Mark 12:28-34 love your neighbor as yourself

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; ^AND you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with YOUR ENTIRE mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘YOU shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

The question then becomes, who is my neighbor? We must remember that Jesus himself said that when you feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit captives in prison, yes even giving a cup of cold water to someone in need, when you have done this to the least of these, you have done it to Me. When Jesus came into the world for salvation, he came not for Israel alone, but to all of His sheep which is you and me. Let us copy the example given to us by the Master.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, you did not strike back at your accusers, nor did you exalt your power over your enemies. No, instead you said, “Father forgive them, because they know not what they are doing.” Now our love is not perfect love as is yours, but let us use yours as our examples so that we become more like You. In your holy name I pray Amen.