Misinterpretations of Leviticus 19:18 often narrow 'neighbor' to only those within one's own religious, ethnic, or social group, ignoring Jesus' expansion in the Good Samaritan parable to include enemies and outsiders; others twist it into mere tolerance or passivity that excuses injustice rather than active love, or equate it with self-esteem promotion detached from communal responsibility, overlooking its context in Israel's covenant laws prohibiting vengeance.
Leviticus 19:18
King James Version (1769)
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:18 instructs believers not to seek revenge or harbor grudges against fellow members of their community but instead to love their neighbor as themselves, emphasizing a proactive attitude of empathy, fairness, and care that mirrors self-love without resentment, rooted in God's character as the LORD who calls His people to reflect His holiness in relationships.