What, EXACTLY did Christ mean when he said "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR".???

Question

Seems like a lot of Christians have a lot of judgement going on againt their neighbors.

Answer 1

I thought it was "Love thy neighbor, But don't get caught". Oh well live and learn.

Answer 2

It is true that some "Christians" treat their neighbors in an unchristian manner. These people are not true Christians.

English is a weak language for talking about different kinds of love. The Greek of the New Testament is much better:
+ Eros: Romantic love
+ Philia: Brotherly (or sisterly) love
+ Storge: Parental love
+ Agape: Godly love

Eros and philia are based on emotions and storge is almost an instinct.

But Agape is a decision to wish for the best for someone.

Christians are commanded to love (agape) their neighbors and enemies. This does not mean we have to like them or approve of their actions.

This love (agape) is almost impossible to do without God's help.

Do you love (agape) the terrorists who flew airplanes into the World Trade Center?

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

That's a 2-fold question. You are asking about what Jesus meant, but in reality I believe your asking why christians don't obey.

Since others, including yourself can find the 1st part easy, I will answer the 2nd part which I believe is what you really want to know.

We are all born sinners except for Jesus, despite what Catholics say, Mary was a sinner too. Christian still have sin in them, and therefore they fail miserably at times.

We should not judge God or the Bible based upon the failures of men. Including christians.

I wrote a page on why and how the church has failed, and it may help answer some of these question:

http://www.kingdom-gospel.com/churchfail.html

Answer 4

I like the mini-sermon by Bruce and would add only one point.

There is a distinction between being judgmental and being discerning. Judgmental is a bad idea because you are putting yourself in the place of God who is the Judge not you. This is not to say that we are to be blind to right and wrong! Judgments about how one is to behave are absolutely essential, particularly in this "anything goes" world that we live in today. And sharing those kind of judgments is (or at least can be) a loving thing to do. Actually condemning people is where the line is crossed.

Extreme caution is advised. What is spoken as a loving warning is likely to be heard as judgmental. One should never try to correct someone, even your own children, lightly.

Answer 5

Christians are not perfect. We all have a sinful nature, and judging people is wrong. So is lying, gossiping and thinking lustful thoughts, etc. Yes, Jesus does want us to love our neighbor and this is sometimes one of the hardest things to do. But as long as the Holy Spirit works through us, He gives us that ability. Our neighbor may not become our best buddy in that loving sense of the word, but we can "love" them by showing them compassion. May we all strive to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Answer 6

Luke 10:25ff tells of a dialogue between Jesus and an expert in the law.

"Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

And in response, Jesus told the wonderful story of a good Samaritan who helped a robbery victim. A Samaritan was not a purebred Jew, nor a person who kept the law. By analogy, we might think of a small, swarthy Mexican laborer toiling in some restaurant kitchen.

But this Samaritan showed what it meant to love a neighbor as himself. He picked up a complete stranger and bandaged his wounds, treating them with the best medicine he had.

Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn. He nursed him all that day. When he had to leave, he paid the innkeeper to look after him, and he promised to reimburse the innkeeper for feeding and housing the injured man.

THAT'S what it means to love your neighbor.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 7

He meant exactly what He said "Love your neighbor *as yourself*" Mark 12:31 (emphasis added) Truth be told, the Christians on here who judge and/or are generally hateful likely feel the same ways about themselves. It is not right, but it seems to be reality.

Answer 8

BE THAT KIND OF PERSON

Gal:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Rom.13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Matt.10:34-38; IT DOES NOT MEAN ALL CARE FOR YOU.

2Tim.3:1-7; SOME YOU JUST TURN OVER TO GOD.

Answer 9

I think he meant 'love your neighbor'. I think he told a little story about who your neighbor might be too.

Answer 10

The meaning behind it is "love your neighbor as you already love yourself. "

because,