We all know that Jesus says, ‘Love your neighbour.’ Perhaps you’re less aware that he is quoting a much-maligned book of the Bible. Leviticus sets out how to live as God’s distinctively holy people. As such, it touches on every area of life: worship, food, sex, agriculture, economics, and much more.
We live in a very different context, and many of Leviticus’s provisions now seem harsh, weird or unnecessary to us. But the instructions concerning neighbour-love continue to speak with great clarity and moral force. Given this is the only time that Jesus quotes Leviticus, and given Jesus would have expected his audience to know exactly where his quote came from, it is good for us to pay attention. Therefore, you are invited to read the passages below slowly and prayerfully, and reflect on how neighbour-love might play out now.
PREPARE: Make yourself comfortable. Uncross your legs; relax your body; uncomplicate your heart. Ask God to help you surrender to whatever it is that God wants to do in you or say to you today. Breathe slowly and deeply in, then out.
2. READ: Read the following passages aloud at least three times through, slowly. Listen carefully. Notice anything which captures your attention.
The greatest commandments: A lawyer asked Jesus a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matthew 22:34b-40)
What does neighbour-love look like? You shall not defraud your neighbour; you shall not steal; you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a labourer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Be fair, no matter who is on trial – you shall not favour either the poor or the rich: with justice you shall judge your neighbour. You shall not lie about people, or profit from your neighbour’s suffering: I am the Lord. You shall not hate. You shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take revenge or bear a grudge, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord … When the foreigner comes to live with you in your land, you shall not oppress them. The foreigner who lives with you shall be like the citizen among you; you shall love the foreigner as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19:13-18, 33-34)
3. REFLECT: Allow a word, phrase or image to speak to you. What do you notice? What emotions do you feel? What questions are bubbling up? Reflect in silence.
4. RELATE: Now wonder: What do these texts reveal about God, world, church, family or yourself? What might the authors have to say about employment, accessibility, billionaires, people seeking asylum, or the culture of social media? As we head towards an election, how might these words challenge or inform us? What are the challenges to and resonances with various political platforms?
5. RESPOND: What is God calling you to now? Pray about this, and tell God about anything which is emerging. If you feel called to action, ask God to show you the next step.
6. REST: When you feel ‘done’, rest awhile. Savour the conversation you are having with God, and God’s loving presence. Close with a gesture of thanks: perhaps a simple bow. As you prepare to leave this space, if any word, phrase or image persists, let it guide you. Or if nothing in particular arises, remember this:
- Love your neighbour
Shalom,
Alison
Reflection on Matthew 22:34-46 and Leviticus 19:13-18 prepared for Manningham Uniting Church, 25 October 2026. Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash (edited).
