Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Application: 

God’s people should not steal, swear falsely, oppress their neighbor, defraud workers of their wages, hinder the deaf and blind, make unjust decisions, favor one group over another, spread slander, harbor hatred against a brother, or take revenge (19:11–18). In other words, they are to follow the principle: love your neighbor as yourself (19:18). As both Jesus and Paul pointed out, all of Scripture is summarized in the commands to love God and neighbor (see Mark 12:31; Gal 5:14).

In Mark 12:31, Jesus responded to the man’s question, but he didn’t stop there. He had quoted the greatest command in Scripture, then added the second greatest: Love your neighbor as yourself. This shows how Jesus connected the vertical love of God with the horizontal love of others. Claiming to love God while not loving people (or vice versa) is a contradiction. The two must go together. Loving God means passionately seeking His glory with your whole being. Loving your neighbor involves intentionally caring for his or her well-being with compassion and righteousness.

In Gal 5:14, Paul tells these Christians who were being tempted to submit to the law that the entire law is fulfilled in what Jesus identified as the second great commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself (5:14; see Matt 22:35–40, quoting Lev 19:18). But if instead of neighbor love they chose self-love—if they chose to bite and devour one another—they should not be surprised to find themselves consumed by one another (5:15).

Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 163, 947. 1211.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

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My book, “Battle Strategy: God’s Plan Amid Chaos.” It’s packed with helpful insights into Bible study and understanding. You can get a free digital version on my website. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this book go to helping children. The book covers the main biblical points and salvation, so you’ll find something valuable. 

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