The Jews lived by the commands of the Mosaic law. One of the teachings was “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” However, the Jews misapplied this beautiful verse as a discriminatory excuse.
It would be helpful to clarify who their neighbor was. The law that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:43-44 was from Leviticus 19:15-18 (please take time to read it). From this passage, it seems that the neighbor being referred to was their own Jewish people. Those who were not their own people were not expected to be loved, especially those who went against Israel and even captivated them. This is why the Israelites also hated tax collectors, as they were fellow Jews working for the government, making it more difficult for their countrymen to make a decent living.
But there are two things the Jews failed to understand. The first is that it was never God’s intention for His people to hate those outside of their community. How do we know? Because just a few verses later in Leviticus 19, we read: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev 19:33-34)
How should a stranger be treated? “As the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself.” There was no command to hate anywhere in Scripture; rather, there was a command to love everyone in this world. A love that is reflective of God’s nature, which, of course, does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. A love that stands in contrast to the world’s definition of love, yet is genuine, pure, and real. A love that longs to redeem people despite the wickedness received from them.
God says to love them as yourself. As a follower of Christ, loving yourself means submitting to Christ, for He is our joy and satisfaction. This kind of love is what we want others to experience as well—that they know Jesus Christ is Lord and that true love, joy, satisfaction, and comfort can only be found in Him who gave life.
Next week, we’ll explore the other truth the Jews failed to understand, which challenges and encourages us to apply.
