Topical Bible: Neighbours

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the term "neighbours" encompasses a broad range of meanings, from those living in close physical proximity to individuals with whom one interacts in daily life. The concept of neighbours is deeply rooted in the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible, emphasizing love, compassion, and justice.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament lays the foundation for understanding the relationship with one's neighbours. Leviticus 19:18 commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This verse is central to the Jewish understanding of ethical conduct, highlighting the importance of love and forgiveness.

The Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, also addresses the treatment of neighbours. Exodus 20:16-17 warns against bearing false witness and coveting a neighbour's possessions, underscoring the importance of honesty and contentment in maintaining harmonious relationships.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament expands on the Old Testament's teachings about neighbours, particularly through the teachings of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reiterates the commandment to love one's neighbour, elevating it to a central tenet of Christian ethics. Matthew 22:39 states, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

The parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37, further illustrates the expansive definition of a neighbour. In this parable, Jesus challenges societal norms by portraying a Samaritan—a group despised by the Jews—as the true neighbour to a wounded man, emphasizing that neighbourly love transcends ethnic and social boundaries.

Apostolic Teachings

The apostles continued to emphasize the importance of loving one's neighbours in their epistles. In Romans 13:9-10, Paul writes, "The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

James 2:8 refers to the command to love one's neighbour as the "royal law," indicating its supreme importance in Christian life. This teaching underscores the belief that genuine faith is demonstrated through acts of love and kindness towards others.

Practical Implications

The biblical mandate to love one's neighbour has practical implications for daily life. It calls for believers to act with integrity, compassion, and justice in all interactions. This includes providing for the needs of others, as seen in the early church's practice of sharing resources (Acts 2:44-45), and advocating for justice and mercy, as instructed in Micah 6:8.

In summary, the biblical concept of neighbours is a call to embody God's love in relationships with others, transcending cultural, social, and ethnic barriers. It is a foundational principle that guides ethical conduct and community life, reflecting the character of God through acts of love and service.

Library

Neighbours Far Off
... VOLUME I: ST. LUKE Chaps. I to XII NEIGHBOURS FAR OFF. ... I. The main purpose, then,
is to show how far off men may be, and yet be neighbours. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/neighbours far off.htm

Psalm 120. Complaint of Quarrelsome Neighbours; Or, a Devout Wish ...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 120. Complaint of quarrelsome neighbours;
or, A devout wish for peace. 1 Thou God of love, thou ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 120 complaint of quarrelsome.htm

Fragment iv. As Long as any one Has the Means of Doing Good to his ...
... Fragment IV. As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours?
As [4807] long as any one has the means of doing ...
/.../fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/fragment iv as long as.htm

How those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to ...
... most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become
spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxii how those that.htm

The Variety of Idolatrous Cults Proves that they are False.
... these latter serve other gods than those of the main lands.3. And, in general, every
city and village, not knowing the gods of its neighbours, prefers its own ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 23 the variety of.htm

Deified Devilry
... The girl grew thin, and the neighbours talked, and the father heard and understood;
and, to save a scandal, he took them away from the town where they lived ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxi deified devilry.htm

The Temper of Christ
... If we really love God, and long to do good, and to work for God; if we really love
our neighbours, and wish to help them, then we shall have no heart to quarrel ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxii the temper of.htm

Our Deserts
... of leaving us to bear our burden alone, and turning their backs on us just when
our poor hearts are longing for a kind look and a kind word from our neighbours ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxviii our deserts.htm

The True Gentleman
... each other's shoulders. Each man and woman wanted to set themselves up above
their neighbours, and to look down upon them. The rich ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xx the true gentleman.htm

That the Ruler Should be a Near Neighbour to Every one in ...
... transcend even himself in his aspiration after the invisible; lest either in seeking
high things he despise the weak things of his neighbours, or in suiting ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter v that the ruler.htm

Thesaurus

Neighbours (34 Occurrences)
...Neighbours (34 Occurrences). Luke 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard
how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. ...
/n/neighbours.htm - 16k

Neighbors (40 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 38:11 My lovers and my friends over-against my
plague stand. And my neighbours afar off have stood. (See NIV). ...
/n/neighbors.htm - 18k

Laughed (27 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Psalms 44:13 You have made us to be looked down on by our neighbours, we
are laughed at and shamed by those who are round about us. (BBE). ...
/l/laughed.htm - 14k

Makest (68 Occurrences)
... to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends,
nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they ...
/m/makest.htm - 25k

Kindred (41 Occurrences)
... (WBS YLT). Luke 1:58 and the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was
making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her. (YLT). ...
/k/kindred.htm - 21k

Lusted (14 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ezekiel 23:5 And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she
lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians her neighbours, (DBY NAS NIV). ...
/l/lusted.htm - 10k

Gets (122 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:6 And when he gets back to his house, he sends for his neighbours and friends,
saying to them, Be glad with me, for I have got back my sheep which had ...
/g/gets.htm - 33k

Damages (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 12:5 Let the priests take, every man from his friends and neighbours, to
make good what is damaged in the house, wherever it is to be seen. (See NAS). ...
/d/damages.htm - 8k

Mockery (12 Occurrences)
... Psalms 44:13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and
a derision for them that are round about us; (DBY). Psalms ...
/m/mockery.htm - 9k

Calleth (261 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. ...
/c/calleth.htm - 35k

Resources

What is the social gospel? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance

Neighbours (34 Occurrences)

Luke 1:58
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
(KJV WEY BBE DBY YLT)

Luke 14:12
Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
(KJV WEY BBE DBY YLT)

Luke 15:6
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
(KJV WEY BBE DBY YLT)

Luke 15:9
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
(KJV WEY BBE DBY YLT)

John 9:8
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
(KJV WEY BBE DBY YLT)

Leviticus 25:15
Let your exchange of goods with your neighbours have relation to the number of years after the year of Jubilee, and the number of times the earth has given her produce.
(BBE)

Joshua 9:16
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.
(See JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Ruth 4:17
And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
(See JPS BBE DBY)

2 Kings 4:3
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
(See JPS BBE DBY YLT)

2 Kings 12:5
Let the priests take, every man from his friends and neighbours, to make good what is damaged in the house, wherever it is to be seen.
(BBE)

2 Kings 12:7
Then King Jehoash sent for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, Why have you not made good what is damaged in the house? now take no more money from your neighbours, but give it for the building up of the house.
(BBE)

Ezra 1:6
And all their neighbours gave them help with offerings of vessels of silver and gold and goods and beasts and things of great value, in addition to what was freely offered.
(BBE)

Job 19:14
Ceased have my neighbours And my familiar friends have forgotten me,
(YLT)

Psalms 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Psalms 31:11
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Psalms 38:11
My lovers and my friends over-against my plague stand. And my neighbours afar off have stood.
(YLT)

Psalms 44:13
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Psalms 79:4
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Psalms 79:12
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Psalms 80:6
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY)

Psalms 89:41
All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 12:14
Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 29:23
Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 49:10
But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 49:18
As the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, And its neighbours, said Jehovah, No one doth dwell there, Nor sojourn in her doth a son of man.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 50:40
As overthrown by God with Sodom, And with Gomorrah, and with its neighbours, An affirmation of Jehovah, none doth dwell there, Nor sojourn in her doth a son of man.
(YLT)

Lamentations 1:17
Spread forth hath Zion her hands, There is no comforter for her, Jehovah hath charged concerning Jacob, His neighbours 'are' his adversaries, Jerusalem hath become impure among them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 16:26
Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY YLT)

Ezekiel 16:57
Before thy wickedness is revealed, As 'at' the time of the reproach of the daughters of Aram, And of all her neighbours, the daughters of the Philistines, Who are despising thee round about.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 22:12
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
(KJV JPS BBE DBY)

Ezekiel 23:5
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
(KJV BBE DBY)

Ezekiel 23:12
She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.
(KJV BBE DBY)

Ezekiel 23:23
The Babylonians and all the Chaldaeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: young men to be desired, captains and rulers all of them, and chiefs, her neighbours, all of them on horseback.
(BBE)

Daniel 9:16
O Lord, according to all Thy righteous acts, let turn back, I pray Thee, Thine anger and Thy fury from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mount, for by our sins, and by the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people 'are' for a reproach to all our neighbours;
(YLT)

Subtopics

Neighbours

Related Terms

Woman-servant (12 Occurrences)

Bondman (108 Occurrences)

Decalogue

Boundary (83 Occurrences)

Connection (72 Occurrences)

Handmaid (77 Occurrences)

Neighbours (34 Occurrences)

Vine-garden (43 Occurrences)

Neighed (2 Occurrences)