GODLY INSTRUCTIONS

Leviticus 19:18 New Living Translation

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

            Leviticus was written by God thru Moses as “a handbook for the priests & Levites outlining their duties in worship & a guidebook of holy living for the Hebrews.” ^[1] This is tantamount to “the Golden Rule”, which says, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”(Matthew 7:12 NLT) 

                  Scripture clearly tells us in Romans 12:19 (NLT), the same thing about taking revenge against anyone. “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”^[2]

            We have our instructions regarding payback & how we are to treat others. According to the Reformation Study Bible, your neighbor was “anyone with whom you have contact.” Therefore it’s not only your brothers or sisters, neither is it those who live on your street or in your neighborhood. Whomever you are in contact with. So we must treat others with kindness, mercy, compassion and love, in a spirit of cooperation. Scripture tells us in Romans 12:18 (NLT) “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Other translations say, “As much as it is up to you … “. You are not responsible for another persons behavior, only your own. Take heed of what God’s Word tells us. We must place any and all grudges aside. God is the one we should seek to please, not any man (or woman). If we ask the Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, to change that area of our lives, he will do it. It might be instantaneous or it may take time, but when he knows the optimal time is, he will make it happen. Until next time, walk with the one true King and be a blessing!

^[1]The Life Application Study Bible; Notes on page 209 re: the Book of Leviticus.

NOTE:Romans 13:9 (NLT) “For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”