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Loving your neighbor: a guided Bible study

A guided Bible study on loving your neighbor and the Good Samaritan. Read four passages with context and questions for reflection.

4 passages to explore

Translation

  1. How did Jesus connect love for God and neighbor?

    Context: Jesus answers a question about the greatest commandment in the Law.

    Matthew 22:37–40 · WEB

    37 “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

    38 This is the first and great commandment.

    39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

    40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

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    Old Testament sources (2)

    Quoted by Jesus · BibleGateway (opens in a new tab)

    Other translations on BibleGateway (opens in a new tab)
    Study notes

    For personal reflection or group discussion.

    How does Jesus place these two commandments together, and what does He say depends on them?

  2. Who stopped to help in the story He told?

    Context: In a separate conversation, a lawyer has asked who his neighbor is. Jesus answers with a story about a wounded traveler.

    Luke 10:30–35 · WEB

    30 “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

    31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

    32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

    33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

    34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

    35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’

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    Other translations on BibleGateway (opens in a new tab)
    Study notes

    For personal reflection or group discussion.

    What differences do you notice between the responses of the people who encounter the wounded man?

  3. What did Jesus ask the listener to do?

    Context: These words conclude the same story. Read the lawyer’s reply in the context view, then consider Jesus’ instruction.

    Luke 10:36–37 · WEB

    36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”

    37 “Go and do likewise.”

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    Other translations on BibleGateway (opens in a new tab)
    Study notes

    For personal reflection or group discussion.

    Read the lawyer’s answer in context. How does Jesus move the conversation from identifying a neighbor to acting as one?

  4. What rule did He give for everyday relationships?

    Context: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives this instruction about how to treat other people.

    Matthew 7:12 · WEB

    12 Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

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    Other translations on BibleGateway (opens in a new tab)
    Study notes

    For personal reflection or group discussion.

    What does this verse ask you to consider before acting toward someone else?

    Explore all sayings about loving your neighbor

Questions and context notes are reading aids. The quoted words are Scripture. About the selection

Question card: Who is my neighbor?

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Loving your neighbor: a guided Bible study in 4 passages

A guided Bible study on loving your neighbor and the Good Samaritan. Read four passages with context and questions for reflection.

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Explore these passages with YeshuaSaid · https://yeshuasaid.com/questions/neighbour/