25/08/2026
Jesus said " Love thy neighbour as thy self " in Matthew 22:37-39. And in Mark 12:31.It is the greatest of commandments...as we all know..and preach in several sermons.
God our Father , several years ago said the same lines in a different way! In Leviticus 19:18 . You shall not take revenge, or bear a grudge,against the sons of your own people,but you shall love your neighbor as thy self ! I AM THE LORD..
IN ROMANS, 13: 8-10 Paul sums up this line like " Owe no one any thing except to love each other,for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments" You shall not committ adultery,you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet" are summed up in this word " You shall love your neighbor as yourself,therefore love is fulfilling of the law. .
Well..,so far so good 😊. Confusion started when Jesus said these lines to a clever lawyer in the Gospel of Luke..,(10:25-30) .The lawyer, knew this law ,rather perfectly , but to justify himself( whatever that means) ,questions "And who is my neighbour"? ( Ha ha😊 forgive me guys ..I am exasperated!! ) ? But Jesus came up with a beautiful parable of Good Samaritan so patiently ... Love you Jesus!
Story is much too familiar to all of us !! Not going into detail..
Three things..are made clear here .Love thine enemy, any one is your neighbour.! A Jew and a Samaritan ..not bosom friends, Jew had an attitude,but beaten up by thrives , Samaritan, considered an enemy by the jew , a passer by, humbles himself to dress his wounds with (Oil and Wine are costly then and now too) , ,goes out of way to spend his own little bit of money, carries him, giving him time, to be with him , while others look the other way ...
Jesus catches us red handed here ! ...To say " ayyo" is not love...To get involved to some unknown troubled person is Love..To spend some time for them is Love.To show mercy is Love ..
I remember Our beloved PASTOR RAJA HEBEL donating 50K to an unknown person suffering from post Covid deadly fungal infection, sustaining several peripheral unknown Pastors ,for several months during those difficult days with the help of other like minded grateful to God people ! And the only one to come home and pray for my sick husband , While others said just "Ayyoo". So....
Love Thy neighbour is not a confusing ,difficult line .. It's just one's nature ,which takes after Jesus Christ 's. " My yoke is easy , my burden is light" That comes easy if we trust Jesus and read His Word and decide to obey ..
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