~ Leviticus 19:18
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This command appears in the middle of practical instructions God gave to Israel for living well as His people. It is not merely an ethical ideal. It is a protection for the heart, the mind, and the body. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is one of the most well-known phrases in Scripture, yet its placement in Leviticus reveals a core truth: healthy relationships are essential for healthy living. Biblical health is not only about what we eat or how we move. It also grows out of the condition of our relationships.
God begins this verse with two prohibitions: do not seek revenge and do not hold a grudge. Both actions may feel justified in moments of hurt, but they carry destructive consequences. Resentment robs peace. Bitterness tightens the chest, steals sleep, raises stress hormones, and weakens the immune system. Holding a grudge may seem internal, but the body always participates in what the heart is carrying.
God’s command is not to repress emotion but to release it through forgiveness, humility, and love. Loving your neighbor as yourself does not mean approving wrongdoing or becoming a doormat. It means treating others with the same grace, patience, and dignity you desire for your own life. When we walk in love, we free ourselves from the physical and emotional weight of anger, comparison, and negativity.
This is why Jesus later called this command the second greatest commandment. Love is healing. Love reduces stress. Love strengthens the heart. Love creates relational environments where the body can rest and the mind can breathe. In a world filled with relational tension, hostility, cancel culture, and online outrage, God’s call to love becomes a pathway to health and wholeness.
Biblical health requires learning to let go of grudges quickly, refusing to rehearse narratives of offense, and seeking reconciliation when possible. These are spiritual disciplines with physical benefits. When we forgive, the nervous system calms. When we release bitterness, the body relaxes. When we choose love, we strengthen long-term well-being.
Loving your neighbor is not only obedience to God. It is stewardship of your own health. The heart is strongest when it stays soft. The body is healthiest when the soul is at peace.
Prayer: Father, help me release every grudge and let go of every hurt. Teach me to love my neighbor with sincerity and grace. Protect my heart from bitterness and fill me with compassion that brings peace to my mind, strength to my body, and fullness to my life. Amen.
