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Leviticus 19:15-18
Galatians 5:13-14
I want you to think of that 3rd grade class picture. You know, the one where you wore that funny shirt. Or maybe you were the shortest kid in the class, maybe that was the first year you had glasses. What do you look for when you look at that picture? Almost always, you look for yourself. Internally, we are prone to think of ourselves first in nearly every situation.
Oswald Chambers wrote: “Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will begin to grouse and to indulge in the discontent of self-pity—Why should I be treated like this? If we are devoted to Jesus Christ we have nothing to do with what we meet, whether it is just or unjust. Jesus says—Go steadily on with what I have told you do to and I will guard your life.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 27 entry).
Leviticus 19:15-18 (NIV) “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
If we are honest, wouldn’t most of us admit that when it comes to sin we want mercy for ourselves, but justice for other people. And yet God’s command is telling us we should treat others the way we hope to be treated, with mercy. Here’s another way for us to hear this same message.
Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV) You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The subject of obeying God, or pleasing God, or answering the question of what must I do has been discussed throughout the ages. It has been quoted that a wise rabbi also noted what the bible has said about how we are to treat others in reflection of Paul’s admonition to the Church in Galatia.
“Rabbi Simlai said, 613 commandments were given to Moses - 365 negative mitzvot, same as the number of days in the year, and 248 positive mitzvot, same as the number of parts in a man’s body. David came and reduced them to eleven (Psalm 15), Isaiah to six (Isaiah 33:15), Micah to three (Micah 6:8), and Isaiah again to two – Observe justice and do righteousness (Isaiah 56:1). Then Amos came and reduced them to one, Seek me and live (Amos 5:4) – as did Habakkuk, The righteous one will live by his trusting (Habakkuk 2:4).” (David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary, p.565).
In this passage Paul simply reminds us what Jesus said when He walked this earth, that we are to love each other as we love ourselves. Loving others is not always fun, easy, or pleasant. Loving others is choosing to care for others in a just and kind way, in the same way you want to be loved.