Loving God and loving our neighbor belong together.
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”Luke 10:27 (KJV)
What does “Neighbor” mean in Luke 10:27?
The Greek word for neighbor means one who is near. Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan right after this verse to show that a neighbor is anyone in need whom we can reach.
Going deeper
A teacher of the law gave this answer to Jesus, combining two commands from the Old Testament, one about loving God and one about loving people. Jesus agreed with him. The two cannot be separated. The love we have for God shows itself in how we treat those around us, and it is tested there. It is easy to say we love God while ignoring the person next to us.
The teacher then asked who counts as a neighbor, hoping to limit the command. Jesus answered with a story that took away every limit. A neighbor is the person right in front of us who needs help, whoever they are. This week, pay attention to who is in your path. It might be a coworker, a relative, a stranger, or someone you would usually avoid. Ask how you could show them the same kindness you want to receive. Love that stays in the heart never helps anyone; love that moves does.
Reflect
Who has God placed near you this week that you could show love to in a practical way?
Pray
Lord, help me to love You with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself. Open my eyes to the people You place in my path. In Jesus' name, amen.
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