Moses’ law laid down the principle that people were to love their neighbour as themselves (Leviticus 19:17-18; see also Exodus 20:13-17; Exodus 22:10-14; Deuteronomy 15:2; Deuteronomy 27:24). In trying to avoid the responsibility this placed upon them, people sometimes asked who exactly was their neighbour. On one occasion Jesus answered the question with the story of a Samaritan who helped a man who had been attacked by robbers. The point of the story was that any person in need was one’s neighbour (Luke 10:29-37). Neighbours in this sense include even enemies (Matthew 5:43-47).
Love of God and love of one’s neighbour combine to form the basic requirements God has laid upon the human race (Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8). Those who claim to love God but do not love their neighbour are deceiving themselves (1 John 4:20; cf. Proverbs 3:28; Proverbs 14:21; see also BROTHER).