Friend / Neighbor רֵעַ

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow, lover, comrade. It is used 187 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. We find our word used in the sense of friend, a person you know well and regard with affection and trust. Genesis 38:12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and רֵעֵ֥הוּ his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Exodus 33:10-11 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to רֵעֵ֑הוּ his friend. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of neighbor, one who lives or is located near another, countryman. Exodus 2:13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike רֵעֶֽךָ your companion?” This is how our word is used 3 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 19:13, 16, 18 You shall not oppress רֵֽעֲךָ֖ your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning … You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life רֵעֶ֑ךָ of your neighbor: I am the Lord … You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love לְרֵעֲךָ֖ your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. This is the same context as yesterday with a different word but also translated neighbor. These two words are acting like synonyms. They are also being used to show real practical ways how God desires us to act towards our neighbor. Our word today shows the aspects of not oppressing, not holding back wages that are due, not slandering, not testifying falsely against in court, not take vengeance and not hold a grudge. Wow that’s a lot of specifics to what God desires when we also include all the details from yesterday. Then God sums this up with these simple but powerful words you shall love your neighbor as yourself. This is interesting that in a book about how priests are to serve in the tabernacle worship we find this gem that Jesus quotes and ties it to our relationship with God. This makes sense though when we think about it because the whole point of tabernacle worship was to connect people to God and each other. When we stop and think about how we would like to be treated that changes everything. The challenge is we don’t always do this. I’ll close with these great words of Jesus how he puts all of this together our relationship with God and each other. Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.