Who is our neighbor?
When Jesus said to “love our neighbors as thyself” what did He mean? Is it
even possible to do that? Is there a change in each one of us that has to
take place before it can be accomplished in our lives or does it just come
naturally? I will try to answer these questions in this short letter from
God’s Word and not by my opinions or thoughts Our opinions about what
God’s Word is saying mean nothing unless they are in sync with His Word,
the Bible.
A lawyer in Jesus’ day asked Jesus the following question: “Master, which
is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets., Matthew 22:36-40,
First of all, if you and I are COMMANDED to love our “neighbor” as
ourselves then we need to know the answer to that question, “who is our
neighbor” so we know who to love? This should be a very simple answer
that all of us who live and breath on planet earth, right? Here are several
definitions from the Noah Webster 1828 English Dictionary:
NEIGHBOR, noun:
1. One who lives near another. In large towns, a neighbor is one who lives
within a few doors. In the country, a neighbor may live at a greater
distance; and in new settlements, where the people are thinly scattered
over the country, a neighbor may be distant several miles. Such is the use
of the word in the United States.
2. One who lives in familiarity with another; a word of civility.
3. An intimate; a confidant.
4. A fellow being. Acts 7:1 .
5. One of the human races; any one that needs our help, or to whom we
have an opportunity of doing good.
6. A country that is nearby.
I think most of us would have said one or more of those definitions, right?
They are all correct but Jesus was going to take it even further and define
it by a story found in the Book of Luke chapter 10 and I think it will open
your eyes to what He really was saying about “love your neighbor as
thyself”. Here is the story:
“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my
neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his
raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by
chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him,
he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the
place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a
certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw
him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his
wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and
brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he
departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said
unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I
come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou,
was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Answer: So Jesus Himself says a “REAL” neighbor is one that helps
another man or woman in time of need!
How do we love our neighbors as ourselves?
Answer: Treat others in need of your help as you would want to be treated if you were in that situation.
A Personal Case In Point
My sons and I have tried to help many around the world with help physically with our Church’s Health Protocols which has helped hundreds of thousands and Spiritually with the Word of God as well. Why did we do that? First reason is because our Lord told us to do it. Secondly, we wouldwant someone to help us in times of physical or Spiritual need.
We have reaped what we sowed!
Many only think that Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” refers to reaping
from the bad we have done but it applies to the good we have done also!
So sow good! You won’t regret it. All through my life as a Pastor and Missionary serving the Lord I have
experienced with my family many, many great blessings from the Lord i.e.
we have reaped the good that with have done to others. Most recently,
we have reaped many blessings from the Lord while in prison unlawfully.
You say wait, you went to prison how could that be reaping a blessing?
Well, we have had the Lord take care of us and our families while in jail for
over 4 1/2 years! Also we have seen many, many men come to know the
Lord while being held hostage by this corrupt and weaponized DOJ and
BOP to the point that many men have told us after coming to the Lord
that God brought them to jail to hear the Gospel! That is a true blessing
my friends! If only one man came to know the Lord it would have been
worth it all – “Loving our Neighbors!” Today, I am still receiving e-mails
and letters telling me how they have benefitted and their families from
the work my sons and I did worldwide before being unlawfully kidnapped
and sentenced.
During the 4 ½ years of being held hostage, everyone of our needs and
many wants were supplied to almost the penny. Matthew 6:33 says, But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.” “All these things” in context are the
necessary things in life, like food, clothing and shelter. When the Lord
supplies above that we are truly blessed and should be continually
grateful and thankful many times a day. When you go to jail everyday is the same
except when you ask the Lord to guide your day and bring people in need
to you then things change eternally! “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of
God in him?”- 1 John 3:17 So, you can see that our real neighbors are those in need. So always be
alert and ready to help “our neighbors” as the Lord brings them to us. He
will bring them. I’ve got accustomed to asking the Lord first thing in the
morning to bring people to me each day. He has been doing that each day.
Obviously, the biggest need men have is the eternal; the need of salvation
so focus on that because it is eternal and that is what we need to focus on
and NOT the temporal.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal.”, 2Cor. 4:17&18
And is where the Power of God is found in the most important eternal
message we could tell our neighbor and that is the Gospel. The Death,
Burial and Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 15:1 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:, I Cor. 15:1-4
Be aware who are those that the Lord sends you to help each day. If you
ask the Lord, He will send you someone to help both physical but more
importantly Spiritually!
“Love your neighbor as yourself!”
Lord bless you all as you seek to serve the Lord with “all of your heart,
soul, mind and strength, Matthew 22:37-40
Bishop Mark of the Genesis2Church
Proverbs 3:5&6
NOTE: CLICK HERE to Listen to my interview with Mike Adams
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