“Love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

Biblical history tells us that the verse above is one of the Ten Commandments, but what does it really mean?  Who is my neighbor?  How do I define thyself?  What is “love” and where does it come from?  These are questions mankind has grappled with for centuries.  This article seeks to give 21^st century responses—responses based on the divine laws of God which have no beginning or ending.  First, it is essential to understand how the world defines neighbor.

Neighbor Defined

Merriam-Webster says a neighbor is “one living or located near another.”  Cambridge Dictionary gives a similar meaning as “someone who lives near you.”

What Did Jesus Say?

Nearness has many connotations (meanings). Jesus, the man this writer views as the greatest man who ever walked the face of the earth, gave a clear meaning of the word neighbor and nearness with an example.  He was speaking to a crowd of people, some believers and others, non-believers, when a non-believer challenged him with the question “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus responded with a story–a story describing a man assaulted and robbed by thieves and left to die by the “wayside.”  Two (2) so-called Christians came by and when they saw the man, passed by on the other side without helping him in anyway.  Then…a third man, whose heart was more spiritually directed, saw the wounded man, “bound up his wound,” placed him on his horse and took him to “the inn” (a rooming house) and took care of him.  And… when he was ready to continue his journey, gave money to the innkeeper to continue care of the man. 

Jesus asked the non-believer which person did he believe was a neighbor to the wounded man?  Even the non-believer had to agree it was the person who took care of the wounded man.  What is the message of Jesus?   He is emphasizing that a neighbor is anyone the spirit of God directs you to help, irrespective of where he lives or where he came from.  Jesus assisted and healed multitudes of people.  Some he knew, most he did not.  Why did he do that?  Because his concept of “neighbor” was “a child of God,” and that person had no specific name, color, ethnicity, race or location.  His dwelling place was in Spirit.  He did not have to ask, “Who is my neighbor?”  That understanding was always uppermost in thought.

The Human Concept of Neighbor

In the 21^st century, a neighbor is viewed as the person next door, community, town, state or country.  Connections are based on material elements such as beliefs, ideas, social behaviors and wealth—elements that are changeable.  These changes can cause friction, disagreements, violence and even war.  We need only turn on the TV or browse a cell phone in order to witness evidence of neighbor treatment.  Today, various parts of the world reveal neighboring countries “bombing’” each other.  In this country, it is not unusual to get a news report that “the man next door” killed his neighbor.  Where was “love thy neighbor as thyself?”

Who is Thyself?

Grasping the concept “thyself” is rooted in how one defines “self.”  A typical meaning of oneself refers to the person speaking, writing or doing something.  Humanly, a person loves himself more than others.  Often, he does things to others he would not wish done to him under any circumstances.  He loves himself too much!

 A book called Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures advocates a higher level of self.  It refers to the “One Self” as God.  This is the Self that Jesus alluded to in his parable.  He was saying, a neighbor is someone whom God created, and that creation is the “image and likeness” of God and loves God.  Therefore, you can and will love your neighbor as much as you love yourself because both of you are loved by God.  Expressing that Love, every man guided and directed by God, will act with love, compassion and empathy.

Mortal Man: Who is Your Neighbor?

What about the man who does not express the love of God?  The name for that man is mortal man—man made of “flesh and blood.”  Jesus made a distinction between the man of God and fleshly man when he said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3: 6). 

Mortal man sees and understands reality based on what his five (5) physical senses define as truth.  He has no spiritual understanding of love, compassion and kindness. He only loves what benefits himself.  So, he would see a wounded man and pass by on the other side.  Conversely, a man expressing the spiritual qualities of God, would care for a wounded man.  

As we listen and view some of our leaders today, what images are portrayed? What pictures are drawn on the thoughts of the mind? Are they pictures of “more than, less than, or sameness and equality?” Which mindset should leaders express? What leaders will you choose? Do you desire the leaders you choose, treat you “less than” others?

America Today

This decade, we have seen a diminishing of higher levels of thought by many leaders in America.  Instead of love we find hate, division instead of unity and destruction instead of construction.  Who are our neighbors?  How are we defining them?  Are they people of color, white, rich, poor, next door, miles away, less than, more than or spiritual ideas of God?  Let’s choose children of God!  Why?

Because it is only then can we see every person as “a neighbor,” a neighbor whose has the same rights as another; where money and power do not define us; and where we can use the divine qualities given to us to “form a more perfect union.”  That will be a day when we can look at each other and say conclusively, “I believe you truly are my neighbor!”