Like Our Father

Jesus brings this commandment forward, Matthew 22:39: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Why? Because God said, I am the LORD your God, Leviticus 19:18

The context of Jesus’ quote of Leviticus 19:18 is helpful. He is answering questions from those who oppose Him. First, the Pharisees regarding paying taxes to Caesar, verses 15 thru 22. Then the Sadducees regarding the resurrection, verses 23 thru 33. Then from the Pharisees again regarding the great commandment of the law, verses 34 thru 39. 

Matthew notes that it was a lawyer of the Pharisees who asked the question, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Verse 36. A lawyer in the days of Jesus was a person considered to be an expert of the Mosaic Law. 

In His sermon on the mount, Matthew 5, Jesus often began with, “You have heard that it was said to those of old…” It appears Jesus is correcting what people have been told. One of those statements is in Verse 43: You have it that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 

Scholars speculate where this false statement came from. Some think it came from the Essenes because of documents discovered with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Josephus wrote of the Essenes and their vow to love each other and hate their enemies.  It appears this idea was being taught even during the days of Jesus. A false idea Jesus is correcting.

We notice in Matthew, chapter 5 how Jesus refers to His Father, and theirs, as to the correct way to treat people. Verse 45: that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. We are to be like our Father in heaven. Like our Father, we are to show mercy and kindness and love on everyone; not just our friends.