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Love Your Neighbors as Yourself, NOT Everyone!

 

 

Loving Everyone as Ourselves is Not Scriptural!

 

It is commonly believed, and especially among Christians that, we should love everyone as ourselves. However, this is a big misunderstanding, and clearly NOT what the Bible says. Let us take a look at the Scripture:

 

(Jesus said) "The second (greatest commandment) is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

 

The Bible says, Love our NEIGHBOR, Not Everyone! And the word "neighbor" is defined clearly in the following parable:

 

 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

 

But he (a lawyer), desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."  ~ Luke 10:29-37

 

 

So, Who is Our Neighbor?

 

From the above parable, the PRIEST was a kinsman of the man ("going down that road" from Jerusalem to Jericho) and someone who has responsibility to care for their Jewish congregation, but he is NOT a neighbor!

 

LEVITES are supposed to be familiar with God's Laws, but he who has "head knowledge" is also NOT a neighbor!

 

Jesus shows us that the most important is the heart! It is the one who has compassion on us and shows mercy to us who is our neighbor! In other words, we should love those who have compassion on us as ourselves, and NOT just everyone!

 

 

Why is Compassion so Important?

 

The Bible tells us that all LOVE is from God! Everyone who has compassion, whether or not he or she has heard the Gospel, is born of God and is therefore our family and our neighbor!

 

"Love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." ~ 1 John 4:7

 

For people who do not have compassion at all, I would suggest to be very careful. Most of them show kindness only when they want to obtain some kind of benefits, and would not hesitate to betray anyone for his or her own gains. We must NOT be deceived by their titles, professions, their words, or even kinship or social relationship to us.

 

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:20

 

 

So, How Should We Treat Non-Neighbors?

 

Does it mean we should hate or ignore non-neighbors? No! The Bible taught us that we should love even our enemies! Why? Because our Father is kind even to the unthankful and the evil. However, we must discern that they are "enemies", "the evil", and "the unthankful", and NOT our neighbors!

 

But I (Jesus) say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you ..... do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6:27-35

 

 

Practise Discernment in Perilous Times!

 

I believe we are living in perilous times as prophesied in the Bible, and we must therefore practise discernment. As Jesus has taught us, we are going out to the world as "sheep in the midst of wolves". Therefore, we must be "wise and serpents", and yet "harmless as doves".

 

"Behold, I (Jesus) send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16

 

 

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