Jesus taught us how to treat our neighbors, and who our neighbors are. He also told us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). These are some of Jesus’ teachings which so contrast with Islam, and are refreshing and at times startling to people from Muslim background. Former Muslim Huda loves these teachings of Jesus on neighbors and enemies.
Some of this teaching is in the laws of the Old Testament, but with his usual flair, he affirms, expands, and breathes life into the concept. It is part of his teaching on how we should live for God’s kingdom here on earth.
Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When he was challenged on this, he told the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus teaching on neighbors illustrates that we must love whoever comes across our path, as ourselves, whether they are like us, or dramatically different, as was the Good Samaritan from the injured Jew he rescued.
Other religions have incorporated The Golden Rule into their teachings, without knowing that it was Jesus who taught it in Matthew 7:12,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.”
