““Love Thy Neighbor Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Self.”as Thy Self.”

Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV)Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV)

36 Master, which is the great 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.as thyself. 40 40 On these two commandments On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.hang all the law and the prophets.

““On these two commandments On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”hang all the law and the prophets.”

Foundational to the law of God is these Foundational to the law of God is these twotwo commandments. commandments.

The same is true for the Law of Christ The same is true for the Law of Christ (Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 2:8-10; 1 (Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 2:8-10; 1 John 5:1-3).John 5:1-3).

We cannot obey one commandment We cannot obey one commandment without obeying the other and be right without obeying the other and be right with God.with God.

1 John 4:20-21 (NASB)1 John 4:20-21 (NASB)

20 If someone says, "I love God," and 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, commandment we have from Him, that that the one who loves God should the one who loves God should love his brother also.love his brother also.

Do we truly understand Do we truly understand what it means to what it means to

“love thy neighbor “love thy neighbor as thyself”?as thyself”?

““Love Thy Neighbor…”Love Thy Neighbor…”

““Who is my neighbor?”Who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:25-27 (NASB)Luke 10:25-27 (NASB)25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 And He shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" 27 And he answered and does it read to you?" 27 And he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; all your strength, and with all your mind; and and your neighbor as yourself."your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 10:28-29 (NASB)Luke 10:28-29 (NASB)

28 And He said to him, "You have 28 And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and answered correctly; do this, and you will live." 29 you will live." 29 But wishing to But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, justify himself, he said to Jesus, ""And who is my neighbor?"And who is my neighbor?"

““Neighbor (PLEESION):Neighbor (PLEESION):

““a neighbora neighbora. friend: Matt 5:43 a. friend: Matt 5:43 b. b. any other personany other person, and where two , and where two are concerned the other (are concerned the other (thy thy fellow-manfellow-man, thy neighbor) Acts , thy neighbor) Acts 7:27” 7:27” - Thayer's Greek Lexicon- Thayer's Greek Lexicon

A “neighbor” in this context A “neighbor” in this context (Mat. 22:39) is your (Mat. 22:39) is your fellow-manfellow-man, ,

anyany person that you have an person that you have an opportunity to love.opportunity to love.

A neighbor is A neighbor is not just a friend or a not just a friend or a person you likeperson you like, but would also , but would also

include your enemies! include your enemies!

Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV)Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV)

43 "You have heard that it was said, 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to But I say to you, love your enemiesyou, love your enemies, bless those , bless those who curse you, do good to those who who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute spitefully use you and persecute you…you…

Matthew 5:45-46 (NKJV)Matthew 5:45-46 (NKJV)

45 that you may be sons of your 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 unjust. 46 For if you love those who For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?love you, what reward have you? Do Do not even the tax collectors do the not even the tax collectors do the same? same?

Matthew 5:47-48 (NKJV)Matthew 5:47-48 (NKJV)

47 47 And if you greet your brethren And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than only, what do you do more than others?others? Do not even the tax Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.in heaven is perfect.

The commandment does The commandment does notnot require require that you that you likelike your neighbor, your neighbor,

but you do, however, but you do, however, oweowe it to your neighbor it to your neighbor

to to lovelove him. him.

Romans 13:8 (NASB)Romans 13:8 (NASB)

Owe nothing to anyone except to Owe nothing to anyone except to love one anotherlove one another; for he who loves ; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

““Love Thy Neighbor…”Love Thy Neighbor…”

““Who is my neighbor?”Who is my neighbor?”

The kind of love we owe our The kind of love we owe our neighbor.neighbor.

Not the love that Not the love that the world speaks of! the world speaks of!

LOVE – “1. a profoundly tender, LOVE – “1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another passionate affection for another person. 2. a feeling of warm person. 2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. 3. sexual passion or desire.” friend. 3. sexual passion or desire.” – Random House Dictionary– Random House Dictionary

BIBLICAL LOVE (AGAPE)BIBLICAL LOVE (AGAPE)

Love that seeks Love that seeks the the highesthighest good for another. good for another.

Romans 13:9-10 (NASB)Romans 13:9-10 (NASB)

9 For this, "You shall not commit 9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 5:13-15 (NASB)Galatians 5:13-15 (NASB)

13 For you were called to freedom, 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one anotherthrough love serve one another. 14 For the . 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, statement, " You shall love your neighbor as " You shall love your neighbor as yourself."yourself." 15 15 But if you bite and devour one But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by another, take care lest you be consumed by one another.one another.

“… “… As Thyself”As Thyself”

Love your neighbor as yourself – Love your neighbor as yourself – Equivalent to the “Golden Rule.”Equivalent to the “Golden Rule.”

Matthew 7:12 (NASB) Matthew 7:12 (NASB) "Therefore, "Therefore, however you want however you want people to treat you, people to treat you, so treat themso treat them, for , for this is the Law and the Prophets.”this is the Law and the Prophets.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NASB)1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NASB)

4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not 4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.all things.

“… “… As Thyself”As Thyself”

Love your neighbor as yourself – Love your neighbor as yourself – Equivalent to the “Golden Rule.”Equivalent to the “Golden Rule.”

Love thy neighbor as Love thy neighbor as thyselfthyself means means to value their needs to value their needs as much asas much as your ownyour own..

To love thy neighbor as thyself, To love thy neighbor as thyself, we constantly have to we constantly have to

“put ourselves in their shoes” “put ourselves in their shoes” and consider their and consider their

interests as important. interests as important.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)

3 Do nothing from selfishness or 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one mind let each of you regard one another as more important than another as more important than himself; 4 himself; 4 do not merely look out do not merely look out for your own personal interests, for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.but also for the interests of others.

“… “… As Thyself”As Thyself”

Love your neighbor as yourself – Love your neighbor as yourself – Equivalent to the “Golden Rule.”Equivalent to the “Golden Rule.”

Love thy neighbor as thyself means Love thy neighbor as thyself means to value their needs as much as to value their needs as much as your own.your own.

Love thy neighbor with genuine, Love thy neighbor with genuine, not hypocritical, love.not hypocritical, love.

Romans 12:9 (NASB)Romans 12:9 (NASB)

Let love be without hypocrisy.Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.good.

Genuine love for your “neighbor” Genuine love for your “neighbor” does not say one thing and does not say one thing and do another (“lip service”) do another (“lip service”)

(cf. Mat. 15:8). (cf. Mat. 15:8).

The measure of love you give your The measure of love you give your neighbor is neighbor is not to be second bestnot to be second best to to

how much you love yourself.how much you love yourself.

1 John 3:17-18 (NASB)1 John 3:17-18 (NASB)

17 But whoever has the world's 17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.tongue, but in deed and truth.

How is it Possible to Have Such Love How is it Possible to Have Such Love for Thy Neighbor?for Thy Neighbor?

Love God with all your heart.Love God with all your heart.– It is not incidental that “the first and It is not incidental that “the first and

great commandment” is followed by great commandment” is followed by the commandment to love thy the commandment to love thy neighbor as thyself (Mat. 22:37-40).neighbor as thyself (Mat. 22:37-40).

IfIf you love God with you love God with allall our heart, our heart, soul, and mind, soul, and mind, you will, as a result,you will, as a result,

“love thy neighbor as thyself.”“love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Having troubling loving your Having troubling loving your “neighbor?”“neighbor?”

How is your relationship with How is your relationship with God?God?

Are you walking in the light as He Are you walking in the light as He is in the light? is in the light?

1 John 2:9-11 (NASB)1 John 2:9-11 (NASB)

9 9 The one who says he is in the light and yet The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until hates his brother is in the darkness until now.now. 10 The one who loves his brother 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.eyes.

Make God your first love and Make God your first love and you will love your neighbor!you will love your neighbor!

How is it Possible to Have Such Love How is it Possible to Have Such Love for Thy Neighbor?for Thy Neighbor?

Love God with all your heart.Love God with all your heart.

As much as possible, view your As much as possible, view your neighbor as God does.neighbor as God does.– Understanding that “God so loved the Understanding that “God so loved the

world that He gave His only begotten world that He gave His only begotten Son” will change the perspective you Son” will change the perspective you have of your neighbor (John 3:16; cf. 1 have of your neighbor (John 3:16; cf. 1 John 2:2).John 2:2).

The more we come to know The more we come to know God’s love for mankind, God’s love for mankind,

the more we will be able to love our the more we will be able to love our neighbors as ourselves.neighbors as ourselves.

1 John 4:9-11 (NASB)1 John 4:9-11 (NASB)

9 By this the love of God was manifested 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.we also ought to love one another.

How is it Possible to Have Such Love How is it Possible to Have Such Love for Thy Neighbor?for Thy Neighbor?

Love God with all your heart.Love God with all your heart.

As much as possible, view your As much as possible, view your neighbor as God does.neighbor as God does.

Imitate Jesus Christ who selflessly Imitate Jesus Christ who selflessly loved by dying for us all.loved by dying for us all.

By putting on the mind of Christ, By putting on the mind of Christ, you will develop the attitude of love you will develop the attitude of love toward your neighbor (Phil. 2:5ff.).toward your neighbor (Phil. 2:5ff.).

Philippians 2:5 (NASB)Philippians 2:5 (NASB)

Have this attitude in yourselves Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.which was also in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:2 (NASB)Ephesians 5:2 (NASB)

and and walk in love, walk in love, just asjust as Christ also Christ also loved youloved you, and gave Himself up for , and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.God as a fragrant aroma.

Preparing Your Heart for Preparing Your Heart for Judgment Day Judgment Day

Requires Loving Your Requires Loving Your Neighbor As Yourself!Neighbor As Yourself!

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NKJV)1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NKJV)

12 And may the Lord make you 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one increase and abound in love to one another and to allanother and to all, just as we do to , just as we do to you, 13 you, 13 so thatso that He may establish your He may establish your heartshearts blameless in holiness before blameless in holiness before our God and Father our God and Father at the coming of at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christour Lord Jesus Christ with all His with all His saints.saints.