{And hate thine enemy} (kai mis(8873)eis). This phrase is not
in Le 19:18 , but is a rabbinical inference which Jesus
repudiates bluntly. The Talmud says nothing of love to enemies.
Paul in Ro 12:20 quotes Pr 25:22 to prove that we ought to
treat our enemies kindly. Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies
and did it himself even when he hung upon the cross. Our word
"neighbour" is "nigh-bor," one who is nigh or near like the Greek
word pl(8873)ion here. But proximity often means strife and not
love. Those who have adjoining farms or homes may be positively
hostile in spirit. The Jews came to look on members of the same
tribe as neighbours as even Jews everywhere. But they hated the
Samaritans who were half Jews and lived between Judea and
Galilee. Jesus taught men how to act as neighbours by the parable
of the Good Samaritan ( Lu 10:29ff. ).
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