Hiding in Plain Sight

About this episode

The episode explores the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, as found in Leviticus, and its implications for community and ethics.

Leviticus 19:18 (NRSV) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Picture a lawyer — sharp, well-trained, an expert in the Torah — approaching Jesus with what he thinks is a test question. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He probably expected Jesus to wade into the theological debates of the day, maybe pick a side in some ongoing rabbinic argument. What he got instead was Jesus reaching straight into the lawyer's own Bible and pulling out a verse from Leviticus. Leviticus. The book of priestly codes, purity laws, and detailed instructions for grain offerings. Not exactly where you'd go looking for the heart of the gospel. But there it is, tucked into chapter 19 between commands about paying workers fairly and not cursing the deaf: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." In its original context, that command had a specific audience in view. The verse itself makes this clear — "any of your people." Leviticus 19:18 is addressed to the community of Israel, about how they treat each other. It's a profound command, but it has a fence around it. Leviticus even circles…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jim Stovall, Greta Smith

Topics covered

• love your neighbor
• biblical commandments
• community ethics
• theological debates
• Old Testament teachings

Keywords

• Leviticus
• neighbor
• commandment
• Jesus
• lawyer
• community
• ethics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: First United Methodist Church

Books & works: Leviticus 19:18

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