A Deep Dive into Neighborly Love: The Heart of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:39)

What is neighborly love?

Neighborly love, exemplified by the Good Samaritan’s selfless actions in Luke 10:33, is a foundational biblical principle emphasizing care for others without regard to social boundaries.

This concept is first codified in Leviticus 19:18, where it commands, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' establishing a moral baseline for ethical living. Jesus elevates this teaching by redefining 'neighbor' in Luke 10:25-37, challenging listeners to extend compassion beyond ethnic or cultural lines. The parable’s Samaritan, traditionally viewed as an enemy by Jews, becomes the model of this radical love, illustrating that neighborly love transcends societal divisions.

Leviticus 19:18’s command serves as a cornerstone of Jewish law, later crystallized by Jesus as part of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:39). The Good Samaritan story in Luke 10:33, where the Samaritan tends to a wounded stranger, provides a tangible example of this love in action. These passages collectively underscore that neighborly love is not passive but demands active, tangible compassion. This theological foundation invites believers to embody such love in their communities, setting a precedent for subsequent Christian social ethics.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan and Neighborly Love

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus redefines 'neighbor' through a radical act of cross-cultural compassion in Luke 10:33-37.

Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question about inheriting Eternal life by narrating a story where a Samaritan—despite Jewish-Samaritan hostility—stops to help a robbed and beaten Jew, contrasting with the indifferent Priest and Levite. The Samaritan binds the man’s wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care, illustrating that neighborly love transcends ethnic, religious, and social boundaries. By asking, 'Which of these three proved to be a neighbor?' (Luke 10:36), Jesus reframes 'neighbor' not as a geographical or relational term but as anyone in need who demands active mercy. This redefinition dismantles exclusionary definitions of 'neighbor' rooted in cultural proximity or familiarity.

The parable challenges listeners to recognize that love for neighbors is not passive sentiment but a call to tangible, self-sacrificial action. By elevating a Samaritan—a figure despised by Jews—as the model of neighborly love, Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of Legalistic piety and expands the ethical scope of Leviticus 19:18 ('Love your neighbor as yourself'). This theological shift invites believers to embody a love that defies societal divisions, setting a precedent for Christian social responsibility and ethical engagement.

Neighborly Love in the Great Commandment

Jesus' teaching on neighborly love culminates in the Great Commandment, where he unites love for God with love for others as the dual foundation of ethical living.

In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus synthesizes Leviticus 19:18 by declaring, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart... and love your neighbor as yourself,' framing these two commandments as inseparable. This synthesis reframes neighborly love not as a standalone moral duty but as an extension of devotion to God, implying that true love for others flows from a transformed heart oriented toward divine love. By linking these commands, Jesus underscores that ethical living cannot be divorced from Spiritual orientation.

The Great Commandment redefines 'neighbor' as anyone in need, transcending cultural or social boundaries—a concept vividly illustrated by the Samaritan in Luke 10. Leviticus 19:18's 'love your neighbor as yourself' gains new depth when paired with Jesus' demand to love God first, suggesting that Self-love (understood as healthy care for one's well-being) becomes the standard for how believers should care for others. This dual commandment challenges passive benevolence, demanding active compassion that mirrors God's own love. By elevating neighborly love as a cornerstone of the law (Matthew 22:39), Jesus establishes a theological framework where love for others is not optional but constitutive of a faithful life, setting the stage for later Christian ethics on social responsibility.

Neighborly Love as a Theological Mirror

Neighborly love, as reframed in Scripture, becomes a mirror reflecting God’s character and a challenge to human self-limiting definitions of community.

Micah 6:8 declares, 'He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,' positioning neighborly love as a tangible expression of divine justice and humility. This contrasts with the Pharisees’ legalistic approach, where 'neighbor' was a term to be narrowly defined and selectively applied.

Jesus’ encounter with the lawyer in Luke 10:25-26 exposes this tension: when asked 'Who is my neighbor?', the Pharisees’ answer would have hinged on cultural and religious boundaries. Instead, Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) redefines 'neighbor' as anyone in need, regardless of social or ethnic status. By quoting Micah’s ethos of active mercy, Jesus critiques exclusionary piety and demands that love for neighbors—rooted in God’s own character—transcend human categories. This redefinition challenges believers to see neighborly love not as a passive obligation but as a radical participation in God’s justice and compassion, requiring intentional disruption of self-imposed divisions.

Why neighborly love Matters Today

Neighborly love, as exemplified in Luke 10:33 by the Samaritan’s selfless aid to a wounded stranger, remains a radical call to action in addressing modern societal challenges.

This biblical model of inclusivity directly informs contemporary efforts in Social justice, where marginalized groups often require compassionate intervention beyond cultural or political divides. In refugee crises, for instance, the Samaritan’s example challenges nations to prioritize Human dignity over border politics, offering tangible resources to those in need. Similarly, community service initiatives rooted in neighborly love seek to dismantle systemic neglect by treating every individual as a ‘neighbor’ deserving of care, regardless of background.

By embracing Luke 10:33’s ethos, believers are equipped to confront exclusionary attitudes and foster justice in fractured societies. This principle bridges theological reflection with urgent ethical practice, preparing readers to explore its implications in specific historical and cultural contexts.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of neighborly love, consider its connections to the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ teachings on mercy, and Paul’s exhortations in Galatians 5:13-14.

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:7—'Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy'—highlights mercy as essential to neighborly love, while Paul in Galatians 5:14—'For the entire law is fulfilled in one word: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”'—connects this principle to the broader law. How can you balance self-care with the call to love others sacrificially in your own life?