care you naturally give to your own life. It calls for a willingness to act for another person's good, even when it is inconvenient or requires sacrifice. This love is expressed through practical choices—how you respond to someone's need, how you speak, how you listen, and how you treat people who cannot repay you. It begins with recognising the worth of every person. Each human being has dignity because God made them. When you see others through that lens, compassion becomes a natural response. You do not dismiss their pain or elevate your own concerns above theirs. This command involves doing what promotes another's well‑being. It includes offering support, showing patience, and stepping in when someone is vulnerable. It is not passive; it is a readiness to act when you can make a difference. Fairness is part of this love. You avoid harming others through dishonesty, manipulation, or selfish gain. You choose integrity because you understand that your neighbour's good is as important as your own. Empathy also shapes this love. You consider how you would want to be treated in their situation. This perspective encourages gentleness, mercy, and humility, helping you respond with understanding rather than judgment. Forgiveness is another expression of loving your neighbour. Just as you desire grace when you fail, you extend it when others wrong you. This does not ignore wrongdoing, but it refuses to let resentment dominate your heart. Generosity plays a role as well. You share time, attention, and resources when doing so genuinely helps. This generosity is not about dramatic gestures; it is about being willing to give when you can meet a real need. Your words matter. Loving your neighbour means speaking in ways that strengthen rather than wound. It is choosing truth delivered with kindness, avoiding speech that humiliates or destroys. Ultimately, loving your neighbour as yourself reflects God's own character. It is a way of living that resists selfishness and embraces compassion. It expresses a commitment to another person's good through consistent, thoughtful action. This love shapes relationships, communities, and daily life, showing genuine care through what you choose to do. Summarising the topic. Loving your neighbour as yourself means treating others with the same seriousness and care you give your own life. Jesus showed through the Good Samaritan that a neighbour is anyone whose need you can meet, regardless of background or difference. This love acts for another's good, responds with compassion, practices fairness, shows empathy, forgives, and uses words that build rather than harm. It is a daily commitment to seek another's well‑being with integrity, generosity, and mercy, reflecting God's character through practical, thoughtful action.
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