“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18
The command to love our neighbor as we love ourselves is rooted in the very nature of God. God is love. God is just. God is kind. God is gracious. God is merciful. Because He is those things toward us, we must be those things toward others. All others.
God created those around us in His image. Therefore we’re called to love them as He does and to love them every bit as much as we love ourselves. There shouldn’t be a keeping of score or carrying of grudges amongst God’s people. As those loved and forgiven by God through faith in Jesus Christ, we must be quick to let go of our anger and reject all bitterness.
Leviticus 19 more generally paints a picture of what’s expected of us in our relationships with all our neighbors. That includes intentional and costly concern and provision for the poor. It includes honesty and integrity in every situation, public and private. It includes the pursuit of justice for all in our society, regardless of social standing. It includes fair and generous treatment of employees. It includes care for and inclusion of those from other nations living among us.
The command to love our neighbors is comprehensive. We truly are to love them as we care for ourselves in every regard. Likewise, as Jesus made clear, we don’t get to pick and choose our neighbors. They are anyone in need whom we encounter and all those who surround us, whether they’re like us or quite different.