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As Yourself

Leviticus 19:18

In Matthew 5:43, 44, Jesus cited this verse, but He seems to have omitted one phrase and added a second clause: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies."

His wording may have reflected what the religious authorities of His day were doing with this great verse. The rabbis left out the important phrase "as yourself," which brings force and power to the whole statement. To love somebody—what does that mean? It is hard to know. But to love somebody as you love yourself brings clarity to the phrase. Think of how we pamper, tend to, and love ourselves, and immediately we have a standard for how we are to love others.

The rabbis also added to this command: "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (Matt. 5:43, emphasis added). This is not in Leviticus. In fact, it is in strong opposition to the Law of God in the OT. For example, Exodus 23:4, 5 says, "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it."

Treating their enemies differently from the world—with loving-kindness rather than cruelty—was yet one more way that God's people could stand out as belonging to Him.

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