Last night we looked at what Jesus calls the second greatest commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Since most of the study was group discussion, the notes are sparse, but here they are, with the scripture references and questions we discussed:
Matthew 22:37-40 What might most people think the “Second” commandment means? What do you think it means?
Romans 13:8-10 How does Paul’s use of this commandment add to or change your thought about what it means?
Leviticus 19:1-16 The theme of Leviticus 19: “Be Holy for I am Holy” (v.2) How should we do this? The answer given in v. 1-16 fall in to these categories: devout worship, honesty, integrity, justice, charity, love
v.3 Revere parents
v.4-8 Remain loyal to God (no idols, acceptable offerings, worship from the heart)
v.9-10 Care for the Poor
v.11-12 Honesty to others
v.13-14 Don’t exploit others
v.15-16 live justly with others
Notice, Leviticus 19:17-18 is 1 big commandment: “Don’t hate (v.17), but do love (v.19).”
In between these two halves are four details:
1. “reason frankly with” or “rebuke” your neighbor
2. Don’t incur sin from others
3. don’t take revenge
4. don’t hold a grudge
How does v. 17-18 relate to v 1-16?
What do each of the four things in between “hate” and “love” tell you about this commandment to love your neighbor?
So how does all of this deepen, expand, and shape what we see Jesus means when Jesus tells us to love our neighbor?
Summing this up: In Leviticus we see that to “love your neighbor” is to see yourself as part of a community in such a way that you feel impacted and involved by what is happening around you. So you not only care for people materially, when they are overtaken by physical hardship (Luke 10:25-37), but you also talk with them when their sin will bring pain on them. You understand their sin affects the whole community, so you don’t incur sin on yourself by refusing to care about what’s happening in your community. You won’t get bitter or seek revenge, but you will talk openly to people in ways that will help them escape sin and it’s consequences. (see Romans 12:9-21, 13:8-14).
How different this bigger view of love is than what might usually pass for “loving your neighbor” in our wider culture.