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N17. Despising Our Neighbor.    [Make a Comment]

We are not to despise our neighbor.

This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):

Key Scriptures

Proverbs 11:12
He who belittles another lacks good sense, whereas a person of discernment stays silent.

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his fellow sins, but he who shows compassion to the humble is happy.

Romans 14:3
The one who eats anything must not look down on the one who abstains; and the abstainer must not pass judgment on the one who eats anything, because God has accepted him

1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because of your youth; on the contrary, set the believers an example in your speech, behavior, love, trust and purity.

Supportive Scriptures

Proverbs 6:30
A thief is not despised if he steals only to satisfy his appetite when hungry;

Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who nurses anger against his brother will be subject to judgment; that whoever calls his brother, 'You good-for-nothing!' will be brought before the Sanhedrin; that whoever says, 'Fool!' incurs the penalty of burning in the fire of Gei-Hinnom!

Commentary

The natural un-regenerated man elevates himself and therefore despises his neighbors who are not like he is. We sometimes justify despising a person because he is our enemy or because of his sin. Scripture, on the other hand, calls us to despise a person's sin while having love and compassion for the person himself:

Jude 1:21-23:   Thus keep yourselves in God's love, as you wait for our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to give you the mercy that leads to eternal life. Rebuke some who are disputing; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and to yet others, show mercy, but with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their vices.

Classical Commentators

This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators.

NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm

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