In biblical terms, the concept of "neighbourhood" extends beyond mere geographical proximity to encompass a broader sense of community, responsibility, and moral obligation. The Bible provides numerous insights into how individuals are to interact with their neighbours, emphasizing love, compassion, and justice.

Old Testament Context

The Hebrew word often translated as "neighbour" is רֵעַ (rea), which can refer to a friend, companion, or fellow citizen. The Old Testament law underscores the importance of treating one's neighbour with fairness and kindness. 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 foundational, establishing the principle of loving one's neighbour as a central tenet of the law.

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, highlighting the importance of integrity and respect in community relationships.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament expands on the Old Testament's teachings about neighbours, with Jesus Christ emphasizing the importance of love and compassion. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus redefines the concept of "neighbour" to include not just those who are geographically or ethnically close, but anyone in need. When asked, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29), Jesus illustrates that a true neighbour is one who shows mercy and compassion, regardless of social or ethnic boundaries.

Jesus reiterates the commandment to love one's neighbour in Matthew 22:39, stating, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" This commandment is paired with the greatest commandment to love God, indicating the inseparable nature of love for God and love for others.

Apostolic Teachings

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

James also highlights the "royal law" found in Scripture: "If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well" (James 2:8). This underscores the centrality of neighbourly love in Christian ethics.

Practical Implications

The biblical concept of neighbourhood calls for active engagement in the well-being of others. It challenges believers to transcend cultural, social, and economic barriers, fostering communities characterized by love, justice, and mutual support. The call to love one's neighbour is not merely a passive sentiment but an active pursuit of the good of others, reflecting the love of Christ in tangible ways.

A Question Why the Neighbourhood of Our Kinsfolk is Considered to ...
... A question why the neighbourhood of our kinsfolk is considered to interfere with
us, whereas it does not interfere in the case of those living in Egypt. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter vii a question why.htm

That those Need not Fear the Neighbourhood of their Kinsfolk, who ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter IX. That those need not fear the neighbourhood
of their kinsfolk, who can emulate the mortification of Abbot Apollos. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter ix that those need.htm

The Name of the Place Where John Baptized is not Bethany, as in ...
... Nor is there any other place of the same name in the neighbourhood of the Jordan,
but they say that Bethabara is pointed out on the banks of the Jordan, and ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/24 the name of the.htm

Warp-Threads.
... A simple neighbourhood wedding occasion up near the old Nazareth home drew
Jesus thither with His kinsfolk and His new-made friends. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/warp-threads.htm

Grace and Truth Coupled.
... There seems to be an increasing amount of this sort of thing over in my
neighbourhood. ... He gets a better house in a better neighbourhood. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/grace and truth coupled.htm

The Life of Cassian.
... of his birth with certainty; but, in describing the situation of his ancestral home,
he speaks of the delightful pleasantness of the neighbourhood, and the ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter i the life of.htm

The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ...
... If we are right in identifying the little bay - Dalmanutha - with the neighbourhood
of Tarich??a, yet another link of strange coincidence connects the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvii the great confession.htm

Education.
... grandmother Macrina. [21] In this neighbourhood his family had considerable
property, and here he afterwards resided. The estate ...
//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/ii education.htm

Called to Swatow
... HAVING to leave the neighbourhood of Black Town thus unexpectedly was a real
disappointment to us, as we had hoped to spend some time evangelising in that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter xii called to swatow.htm

1877-1879. "They Helped Every one his Neighbour" --Miss Child, a ...
... As yet, however, nothing had been done for the women in Katcliff Highway, and Miss
Macpherson, when visiting that neighbourhood where Satan reigns so openly ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vii 1877-1879 they helped.htm

Neighbourhood (9 Occurrences)
...Neighbourhood (9 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Matthew 16:13 When He arrived in the
neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned His disciples. ...
/n/neighbourhood.htm - 9k

Towns (450 Occurrences)
... (BBE NIV). Mark 7:31 Returning from the neighbourhood of Tyre, He came by way of
Sidon to the Lake of Galilee, passing through the district of the Ten Towns. ...
/t/towns.htm - 36k

District (59 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Mark 7:31 Returning from the neighbourhood of Tyre, He came by way of Sidon
to the Lake of Galilee, passing through the district of the Ten Towns. (WEY). ...
/d/district.htm - 24k

Neighbouring (11 Occurrences)

/n/neighbouring.htm - 9k

Questioned (57 Occurrences)
... Him. (WEY YLT NAS). Matthew 16:13 When He arrived in the neighbourhood
of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned His disciples. "Who ...
/q/questioned.htm - 22k

Netophah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Distillation; dropping, a town in Judah, in the neighbourhood,
probably, of Bethlehem (Nehemiah 7:26; 1 Chronicles 2:54). ...
/n/netophah.htm - 9k

Observation (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Observation (4 Occurrences). Mark 7:24 Then He rose and
left that place and went into the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon. ...
/o/observation.htm - 8k

Lattice (6 Occurrences)
... roofs of the houses were sometimes enclosed with a parapet of lattice-work on wooden
frames, to screen the women of the house from the gaze of the neighbourhood...
/l/lattice.htm - 9k

Longer (373 Occurrences)
... John 11:54 Therefore Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but He left
that neighbourhood and went into the district near the Desert, to a town ...
/l/longer.htm - 36k

Wished (31 Occurrences)
... pass by them. (YLT). Mark 7:24 Then He rose and left that place and went
into the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon. Here He entered ...
/w/wished.htm - 15k

Neighbourhood: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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