If you were to ask a Jew in Jesus’ day what the greatest command of the law was, you would likely receive a variety of answers. Some might say the most important thing is consistent tithing, others might think about the many feasts to remember, and some might consider the dietary restrictions the most important command of the law to keep. However, when a Jewish lawyer asked Jesus this question, He told this man, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40). Jesus’ first response was likely not very shocking, as this was already a well-known and frequently memorized verse. Jesus’ second response, on the other hand, probably turned some heads in surprise. Was loving your neighbor really so important that the Law hung upon it?
Even more surprising to the Jews would be who Jesus considered to be their neighbors. When a man asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, he recognized that he needed to love the Lord God and love his neighbors. He then asked Jesus who his neighbors were, to which Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus taught this man that his neighbors were not exclusively other Jews but all people, even Samaritans.
So what does this mean for the New Testament Christian? Is the command to love your neighbor just as important, or was it just something for the Jews to be concerned about? James would say, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well” (Jas. 2:8). Paul, also speaking to Christians, writes, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:14). Truly, this command is just as important for a Christian as it was for a Jew. However, remembering Jesus’ words on who our neighbor is, how do we as Christians love those who are not Christians?
The Bible is clear that Christians are to do “good works” to all men (Tit. 3:8; Gal. 6:10). This is the work of the Church, which we might call “benevolence.” Such benevolence looks like helping widows and orphans (Jas. 1:27), providing and aiding those who are in need (Rom. 15:25, 26), and supplying what may be lacking (2 Cor. 8:14). As Paul shows the purpose of the Corinthians’ giving, he writes, “For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints…” but also, “…for your liberal sharing with them and all men” (2 Cor. 9:12, 13). There is Biblical authorization for the congregation to use its funds in order to help those in need and share with “all men.” Yes, we as Christians have an obligation to do good to those who are outside the faith, but is this the extent of our love?
If we want to know how to truly love our neighbor, we should look to Jesus as the perfect example. Jesus said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). When we consider the life of Jesus, His love for all who were around Him is undeniable, but His focus was on those who needed His help. Jesus was constantly surrounded by the sick because He had compassion on them and made them well (Matt. 14:14; Luke 4:18, 40). However, Jesus’ love for those around Him did not stop with meeting their physical needs. The Great Physician’s work was about treating their spiritual needs (Luke 5:31, 32). Yes, Jesus did many good works for those who were around Him, but the purpose of these good works was to bring them eternal life. When Jesus fed the five thousand, He told them the next day, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you…” (John 6:26, 27). Jesus’ purpose was not simply to provide for their hungering stomachs, but to satisfy their starving souls.
If we are to love our neighbors like Jesus, our benevolence must ultimately lead to evangelism. How can we truly love those outside the faith, knowing their spiritual condition, if we do nothing to bring them to the Great Physician? Paul had this as his motivation for his preaching, saying, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body; according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Cor. 5:10, 11). If the extent of our benevolence stops in the kitchen or with our wallets, we have failed to love like Jesus. The command to love our neighbors is not one to ignore, and, as we strive to follow Jesus’ example, let us always make it our aim to bring the lost to our loving and compassionate Savior!