Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

The Second Table of the Law is summed as follows: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8]

Who is your neighbor? According to God’s Law, your neighbor is...

• the one you are to honor, serve, obey, and hold in love and esteem; [4th Commandment]
• the one you are to help and befriend in every bodily need; [5th Commandment]
• the one with whom you are to lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed; [6th Commandment]
• the one whose property and business you are to improve and protect; [7th Commandment]
• the one you are to defend, speak well of, and put the best construction on; and [8th Commandment]
• the one you are to help and serve. [9th & 10th Commandments]

Ultimately, everyone is a neighbor. But don’t forget that your neighbor has a real name and real needs. God has placed him in your path because he needs your mercy. By God’s grace, speak Christ to your neighbor and be Christ to your neighbor. Show him the mercy of Christ. Lead him to Christ’s good gifts in Word and Sacrament. And teach him that Christ alone loves His neighbor as Himself; He does this for you and me and all humanity.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [1 John 4:10]