Love thy neighbour
This phrase originates predominantly out of the New Testament, yet it is one of the very foundational principles of church teaching and Christian doctrine. The purpose of this writing is to explore what exactly is written and why the topic is so controversial.
Where do we encounter this phrase?
Yahushua instructs his disciples to “love thy neighbor”
Mat5:43-44
43 Ye have heardG191 thatG3754 it hath been said,G4483 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbour,G4139 andG2532 hateG3404 thineG4675 enemy.G2190
44 ButG1161 IG1473 sayG3004 unto you,G5213 LoveG25 yourG5216 enemies,G2190 blessG2127 them that curseG2672 you,G5209 doG4160 goodG2573 to them that hateG3404 you,G5209 andG2532 prayG4336 forG5228 them which despitefully useG1908 you,G5209 andG2532 persecuteG1377 you;G5209
45 ThatG3704 ye may beG1096 the childrenG5207 of yourG5216 FatherG3962 whichG3588 is inG1722 heaven:G3772 forG3754 he maketh hisG848 sunG2246 to riseG393 onG1909 the evilG4190 andG2532 on the good,G18 andG2532 sendeth rainG1026 onG1909 the justG1342 andG2532 on the unjust.G94
46 ForG1063 ifG1437 ye loveG25 them which loveG25 you,G5209 whatG5101 rewardG3408 haveG2192 ye? doG4160 notG3780 evenG2532 theG3588 publicansG5057 theG3588 same?G846
47 AndG2532 ifG1437 ye saluteG782 yourG5216 brethrenG80 only,G3440 whatG5101 doG4160 ye moreG4053 than others? doG4160 notG3780 evenG2532 theG3588 publicansG5057 so?G3779
48 BeG2071 yeG5210 thereforeG3767 perfect,G5046 even asG5618 yourG5216 FatherG3962 whichG3588 is inG1722 heavenG3772 isG2076 perfect.G5046
What do we read about there? Yahushua comments on a topic that is relevant in some way, dealt with in a certain way by certain people towards certain other people. If we can deal with each of these elements separately, perhaps this will enable us to understand better.
Someone said something
1.) What is Yahushua referring to?
Right at the beginning of Mat5:43, he states that "Ye have heard that it has been said". Notice carefully how he does not reference a Prophet, Law or other Authority. He does not even reference a specific tradition, he simply references that "something is being said". Is this "being said" a teaching, an explanation or even gossip? The greek in this case is G4483 - ερρεθη - to utter, that is speak, or say.
Using this greek word "ερρεθη" and searching it in a greek bible, I have used ABP+, the word is used in several other contexts as follows:
1.1) Gen15:13 And he said (G2046-ερρεθη & H559 ויאמר ) unto Abram, know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.
1.2) 2Sa5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land which spake unto David, saying (G2046-ερρεθη & H559 ויאמר ), except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither, thinking David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion, the same is the City of David.
1.3) Hos1:10 Yet the number of the children off Yasharel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered, and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said (G2046-ερρεθη & H559 ויאמר ) unto them, Ye are the sons of the living Elohey.
1.4) Jon3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed (H2199 - announce or convene publicly - ויזעק ) and published (G2046-ερρεθη & H559 ויאמר ) through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying (G2046-ερρεθη & H559 ויאמר ), let neither man nor beast her nor flock, tase any thing. Let them not feed, nor drink water.
Other New Testament usage of the word:
1.5) Mat5:21-22 Ye have heard that it was said (G4483-ερρεθη) by them of old time, though shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement. But I say (G3004 - λεγω ) onto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement.
1.6) Mat5:27-28 Ye have heard that it was said (G4483-ερρεθη) by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say (G3004 - λεγω ) unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hat committed adultery with her.
1.7) Mat5:31-32 It hath been said (G4483-ερρεθη), whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say (G3004 - λεγω ) unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery. and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
1.8) Mat5:33-35 Again ye have heard that it hath been said (G4483-ερρεθη) by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself but shalt perform unto the supreme thine oaths. But I say (G3004 - λεγω ) onto you, swear not at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of Elohey, nor by the earth for it is his footstool.
1.9) Mat5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said(G4483-ερρεθη), an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say (G3004 - λεγω ) onto you, that ye resist not evil but whosoever shall mite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
1.10) Rom9:12 It was said (G4483-ερρεθη) unto her, the elder shall serve the younger.
1.11) Rom9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said (G4483-ερρεθη) unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living Elohey.
1.12) Gal3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made (G4483-ερρεθησαν) He said (G3004 - λεγω ) not, and and to seeds as of many, but as of one and to they seed which is Messiah.
1.13) Rev6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said (G4483-ερρεθη) unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled.
1.14) Rev9:4 And it was commanded (G4483-ερρεθη) them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any three, but only those men which have not the seal of Eloheem in their foreheads
From the above verses, I want to conclude that:
a.) The fact that it is "said" rather than written, is not that significant. Even the law of Moses is something that was said, and which was thereafter "reduced to writing".
b.) What is significant is "who" said something. The authority of the entity saying something is what really matters. In this, we should keep in mind that authority can be delegated, meaning that sometimes we have someone representing someone else, yet with full authority or instruction to fulfil a certain task. Such representative is however to be seen as the entity with the authority themselves.
Taking this information back to the beginning of Mat5:43, we should interpret this with the question as to "who" is the entity that "said" something, and what "authority" is to be connected with such entity? It is very obvious that Yahushua always responds with the "but I say", clearly indicating the authority connected to what he is stating.
In my view, it can therefore clearly be concluded that the "it has been said" is representing some instruction, but such instruction is of unknown source at this time of the phrase. It seems to be safe to say that gossip is ruled out and we depend on the further context or alternative sources to find out the identity of the entity making the statement.
Who said this?
2.) What is being said, and what is Yahushua's stand on the matter?
The latter part of Mat5:43 states that the thing being said is "
Mat19: 19 HonourG5091 thyG4675 fatherG3962 andG2532 thy mother: and,G3384 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G4572
Lev19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Mat_5:43 Ye have heardG191 thatG3754 it hath been said,G4483 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbour,G4139 andG2532 hateG3404 thineG4675 enemy.G2190
Mat_19:19 HonourG5091 thyG4675 fatherG3962 andG2532 thy mother: and,G3384 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G4572
Mat_22:39 AndG1161 the secondG1208 is like untoG3664 it,G846 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G4572
Mar_12:31 AndG2532 the secondG1208 is like,G3664 namely this,G3778 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G4572 There isG2076 noneG3756 otherG243 commandmentG1785 greaterG3187 than these.G5130
Mar_12:33 AndG2532 to loveG25 himG846 withG1537 allG3650 theG3588 heart,G2588 andG2532 withG1537 allG3650 theG3588 understanding,G4907 andG2532 withG1537 allG3650 theG3588 soul,G5590 andG2532 withG1537 allG3650 theG3588 strength,G2479 andG2532 to loveG25 his neighbourG4139 asG5613 himself,G1438 isG2076 moreG4119 than allG3956 whole burnt offeringsG3646 andG2532 sacrifices.G2378
Luk_10:27 AndG1161 heG3588 answeringG611 said,G2036 Thou shalt loveG25 the LordG2962 thyG4675 GodG2316 withG1537 allG3650 thyG4675 heart,G2588 andG2532 withG1537 allG3650 thyG4675 soul,G5590 andG2532 withG1537 allG3650 thyG4675 strength,G2479 andG2532 withG1537 allG3650 thyG4675 mind;G1271 andG2532 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G4572
Luk_10:29 ButG1161 he,G3588 willingG2309 to justifyG1344 himself,G1438 saidG2036 untoG4314 Jesus,G2424 AndG2532 whoG5101 isG2076 myG3450 neighbour?G4139
Luk_10:36 WhichG5101 nowG3767 of theseG5130 three,G5140 thinkestG1380 thou,G4671 wasG1096 neighbourG4139 unto him that fellG1706 amongG1519 theG3588 thieves?G3027
Joh_4:5 ThenG3767 comethG2064 he toG1519 a cityG4172 of Samaria,G4540 which is calledG3004 Sychar,G4965 nearG4139 to theG3588 parcel of groundG5564 thatG3739 JacobG2384 gaveG1325 to hisG848 sonG5207 Joseph.G2501
Act_7:27 ButG1161 he that did his neighbour wrongG91 G4139 thrust him away,G683 G846 saying,G2036 WhoG5101 madeG2525 theeG4571 a rulerG758 andG2532 a judgeG1348 overG1909 us?G2248
Rom_13:9 ForG1063 this,G3588 Thou shalt notG3756 commit adultery,G3431 Thou shalt notG3756 kill,G5407 Thou shalt notG3756 steal,G2813 Thou shalt notG3756 bear false witness,G5576 Thou shalt notG3756 covet;G1937 andG2532 if there be anyG1536 otherG2087 commandment,G1785 it is briefly comprehendedG346 inG1722 thisG5129 saying,G3056 namely,G1722 G3588 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G1438
Rom_13:10 LoveG26 workethG2038 noG3756 illG2556 to his neighbour:G4139 thereforeG3767 loveG26 is the fulfillingG4138 of the law.G3551
Rom_15:2 Let(G1063) every oneG1538 of usG2257 pleaseG700 his neighbourG4139 forG1519 his goodG18 toG4314 edification.G3619
Gal_5:14 ForG1063 allG3956 the lawG3551 is fulfilledG4137 inG1722 oneG1520 word,G3056 even inG1722 this;G3588 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself.G1438
Eph_4:25 WhereforeG1352 putting awayG659 lying,G5579 speakG2980 every manG1538 truthG225 withG3326 hisG848 neighbour:G4139 forG3754 we areG2070 membersG3196 one of another.G240
Heb_8:11 AndG2532 they shall notG3364 teachG1321 every manG1538 hisG848 neighbour,G4139 andG2532 every manG1538 hisG848 brother,G80 saying,G3004 KnowG1097 theG3588 Lord:G2962 forG3754 allG3956 shall knowG1492 me,G3165 fromG575 the leastG3398 (G846) toG2193 the greatest.G3173 (G846)
Jas_2:8 IfG1487 ye(G3305) fulfilG5055 the royalG937 lawG3551 accordingG2596 to theG3588 scripture,G1124 Thou shalt loveG25 thyG4675 neighbourG4139 asG5613 thyself,G4572 ye doG4160 well:G2573