Daily Devotional for Friday, April 18, 2025

Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

What Does “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself” Mean According to Scripture?

A Study of Matthew 22:39 and the Second Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:39 contains one of the most well-known yet frequently misunderstood commands in all of Scripture. In response to a challenge from the Pharisees and an expert in the Law, Jesus summarized the entirety of God’s moral expectation for mankind in two statements. He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” While the modern world often reduces this to vague humanism or social slogans, the true meaning of this command is deeply rooted in the Law of Moses, reaffirmed by Jesus, and expanded through New Testament teaching. It is not about sentimentality, and it is not left to personal definition. Rather, it is a moral imperative that flows from the revealed character of Jehovah, and it has concrete implications for how the faithful must live in obedience to God’s Word.

To understand Matthew 22:39 properly, the broader context must be considered. In Matthew 22:36–38, a Pharisee—described as a lawyer, or expert in the Law—asks Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” This was not a sincere question but part of an effort to test or trap Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees often debated which commandment was greatest, elevating certain parts of the Law over others. Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Then, without being asked for a second, He immediately adds:

“And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

This second command comes directly from Leviticus 19:18, which reads, “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 Jehovah.” Jesus is not introducing a new moral idea—He is affirming what was always God’s will.

The word “love” here is the Greek verb ἀγαπήσεις (agapēseis), from agapē, denoting a selfless, principled commitment to seek the good of another. This is not based on emotion, personal affection, or romantic attraction. It is volitional—an act of the will, rooted in moral duty and obedience to God’s command. Biblical love is always defined by truth, not personal preference. As Romans 13:10 says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” This command to love one’s neighbor is not optional or secondary—it is foundational to living as God requires.

The word neighbor in Matthew 22:39 must also be carefully understood. It is the Greek word πλησίον (plēsion), meaning one who is near or in proximity—any fellow human being within the sphere of one’s influence or interaction. While Leviticus 19 initially applies it within the covenant community of Israel, Jesus, in Luke 10:25–37, expands the application in the parable of the Good Samaritan, showing that one’s neighbor includes even those of different backgrounds, ethnicities, or societal standings. In that parable, the neighbor was not defined by who lives nearby or shares one’s religion—but by whoever needs mercy and can be helped through our action.

Thus, to “love your neighbor as yourself” does not mean to love others with the same affection or intensity with which one naturally loves oneself, but rather, to regard the needs and well-being of others with the same concern and intentionality that one typically applies to oneself. It is not a command to increase self-love—Scripture assumes that people already care for themselves (Ephesians 5:29)—but rather a call to turn that instinctive care outward in practical righteousness. Loving one’s neighbor is expressed not in vague emotional terms but through just action, truthful speech, patient dealing, and compassionate deeds.

It is also critical to note that loving others must never compromise obedience to God. The “second” commandment is just that—second. Jesus said in Matthew 22:38–39, “This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it…” The love of neighbor must flow from the love of God. No act of kindness or generosity can override obedience to God’s truth. Loving one’s neighbor does not mean affirming their sin, joining in their error, or compromising doctrine to maintain peace. As 2 John 6 says, “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments.” Any understanding of love that detaches it from God’s moral standards is a false love.

In practice, Matthew 22:39 demands a radical reorientation of how believers treat others in light of their relationship with God. It demands honesty in dealings (Leviticus 19:35–36), fairness in judgment (Exodus 23:2–3), compassion for the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11), forgiveness instead of vengeance (Leviticus 19:18), and truthfulness in speech (Zechariah 8:16–17). It also calls for a rejection of partiality and selfishness. As James 2:8–9 affirms, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin…”

Loving one’s neighbor also includes the responsibility to confront sin and promote righteousness. It is not loving to remain silent when a fellow human being is walking in rebellion against God. As Leviticus 19:17 commands in the same chapter from which this command originates: “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.” Silence in the face of sin is not love—it is neglect. The righteous are called to restore the erring, correct with gentleness, and urge repentance, always in accordance with God’s revealed truth (Galatians 6:1–2).

In a world that promotes tolerance as love and defines love as mere affirmation, Matthew 22:39 stands as a corrective. True love is not indulgence or emotional affirmation. It is the active pursuit of another’s spiritual and temporal good, guided by the objective standard of God’s Word. It means helping, speaking truthfully, acting justly, and serving humbly—even when it is uncomfortable or costs something. Love does not originate in human emotion—it flows from obedience to God and is demonstrated by action (1 John 3:18).

Furthermore, the two great commandments—loving God and loving neighbor—are not disconnected. Jesus says, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40). This means that every specific command given in the Law of Moses, and every instruction from the prophets, hangs upon these two principles. Loving God results in worship, fidelity, and obedience. Loving neighbor results in justice, kindness, and moral integrity. They are not in tension—they are two sides of the same coin. Obedience to God includes loving neighbor; and one cannot truly love others without first loving God.

In conclusion, Matthew 22:39 is not a vague or generic call to kindness—it is a divine mandate rooted in the Law and fulfilled in Christ, calling all who follow Him to reflect God’s character in how they treat others. It demands practical obedience, moral clarity, and sacrificial action, always guided by the truth of God’s Word. This love is not self-defined. It is shaped by the righteous standard of the Creator and revealed perfectly through the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. It does not replace the Law—it fulfills it through active obedience, visible righteousness, and holy living in community with others.

You May Also Enjoy

How Should Christians Respond When They Suffer Unjustly for Doing What Is Right?

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).