The concept of who qualifies as one’s “neighbor” comes up several times in the Bible, most famously in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37. In this parable, Jesus challenges the common assumption that “neighbor” refers only to those who are nearby or similar to us. Through the actions of the Samaritan who helps a wounded man on the road, Jesus shows that our neighbor is anyone in need whom God places in our path, even those rejected by society.
Some key principles we can draw about who our neighbor is from Scripture include:
- Our neighbor is anyone created in God’s image. The Bible teaches that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and are thus worthy of love and respect.
- Our neighbor does not have to be someone we know. As the parable of the Good Samaritan shows, a stranger or even an enemy can be a neighbor to us if they are in need.
- Our neighbor is anyone God directs us to care for. Scripture is full of instructions to care for the poor, oppressed, widowed, orphaned and imprisoned (Isaiah 1:17, Matthew 25:35-40). Anyone who falls into these categories is our neighbor.
- Our neighbor is not limited by nationality, race, class or religion. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to challenge prejudice. Samaritans were despised by Jews, yet the Samaritan acted as a neighbor while the religious elite did not.
- Our neighbor may be someone considered an enemy. Jesus told us to “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:43-48). Even those who hurt or oppose us are still made in God’s image and should be treated as neighbors.
- Our neighbor is anyone we are in a position to serve. Being a neighbor involves action. The Samaritan served the wounded man though he was a stranger. We are called to serve anyone God places in our path with a need.
The Bible both expands and challenges our idea of who qualifies as a neighbor. While we often limit our sense of neighbor to those closest to us, Jesus calls us to look through His eyes and see all people as our neighbors. As 1 John 4:20 (ESV) states: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Our love for God is directly tied to love for even the most unlikely neighbor.
Old Testament Teaching on Neighbors
The concept of who is a “neighbor” appears numerous times in the Old Testament, laying a foundation for Jesus’ teaching that a neighbor is anyone in need. Specific Old Testament principles about neighbors include:
- Neighbors should be loved. Leviticus 19:18 (ESV) commands God’s people to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Neighbors should be protected from harm. Exodus 20:16-17 forbids bearing false witness or coveting anything that belongs to a neighbor.
- Neighbors should be given compassion. Job 16:21 (ESV) presents Job as saying “that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!” Job desired someone to intercede for him in his suffering.
- Neighbors should not be mistreated. Jeremiah 22:13 (ESV) condemns King Jehoiakim for oppressing his neighbors to build his palace.
- Neighbors include foreigners. The Israelites were commanded not to oppress foreigners living among them, considering them as neighbors (Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9).
From these and other verses, we see the Old Testament foundation for Jesus’ teaching that loving one’s neighbor is second only to loving God (Matthew 22:36-40). The command to love neighbors is lived out by protecting, caring for, and not oppressing anyone in one’s community.
Jesus Radically Expands the Definition of “Neighbor”
While the Old Testament establishes the importance of loving one’s neighbor, Jesus takes the concept even further. In His parables and interactions, Jesus makes it clear our neighbor is not just those living nearby who are similar to us. He teaches our neighbor is anyone God places in our path who is in need. Three key examples are:
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) – Jesus tells this famous story to expand the definition of “neighbor” after a legal expert seeks to limit it. The hero is a Samaritan caring for a Jewish man, groups who were hostile to each other. Jesus concludes the one who showed mercy was a neighbor. Ethnicity or proximity do not limit who our neighbors can be.
- Healing of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19) – Jesus heals ten lepers near a village on the border of Galilee and Samaria. Only one, a Samaritan, returns to thank Him. Jesus emphasizes the Samaritan – a despised foreigner – demonstrated being a neighbor in his gratitude.
- The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) – Jesus teaches we encounter Him through those in need. By caring for the hungry, imprisoned, sick or stranger, we serve Jesus. Our neighbors include anyone vulnerable or marginalized.
Jesus consistently looks past social barriers to teach the scope of neighborly love. He makes it clear our responsibility is to care for whoever God places in our path, not just those closest to us. Loving our neighbor knows no limits of race, class, religion or nationality.
How Scripture Defines Who is Not My Neighbor
While Jesus powerfully expands the definition of neighbor to include anyone in need, Scripture also teaches there are certain people who should not be considered our neighbors. Three clear examples are:
- Unbelievers – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV) states: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” While we should show kindness to unbelievers, intimate relationships and spiritual partnership with them is unwise (see also 1 Corinthians 15:33).
- False Teachers – Romans 16:17 (ESV) warns to “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” While we should gently correct false teachers, those who persist in false doctrine are not neighbors to partner with.
- The Sexually Immoral – 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 (ESV) instructs us not to associate with a self-professing brother or sister involved in sexual sin and other behaviors that reflect unrepentant wickedness. Loving concern should motivate withdrawing from close relationships in order to prompt repentance, not compromise.
Scripture presents a nuanced perspective on neighborly relations. While we are to care for anyone in need, intimate fellowship and partnerships in ministry should be limited to those whose lives evidence salvation and obedient faith.
Practical Ways to Love Your Neighbor
Scripture makes it clear our neighbor is anyone God places in our lives who is in need. But how can we live this out? Here are some key ways we can actively love our neighbors:
- Look for opportunities to serve. Loving our neighbor starts with an outlook of service. We should regularly ask God to show us ways we can help and care for those around us, both near and far (Mark 10:45).
- Meet pressing physical needs. From the Good Samaritan to Jesus’ own ministry, loving our neighbor often starts by alleviating urgent sufferings caused by poverty, disasters, injuries, pandemics and other hardships of life (Matthew 25:35-36).
- Foster relationships. Relationships help us better understand others and their needs. Make time for neighbors, co-workers and even strangers – get to know their stories (Luke 10:29-37).
- Speak up for and defend others. Loving our neighbor sometimes means advocating for the vulnerable. Speak against injustice and use any influence you have to protect the poor and marginalized (Proverbs 31:8-9).
- Share the gospel. While physical needs matter, the greatest act of love is to share the message of salvation. Tell neighbors about the hope found only in Jesus (Romans 10:14-15).
- Pray for others. Bring needs of neighbors before God’s throne. Ask for opportunities to demonstrate His love and pray that their hearts will be open to receive it (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
There are so many ways we can actively love those God places in our lives. As we do, we fulfill the second greatest commandment and participate in Kingdom work.
Challenges to Loving Our Neighbors
While Scripture clearly defines our neighbor as anyone in need, putting this into practice can be very challenging at times. Some of the key hurdles that may hinder us from proper neighbor-love include:
- Prejudice. Sinful prejudice based on race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status or other factors can distort our view of others as neighbors. We are called to love inclusively (Luke 10:25-37).
- Selective concern. It’s easy to pick and choose who to care about. But Jesus calls us to show mercy to all in need – even perceived “enemies” like the Samaritans (Luke 6:27-36).
- Self-absorption. Becoming consumed with our own lives and agendas makes us oblivious to the needs of others. Loving neighbors requires looking beyond ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4).
- Judgmental attitudes. Harshly judging others as unworthy of care because of sin struggles or bad choices. But we are all sinners saved by grace (John 8:7-11).
- Spiritual apathy. Growing spiritually cold dulls our sense of compassion. We must actively cultivate God’s love in our hearts (Matthew 24:12).
- Weariness. Compassion fatigue from seeking to help so many in need can discourage us. Relying on God’s strength is key (Galatians 6:9-10).
Part of humbly walking with God is acknowledging the tendencies in our hearts that can inhibit proper neighbor love. As we grow spiritually, we become more discerning and wise in how we think of and care for others around us.
How Loving Our Neighbor Fulfills the Law
When asked about the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replied to love God and love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40, ESV). He indicated all the Law and Prophets hang on these two commands. Loving our neighbors fulfills the Law in several important ways:
- It aligns us with God’s character. God’s very nature is loving and compassionate towards humanity (1 John 4:8). Loving neighbors reflects His heart.
- It expresses our love for God. Loving others demonstrates our love for God, since caring for what He values expresses devotion to Him (1 John 4:20).
- It witnesses to God’s Kingdom. Our self-sacrificial service bears witness to the power of the gospel that has transformed our hearts to be servants rather than selfish (Matthew 5:16).
- It blesses human flourishing. Love promotes human dignity, justice, kindness and mercy. It contributes to the wellbeing of God’s creation (Micah 6:8).
- It fulfills specific commands. Numerous commands like do not murder, steal or covet are fulfilled when we love neighbors as ourselves (Romans 13:8-10).
Loving our neighbor goes hand-in-hand with a genuine love for God. It expresses obedience to Christ’s teachings and furthers gospel witness. This is why loving others fulfills the essence of God’s law.
Neighborly Love Reflects God’s Love
The Bible’s teaching on loving our neighbor provides a powerful model for what God’s love looks like in action. As 1 John 4:11 (ESV) states: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Key principles we see include:
- Inclusive Scope. God’s love reaches out to all people, not just those like Him or who love Him back (John 3:16). Our love should have a similar global scope.
- Self-Sacrificing Concern. God’s love motivated Him to send Jesus to suffer and die for us. We follow Christ’s model of self-emptying concern for others (Philippians 2:1-8).
- Merciful Grace. While we were still sinners, God showed us mercy. Our love should reflect His grace to those who least deserve it (Ephesians 2:1-5).
- Restorative Purpose. God’s love aims to redeem, heal and restore broken people and relationships. Our love should work toward similar ends by God’s power (Isaiah 61:1-4).
- Costly Commitment. Loving others requires sacrificing our comforts, time, rights and resources. God’s love for us cost Him tremendously (1 John 3:16).
As God’s ambassadors, our neighborly love should be modeled after His perfect love. What an honor that He would call us to participate in His redemptive work through loving others.
Key Bible Verses about Loving Your Neighbor
Here are some of the most insightful Bible verses that help summarize what Scripture teaches about who is our neighbor and what it means to love them:
- “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18
- “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10
- “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
- “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:13
- “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear… We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar.” 1 John 4:18-20
- “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
These and so many other verses help expand our vision for who is our neighbor and how God calls us to sacrificially care for and identify with those around us. They present neighborly love as core to the Christian life.
Loving Our Neighbor Demonstrates God’s Love
The Bible’s teaching on who our neighbor is and what neighborly love entails provides incredible insight into living out our faith. Most importantly, it reminds us that demonstrating selfless concern for those God places in our lives is foundational to obeying His commands and bearing witness to the gospel.
While the world teaches self-centeredness, God calls us to live counterculturally by His Kingdom priorities. The type of radical neighborly love Jesus modeled expresses God’s heart of compassion. It testifies to His power to save and transform even the most selfish hearts. Our willingness to lay down our rights and love the unlovable demonstrates we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:34-35).
So ultimately, our unique ability as followers of Jesus to love all neighbors, even enemies, displays God’s amazing grace. It shows His love can triumph over hatred, prejudice and apathy. As we grow in caring for each person God sovereignly places in our lives, we proclaim His redemptive purposes. This brings Him glory as others see His patient, kind, merciful and boundless love manifest through our actions. They encounter the living God through watching His people joyfully give of themselves to serve any and all neighbors.