# 47 2016 Dev. Lev.19:18. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Leviticus 19:18
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord”.
Leviticus 19 is a chapter of diverse precepts and commands in the context of the introduction of the chapter: v.2b ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy”. God’s voice to Moses
Lev. 19:2b was quoted by Jesus in Mt. 22 when asked what is the greatest commandment? 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 as the greatest commandment, this command is in the context of: “so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life”.
While some of the precepts we see in these two chapter don’t apply today in the “New Covenant of Jesus Blood”, Jesus validated these two commandments as the summary of all His commands. Prohibition on revenge is also validated in the New Testament: Ro.12:19 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” This verse is in a section of the book of Romans called: “Love in Action”
That also is the meaning here in Lev. 19:18 and becomes more important as we discuss persecution. We are not to take revenge on our enemies. We must trust God, He is in control and He will deal with those who appose Christ by apposing those who speak His truth. Our role is to love our enemies, “love your neighbor as yourself”. While it may be easier to love God, it is just as important to love our neighbor. The two commands go together and they complete each other. You cannot obey one without the other! Obeying these two commands is “love in action” today!
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