As Christians, we are called to love and serve those around us, including our neighbors. The Bible gives us guidance on how to treat others with kindness, compassion, and love. Below are Bible verses that shed light on the importance of being a good neighbor. These scriptures encourage us to build relationships, offer help, and be a source of light in our communities. May these verses inspire you to reflect God’s love in your interactions with others.
Bible Verses About Neighbors
Mark 12:31 – Love your neighbor as yourself
“The second is like it, ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Galatians 5:14 – The law is fulfilled in love
“For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].’”
Luke 10:27 – Love God and your neighbor
“And he replied, ‘You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.’”
Proverbs 3:28 – Do not delay helping your neighbor
“Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.”
Romans 13:10 – Love does no wrong to a neighbor
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; it never hurts anybody. Therefore unselfish love is the fulfillment of the Law.”
James 2:8 – Love your neighbor according to Scripture
“If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit],’ you are doing well.”
Proverbs 27:10 – A neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away
“Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.”
Exodus 20:16 – Do not lie about your neighbor
“You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor [any person].”
Leviticus 19:18 – Do not bear grudges against your neighbor
“You shall not take revenge nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor (acquaintance, associate, companion) as yourself; I am the Lord.”
Matthew 7:12 – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
“So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets.”
Proverbs 14:21 – Blessings come to those who show mercy to the poor
“He who despises his neighbor sins [against God and his fellow man], but happy [blessed, favored by God] is he who is gracious and merciful to the poor.”
Matthew 22:39 – The second greatest commandment
“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’”
Romans 15:2 – Build up your neighbor
“Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually.”
Zechariah 8:16 – Speak truth to your neighbor
“These are the things which you should do: speak the truth with one another; judge with truth and pronounce the judgment that brings peace in the [courts at your] gates.”
Ephesians 4:25 – Speak truth and build unity
“Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].”
Luke 6:31 – Treat others as you want to be treated
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”
Psalm 15:3 – Do not harm your neighbor
“He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend.”
1 Corinthians 10:24 – Seek the good of others
“Let no one seek [only] his own good, but [also] that of the other person.”
Isaiah 41:6 – Encourage your neighbor
“They help everyone his neighbor and say to his brother [as he fashions his idols], ‘Be of good courage!’”
1 Peter 4:9 – Show hospitality to one another
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
Proverbs 25:17 – Respect your neighbor’s boundaries
“Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house, or he will become tired of you and hate you.”
Exodus 22:26 – Return your neighbor’s belongings
“If you ever take your neighbor’s robe in pledge, you must return it to him before sunset.”
Leviticus 19:13 – Do not oppress your neighbor
“You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you overnight until morning.”
Micah 6:8 – Walk humbly with your God
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?”
Matthew 5:42 – Give to those who ask
“Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
Romans 12:20 – Feed your enemies
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Matthew 5:9 – Be a peacemaker
“Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.”
Leviticus 19:33-34 – Treat foreigners as neighbors
“When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress or mistreat him. But the stranger who resides with you shall be to you like someone native born among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”
Hebrews 13:1-2 – Show hospitality to strangers
“Let love of your fellow believers continue. Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Philippians 2:3-4 – Look to the interests of others
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives or strife], but with an attitude of humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 – Do not covet your neighbor’s belongings
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Proverbs 24:28 – Do not be a false witness against your neighbor
“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips [speak neither lies nor half-truths].”
Matthew 19:19 – Honor your parents and love your neighbor
“Honor your father and mother; and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].”
Proverbs 11:12 – Understanding keeps us silent about our neighbors
“He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.”
Isaiah 58:7 – Help those in need
“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?”
Matthew 5:44 – Love your enemies
“But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Leviticus 19:11 – Do not deceive your neighbor
“You shall not steal, nor deal deceptively, nor lie to one another.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Listening to Others
What Does the Bible Say About Neighbors
The Bible has quite a bit to say about how we should treat our neighbors, and you’d be surprised how much wisdom is packed in there about living alongside other people. Now, let’s be honest, sometimes neighbors can be wonderful, but sometimes they can be a bit challenging, can’t they? But here’s the thing—whether we have the nicest neighbors or the most difficult ones, we’re still called to treat them in a certain way. So let’s dive in and see what the Bible says about this.
First, when we think about neighbors, the first thing that comes to mind might be the people who live physically near us, and that’s certainly part of it. But according to the Bible, your “neighbor” isn’t just the person in the house next door. It’s anyone you come into contact with. It could be the person standing behind you in line at the grocery store, the colleague you work with every day, or even a stranger you meet while running errands. In Luke 10:27, we are told to “love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s a big one, folks. It’s not saying to love your neighbor if they’re easy to get along with, if they mow their lawn on time, or if they never throw loud parties. No, it’s saying to love your neighbor as yourself, no matter who they are or how difficult it might be.
Now, that brings me to another point: how do we love our neighbors? This love isn’t just a feeling; it’s an action. The Bible is very clear that love is something we do, not just something we feel. In 1 John 3:18, it says, “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” In other words, it’s one thing to say you care about your neighbor, but it’s a whole different ballgame to actually show it through your actions. That could mean helping them when they’re in need, being patient when they’ve wronged you, or simply being kind and considerate in your everyday interactions with them. These things may seem small, but they can make a huge difference in how we live together in our communities.
And while we’re on the topic of kindness, Proverbs 3:29 gives us a good piece of advice. It says, “Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.” Now, I’m not saying anyone here is plotting against their neighbors, but it’s a reminder that we’re meant to live in peace with those around us. Whether it’s dealing with noisy neighbors, boundary disputes, or just differences in lifestyle, the Bible tells us to avoid conflict when we can. It encourages us to be peacemakers in our neighborhoods.
The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 is probably one of the most well-known Bible stories about neighbors. You see, when Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He told the story of a man who was beaten and left on the side of the road. Two people walked right past him, but it was a Samaritan, someone who wouldn’t normally be expected to help, who stopped, bandaged his wounds, and took care of him. Jesus told that story to remind us that our neighbor is anyone who needs our help, not just the people we like or who are easy to get along with. We’re called to show compassion to everyone, even those we might not feel comfortable around.
Lastly, let’s not forget Romans 13:10, which says, “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” What a powerful statement. If we truly love our neighbors, we won’t harm them, gossip about them, or be unkind to them. Loving our neighbors is not just a good idea, it’s fulfilling the very law of God.
So, to sum it up, the Bible tells us that loving our neighbor is not just a suggestion—it’s a command. And this love is not based on feelings, convenience, or whether the person is easy to love. It’s based on action, kindness, and a commitment to peace. We’re called to live in a way that reflects the love of God to everyone around us, even those who may not always make it easy. So the next time you see your neighbor, remember that God is calling you to love them, not just with words, but with your actions. Let’s do our best to live that out every day.