The Law of Love

Verse of the Week

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14 NKJV)

February 8^th – 14^th

Scripture Reading: Mathew 5:43-44 

The Law of L♥ve

You’ve more than likely heard the phrase “love your neighbor as yourself” and thought it was a command that Jesus taught to the disciples.  Well, that would be right, but it wasn’t the first time God spoke these words and it wasn’t just for them. 

Originally the Law of Loving our neighbors was given to the Israelites under the Mosaic Law.  However, this little phrase has been quoted at least eight times throughout scripture in both the Old and New Testaments. 

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”  (Leviticus 19:18 NKJV)

At first the Jewish religious teachers believed this meant if we are to love our neighbors, we were also to hate our enemies.  This teaching wasn’t exactly correct, because Jesus taught the opposite in Matthew 5:43-44.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Mathew 5:43-44 NKJV)

Loving our neighbors and enemies as Christ loved us is how followers of Jesus are to live their lives on a daily basis.  In knowing this, as you practice the law of love through kindness and giving, be sure to extend it beyond your neighbors by loving your enemies as Christ loved. (cw)

Additional references: 

Leviticus 19:18; Mathew 22:39; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8

February 8^th – 14^th Daily Bible Reading

8) Hebrews 4-6; Genesis 49-50

9) Exodus 1-2; Psalm 39-40

10) Exodus 3-4; Psalm 41

11) Hebrews 7-8; Exodus 5-6

12) Hebrews 9; Exodus 7-8

13) Exodus 9-10; Proverbs 1-3

14) Hebrews 10; Exodus 11-12

*Also be sure to read a Proverb a day. 

Daily Readings are designed to read through the entire Bible in one year. 

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Copyright SOFFY Ministries/Pastor Cher. Do Not Copy.  Photo credit by SOFFY Ministries unless otherwise noted. This artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Scripture from the KJV/NKJV of the Bible unless noted. Scripture from: Bible Gateway. Image

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