Love Thy Neighbor: It’s At The Core Of Our Christian Faith

“Love thy neighbor” is one of the most well-known phrases in the Bible. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Some people think that loving their neighbor means being nice to them, or doing good deeds for them. But the biblical definition of neighbor is much broader than that.

A neighbor is anyone we come in contact with, whether it be a family member, a co-worker, or a stranger on the street. The Bible tells us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). This means that we are to care for them, just as we would want to be cared for. We are to put their needs above our own, just as we would want our needs to be put above theirs.

The Bible also tells us that loving our neighbor is the second greatest commandment, after loving God (Matthew 22:39). This means that it is of utmost importance to our Christian faith. It is not something that we can choose to do or not do. It is a commandment that we must obey.

When we love our neighbor, we are fulfilling one of the most basic requirements of our faith. We are following the commands of Christ and showing others the love of God.