Scriptures on Loving Others as Yourself
Understanding the Biblical Command to Love Others
The love others as you love yourself verse appears multiple times throughout the Bible, most famously as the second greatest commandment according to Jesus. If you're looking for this important scripture, here's what you need to know:
The "Love Others as Yourself" Verse:
Original Source: Leviticus 19:18 - "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." Jesus' Citation: Matthew 22:39 - "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Also Found In: Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8
This powerful command appears at least 8 times across the Bible and ranks as the second most important commandment according to Jesus, just after loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
The phrase originated in the Old Testament as part of what scholars call the "Holiness Code" in Leviticus. Later, Jesus liftd its importance by pairing it with the command to love God as the two greatest commandments upon which "all the Law and the Prophets depend" (Matthew 22:40).
What makes this verse particularly challenging is the standard it sets - we are to love others with the same care, attention, and compassion we naturally extend to ourselves. This isn't just a suggestion but a divine command that forms the foundation of Christian ethics.
For many of us struggling with anxiety, past trauma, or relationship difficulties, truly loving others can feel overwhelming when we're working through our own healing journey. That's why understanding this verse in its proper context is so important - it's not just about what we do for others, but about how God's love transforms us from the inside out.
12 Key Bible Verses About the love others as you love yourself verse
The command to love others as you love yourself weaves through Scripture like a golden thread, connecting the ancient wisdom of the Torah to the teachings of Jesus and the early church. This principle forms the backbone of biblical ethics and appears in various forms throughout both testaments:
Old Testament New Testament Leviticus 19:18 Matthew 22:39 Leviticus 19:34 (extends to foreigners) Mark 12:31 Luke 10:27 Romans 13:9 Galatians 5:14 James 2:8 John 15:12-13 (extends concept) 1 John 4:11 (extends concept)
Leviticus 19:18—The Root Command
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:18)
Tucked within the "Holiness Code" of Leviticus, this verse established a standard for community relationships. The Hebrew word "kāmôkā" (as yourself) suggests that the natural care we instinctively show ourselves should flow outward to others. It's fascinating that even in this ancient context, God didn't leave the definition of "neighbor" narrowly defined. Just a few verses later in Leviticus 19:34, He explicitly extends this love to the foreigner and stranger—a radical concept in the tribal ancient world.
Matthew 22:39—Jesus' Second Greatest Command
"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:39)
When a Pharisee tried to trap Jesus with a theological debate about the greatest commandment, Jesus responded with stunning clarity. After citing the command to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5), He liftd this once-obscure verse from Leviticus to second place. The Greek word "hōs" (as) doesn't suggest mathematical equality but rather a similar quality or manner of love. Jesus then makes the extraordinary claim that these two love commands summarize "all the Law and the Prophets"—essentially saying that if you get these right, everything else falls into place. For more on how these commands work together, check out our article on the Love God and Love Others Verse.
Mark 12:31—No Greater Commandment
"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
Mark's account emphasizes the supreme importance of these twin commands. Notice how Jesus links loving God with our whole being directly to loving our neighbor. These aren't two separate commands but two sides of the same coin—you simply cannot do one without the other. When we struggle with loving difficult people, it often reflects challenges in our relationship with God as well.
Luke 10:27—Linked to Good Samaritan
"He answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)
Luke's account takes a fascinating turn—here, it's the religious lawyer who correctly recites these commands! But then he asks the question that troubles many of us: "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, dramatically expanding "neighbor" beyond comfortable boundaries of ethnicity, religion, and social standing. The neighbor isn't just someone like us—it's anyone in need, even those we might consider enemies.
Romans 13:9—Love Fulfills the Law
"The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not covet,' and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Romans 13:9)
Paul helps us understand why this command is so powerful—it's not just one rule among many, but the principle that fulfills all the others. Think about it: if you truly love someone as yourself, you won't steal from them, lie to them, or harm them in any way. Love becomes the shorthand for righteous living, simplifying our moral compass while deepening our responsibility.
Galatians 5:14—Freedom Expressed in Love
"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:14)
In a letter all about freedom from religious legalism, Paul makes clear that Christian liberty isn't a license for self-indulgence. True freedom expresses itself through love. When we're caught in struggles with anxiety, addiction, or relationship conflicts, we often focus inward. Paul reminds us that healing comes as we learn to look outward in love, even while working through our own pain.
James 2:8—The Royal Law
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right." (James 2:8)
James lifts this command to "royal law" status—a sovereign principle that governs all others. He specifically applies it to the sin of favoritism, showing how true neighbor-love doesn't discriminate based on wealth, status, or appearance. In today's divided world, this remains a powerful challenge. Do we truly love the homeless person, the political opponent, or the difficult family member as ourselves?
John 15:12-13—Greater Love & Self-Sacrifice
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:12-13)
Jesus takes the ancient standard and raises it even higher. The measure is no longer just how we love ourselves (which can be flawed), but how Christ has loved us—sacrificially and completely. This reveals that Christ-like love often calls us beyond self-care to self-sacrifice. For a deeper exploration of this concept, visit our article on Love Each Other Meaning.
1 John 4:11—Perfected Love
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:11)
John provides the ultimate motivation for neighbor-love: God's prior love for us. We don't love others from an empty tank but from the overflow of having been loved first by God. When we struggle to love difficult people, reconnecting with God's unconditional love for us often provides the emotional resources we need.
The journey toward loving others as ourselves isn't easy, especially when we're working through our own emotional healing. Many find that working with a Captive Thoughts coach helps them process the obstacles that prevent them from loving well. For more biblical wisdom on this topic, explore our comprehensive guide to Bible Verses on Loving Others.
Origins & Context: From Torah Scroll to Gospel Pulpit
The love others as you love yourself verse has a rich backstory that gives it deeper meaning. This powerful command first appeared in the Holiness Code of Leviticus (chapters 17-26), nestled among everyday instructions about treating others with fairness, honesty, and compassion. These weren't just random rules—they were practical ways Israel could reflect God's character in their daily lives.
Think about how this idea was in ancient times! When most societies operated with an "us versus them" mentality, caring primarily for their own tribe or family, God was already calling His people to something higher. He challenged them to extend the same care and consideration to neighbors—and even strangers—that they naturally gave themselves.
By Jesus' time, Jewish teachers often debated which commandments carried the most weight. Some rabbis had already highlighted loving God and neighbor as particularly important principles. But Jesus did something remarkable—He boldly declared these two commands as the foundation that supports everything else in Scripture.
When Jesus paired "love your neighbor as yourself" from Leviticus with the Shema from Deuteronomy 6 (loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength), He wasn't creating something brand new. Rather, He was revealing the beating heart that had been there all along, the lens through which all other commands should be understood.
What Does the love others as you love yourself verse Mean in Hebrew and Greek?
The language of the original texts gives us fascinating insights into this command. In Hebrew, Leviticus uses the preposition "k-" (כָּ) attached to "yourself" (מוֹךָ/kamokha). This doesn't necessarily mean mathematical equality—it's not saying "love others exactly as much as yourself." Rather, it suggests a similar quality or manner of love.
The Greek New Testament uses "hōs" (ὡς), which works as an adverb describing how we should love. As biblical scholar C.E.B. Cranfield points out, this indicates that our natural self-care provides a pattern for how we should treat others.
This makes intuitive sense, doesn't it? We naturally seek our own well-being, try to meet our needs, and avoid harm. The command uses this instinctive self-care as a reference point, essentially saying, "You know how you naturally look out for yourself? Do that for others too."
Modern research on empathy and altruism actually supports this understanding. Studies from scientific research on empathy and altruism show that humans are wired with the capacity to understand others' experiences (cognitive empathy) and share their feelings (affective empathy). These abilities enable us to imagine ourselves in someone else's situation—the very foundation of loving others as ourselves.
Is the Command Also an Order to Love Yourself?
People often wonder if the love others as you love yourself verse is also telling us to love ourselves. The text doesn't explicitly command self-love—it assumes it as something we already do. As Augustine wisely noted, "See how no one is commanded to love himself because this is something everyone does naturally."
But this doesn't give us license for unhealthy self-absorption! The verse uses our natural self-care as a model for treating others, not as permission for self-indulgence. Thomas Aquinas observed that proper self-love means desiring genuine good for ourselves, including moral and spiritual growth—not just comfort or pleasure.
This understanding is especially important today when many struggle with self-hatred or poor self-worth. At Share The Struggle, we regularly see how unresolved self-loathing can actually block our ability to love others well. It's hard to give from an empty cup.
Healthy self-regard in a Christian context means accepting God's love for us, caring for our needs, setting appropriate boundaries, seeking healing, and growing in Christ-likeness. When we practice this kind of balanced self-care, we establish a pattern that naturally extends to others.
If you find yourself struggling to love others because of your own emotional wounds or negative thought patterns, healing is possible. Our coaches at Share The Struggle are trained to help you work through these barriers using our faith-based approach to mental health. By learning to take your thoughts captive and find healing for your heart, you'll find a greater capacity to fulfill this ancient command in authentic ways.
Want to learn more about how this command shapes our relationships with others? Check out What Does the Bible Say About Loving Others? for a deeper exploration.
How Jesus Lifted & Modeled the Command
Jesus didn't just preach about the love others as you love yourself verse—he lived it out in ways that transformed how we understand love. Throughout his ministry, we see countless moments where Jesus demonstrated what true neighborly love looks like in action.
When everyone else stepped back, Jesus stepped forward—touching those with leprosy, engaging with the blind, and embracing those deemed "untouchable" by society. He didn't just talk about crossing social barriers; he demolished them with simple acts of compassion.
I'm always moved by how practical Jesus was about love. When crowds were hungry, he fed them. When the sick came to him, he healed them. When the marginalized were shunned, he invited them to dinner. These weren't grand philosophical gestures—they were tangible expressions of caring for others as he would want to be cared for himself.
Perhaps one of the most powerful demonstrations came when Jesus knelt with a basin and towel. By washing his disciples' feet in John 13, he took on the role of the lowest servant, showing that love isn't afraid to get its hands dirty. And ultimately, on the cross, he revealed that sometimes love calls us beyond comfort into sacrifice.
How Did Jesus Interpret the love others as you love yourself verse?
When Jesus spoke about the command to love others as you love yourself, he breathed new life into an ancient text. By naming it the second greatest commandment, he liftd its importance beyond the ceremonial laws that often dominated religious discussions of his day.
But Jesus went further. When a lawyer tried to limit his obligations by asking, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that shattered ethnic boundaries and religious expectations. Suddenly, "neighbor" included everyone, even traditional enemies.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pushed this love command to what seemed like impossible heights: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). This wasn't just about being nice to people who are nice to you—it was about reflecting God's character, who "causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good" (Matthew 5:45).
What strikes me most is how Jesus made this love the defining mark of his followers. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). Not by theological precision or religious observance, but by love—the kind that mirrors how we care for ourselves, and ultimately, how God cares for us.
Self-Sacrifice vs Self-Love: Balancing the Verse
One of the questions I hear often in coaching sessions is how to balance the command to love others as you love yourself with Jesus' call to self-denial. When Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13), is he contradicting the self-love standard?
The tension feels real. Paul seems to echo this when he writes, "In humility value others above yourselves" (Philippians 2:3-4). But I've found that these teachings actually complement rather than contradict each other.
Healthy self-sacrifice flows from a place of secure identity, not self-hatred. Jesus didn't devalue himself when he gave himself for others—he acted from a position of knowing exactly who he was and what he was worth. This is worlds apart from the martyrdom complex many of us develop when we serve from a place of emptiness.
I love how Jesus modeled balance. The same Jesus who healed crowds also withdrew to quiet places to rest and pray (Luke 5:16). He knew that boundaries are essential—that sometimes the most loving thing we can do is recognize our limits and honor them.
At Share The Struggle, we often work with people who struggle at either extreme. Some give endlessly to others while neglecting their own needs, burning out and becoming resentful. Others find it nearly impossible to extend themselves for anyone else. Finding this balance isn't just nice to have—it's essential for both mental and spiritual health.
The biblical vision isn't for some people to constantly sacrifice while others constantly receive. Rather, it's for communities where we all both give and receive love, creating spaces of mutual flourishing. Sometimes that means prioritizing others' needs temporarily, but always within the context of a healthy understanding of our own worth as beloved children of God.
Living It Out Today: Practical Ways to Love Your Neighbor
The love others as you love yourself verse sounds beautiful in theory, but how do we actually live it out in our daily lives? Let's explore some practical ways to transform this ancient command into modern action.
Captive Thoughts Coaching & Mental Health
I've seen at Share The Struggle how our mental health directly impacts our ability to love others well. When we're drowning in anxiety, fighting depression, or processing trauma, our capacity for compassion often shrinks to survival mode.
This is where our Captive Thoughts coaching approach makes such a difference. By helping people identify and challenge negative thought patterns, we create space for love to flourish again. One client recently told me, "I used to snap at my kids constantly because my anxiety was through the roof. Now that I've learned to recognize and calm those thoughts, I can actually be present and patient with them."
The process works because it's not just psychological tricks—it's spiritual change. When we take our thoughts captive and align them with Christ's truth (2 Corinthians 10:5), we're freed from the mental chaos that blocks our natural capacity for compassion.
Healthy boundaries are another crucial element we work on with clients. Many people think loving others means having no limits, which leads straight to burnout and resentment. True love—both for yourself and others—requires thoughtful boundaries that protect everyone's wellbeing.
7 Everyday Practices
Loving others as ourselves doesn't always mean grand gestures. Often, it's woven into the fabric of ordinary moments. Here are practical ways to embody this command:
Practice active listening when someone's speaking to you. I'm constantly amazed at how healing it can be for someone to simply feel heard. Put your phone away, make eye contact, and listen to understand rather than to formulate your reply. This simple act says, "You matter to me."
Speaking with genuine kindness transforms everyday interactions. Pay attention to your tone and word choice, especially with people you see regularly—family members, coworkers, or the barista who makes your coffee. Proverbs reminds us that "gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Forgiveness opens doors that bitterness keeps locked. When someone hurts you, remember how desperately you need grace for your own mistakes. This doesn't mean ignoring harm or staying in dangerous situations, but it does mean releasing the weight of resentment.
Noticing others' needs takes practice in our self-focused world. Start small: hold doors open, offer to carry heavy items, check on neighbors during difficult times. When my elderly neighbor had surgery, simply bringing over a home-cooked meal meant more to her than I realized.
Our purchasing decisions impact others we may never meet. When possible, consider buying fair trade products, supporting ethical companies, and making environmentally responsible choices. Loving our global neighbors often happens at the cash register.
Digital spaces need kindness too. Before posting that comment or sharing that article, ask yourself: "Would I want someone to speak to me this way?" Online interactions lack the humanizing elements of face-to-face conversation, making kindness even more important.
Prayer connects love to its source. Regularly praying for others—with the same passion you pray for your own needs—aligns your heart with God's love for them. This spiritual practice changes both the person praying and, through God's grace, those being prayed for.
The beauty of these practices is their accessibility. You don't need special training or extraordinary resources—just the willingness to extend to others the care you naturally give yourself. When practiced consistently, these small acts create ripples of change in our relationships and communities.
If you're struggling to love well because of your own emotional or mental health challenges, getting support isn't selfish—it's actually an act of love toward both yourself and others. Our coaches at Share The Struggle can help you build the internal resources you need to love more freely and authentically. More info about coaching
Frequently Asked Questions about the Love Others as You Love Yourself Verse
Does loving my neighbor mean equal or greater love than myself?
When we look at the love others as you love yourself verse, it's easy to wonder about the exact measure of love required. The command isn't necessarily a mathematical equation demanding perfect equality in how we allocate care. Instead, it uses our natural inclination for self-care as a practical model for how we should approach others.
Think about it this way: you naturally seek shelter when it's raining, eat when you're hungry, and rest when you're tired. The command invites us to extend that same attentiveness to others' needs.
That said, Jesus and the apostles do sometimes call us to go even further. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul encourages us to "value others above yourselves," and Jesus himself says in John 15:13 that there's no greater love than laying down one's life for friends. These passages suggest that mature Christian love might sometimes exceed the baseline of "as yourself."
I like how the Amplified Bible captures this nuance, translating the command as "unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others." This isn't about perpetual self-neglect, but rather developing the spiritual maturity to consider others' needs as important as—and sometimes even more pressing than—our own.
Who qualifies as my "neighbor" in 21st-century life?
Jesus deliberately expanded our understanding of "neighbor" through the parable of the Good Samaritan. When directly asked "Who is my neighbor?" he told a story where the hero was a religious outsider who helped a stranger from a different ethnic group.
In today's interconnected world, your neighbor includes just about everyone whose life touches yours in any way:
Your family members and friends are neighbors, but so is the barista who makes your coffee. Your coworkers are neighbors, but so are the people you only know through social media. The person who shares your political views is your neighbor, and so is the person whose views make your blood pressure rise. The local homeless person is your neighbor, as is the customer service representative you'll never meet in person.
Even future generations affected by today's decisions count as neighbors in this expansive biblical understanding. This challenges us to extend love across all the dividing lines of our polarized society—a tall order, but one that reflects the radical nature of Jesus' teaching.
How can I love others when I'm struggling with self-worth?
This question touches so many of us. If the command uses self-love as a model for loving others, what happens when we're battling feelings of worthlessness or self-criticism?
First, take heart in knowing that the command assumes a basic self-care that most of us practice almost automatically. Even when struggling with poor self-image, most people still feed themselves, seek shelter, and avoid immediate harm. This basic self-preservation can be your starting point for how to treat others.
Second, working on healthy self-regard is a legitimate part of spiritual growth. At Share The Struggle, we regularly help people:
Recognize their inherent worth as image-bearers of God, uniquely created and deeply loved. Accept God's valuation rather than depending solely on their own assessment. Challenge those persistent negative thought patterns that whisper "not enough" or "unworthy." Heal from past wounds that have damaged their self-perception. And develop healthy boundaries that protect their well-being while remaining open to others.
Through weekly coaching, many people find that as they learn to receive God's love for themselves, their capacity to love others expands naturally. Whether in our supportive group settings for $40/month or more personalized one-on-one sessions starting at $180/month, this healing journey creates beautiful ripple effects in all relationships.
Here's the good news: you don't need to wait until you've completely resolved your self-worth issues before you can love others. Often, the very act of extending kindness to someone else becomes healing for our own hearts, reminding us of our capacity to make a positive difference in the world.
Conclusion
The command to love others as you love yourself stands as one of Scripture's most profound invitations to change. From its ancient roots in Leviticus to Jesus elevating it as the second greatest commandment, this principle has always been about creating a different kind of community—one where we extend to others the same care, compassion, and consideration we naturally give ourselves.
This isn't merely a lofty ideal floating above everyday life. It's a practical guideline for how we interact with family members, colleagues, strangers, and even those who challenge us. When we genuinely practice neighbor-love, we create spaces where everyone can flourish and grow. We reflect God's character in tangible ways and fulfill what the law was always pointing toward.
Of course, loving others well isn't always straightforward. Many of us struggle with this command not because we don't value it, but because internal barriers—anxiety, past hurts, unhealthy thought patterns—can limit our capacity to love consistently. That's why at Share The Struggle, we believe that addressing these inner obstacles is often a necessary step in growing our ability to love others.
Through our Captive Thoughts coaching approach, we help people identify and transform the thinking patterns that make loving others difficult. As one client shared, "I never realized how my anxiety was making me self-focused until I learned to challenge those thoughts. Now I have so much more emotional energy for my relationships."
The journey toward loving others as ourselves is exactly that—a journey, not a destination we reach overnight. Each small choice to listen more carefully, speak more kindly, or extend grace when it's difficult moves us closer to embodying Christ's love in our world.
If you're finding this command challenging to live out, whether because of relationship difficulties, emotional struggles, or simply not knowing where to start, coaching might provide the support you need. Our coaches combine biblical wisdom with practical tools to help you grow in your capacity to love. You can learn more about our coaching options and find the approach that fits your needs, whether that's weekly group sessions at $40/month or more personalized one-on-one support.
The beautiful truth is that as we learn to love others better, we often find more of God's love for us in the process. And ultimately, that's what makes this ancient command not a burden, but a doorway to the life we were created for.
