Lesson 65: Leviticus 19:18
Leviticus 19:18
The Blueprint — The Verse
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Memorization Practice
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The Context — The History
Leviticus shaped Israel's holiness code for life in community after the exodus. Jesus and Paul later treated this verse as summary ethics alongside love for God, showing its enduring weight.
The Narrative — The Lead-Up
Chapter 19 mixes ritual and moral commands—fair scales, care for the poor, and honest speech. Loving the neighbor as oneself caps a section on social righteousness grounded in God's own holiness.
The Echo — Follow-on Verses
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Leviticus 19:17
17“ ‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
Read the verse immediately before this lesson (Leviticus 19:17) to hear the lead-in to the passage.
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Leviticus 19:19
19“ ‘Keep my decrees.“ ‘Do not mate different kinds of animals.“ ‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.“ ‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.
Read the verse immediately after this lesson (Leviticus 19:19) to continue the passage.
Discussion
- Who is your 'neighbor' in this command?
- What practices help you release grudges?
- How does loving yourself rightly enable loving others?