LEVITICUS | 19:18 love — LEV654 Commitment to family and friends. If one w...
LEV654 Commitment to family and friends. If one who trusts in God has a wife and relatives, friends and enemies, he should rely on God to save him from [being overburdened by] them, and endeavor to meet his duties toward them, to fulfill their wishes, and to be wholehearted with them. He should avoid causing them any harm, and promote their interests. He should be their steadfast supporter in all their concerns, and advise them of what is advantageous to them in religious and secular matters. [He should do all this] to serve God, as it is written: “Love your neighbor like yourself” Vayikra 19:18); “Do not hate your brother in your heart” (ibid. 19:17). Not because he hopes to be repaid by them, not to make them indebted to him, not because he loves to be honored and praised by them, not to have authority over them, but to fulfill the commandment of the Creator, and to keep His covenant and keep His ordinances in their regard. For if his motive in fulfilling their wishes is one of those [ulterior motives] mentioned above, he will not obtain what he wants from them in this world, he will labor in vain, and will lose his reward in the World-to-Come. If, however, he acts solely out of service to God, God will help them [the beneficiaries] to repay him in this world, will put his praises into their mouths, and will increase his stature in their eyes; And he will attain great reward in the World-to-Come. As God said to Shelomo: “I give you also what you did not ask for--both riches and honor” (Melachim I, 3:13).
Source Key | DUTIES |
Verse | 19:18 |
Keyword(s) | love |
Source Page(s) | 423 |