Loving your neighbor is at the core of living out our faith.
The Bible teaches us that love is more than a feeling—it’s an action, a way of living that reflects God’s heart to those around us.
Here are 36 Bible verses about loving your neighbor, each with a short explanation to inspire and encourage you to live in love.
1. Matthew 22:39 (NASB)
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus makes this commandment one of the greatest, right after loving God. Loving our neighbor as ourselves means treating others with the same kindness, patience, and care that we desire for ourselves.
2. Luke 6:31 (NASB)
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”
Known as the Golden Rule this verse is a simple, yet profound way of living out love. It reminds us to act with the same kindness and love we hope to receive. If we all treated others as we wish to be treated, the world would be transformed.
“Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
True love ensures we do no harm. If we love, we naturally fulfill God’s law, because love seeks the good of others.
4. Romans 15:2 (NLT)
“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.”
We can use our experiences and wisdom to help build up and encourage others to also do what is right in their walk with the Lord.
5. 1 John 4:21 (NASB)
“And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”
Our love for God is reflected in how we love others. It’s impossible to love God deeply and not care for those around us.
6. Luke 10:27 (NASB)
“And he answered, ‘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.'”
This verse reminds us that loving God and others is inseparable. Genuine faith means loving God and our neighbors. These two loves are intertwined, forming the foundation of Christian living.
7. Galatians 5:14 (NASB)
“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Paul emphasizes that love sums up the entire law. By loving others, we align with God’s heart and His commands.
8. Proverbs 3:27 (NASB)
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”
Loving your neighbor means taking action when you can help. If we have the ability to do good, love compels us to act.
9. 1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
Love is a powerful force that can overcome offenses and bring healing to broken relationships.
10. Matthew 5:44 (NASB)
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Loving your neighbor isn’t limited to those who are kind to you—it extends to those who challenge and oppose you. This kind of love changes hearts.
11. Ephesians 4:2 (NASB)
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”
True love requires patience and humility. It means being gentle even when it’s hard and bearing with others in their weaknesses.
12. James 2:8 (NASB)
“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”
James calls it the “royal law,” because it comes from the King of Kings. Love is a kingly virtue that reflects God’s kingdom values. As a royal representative love will guide every part of our lives.
13. Colossians 3:14 (NASB)
“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Love is the glue that holds communities together. Without it, unity crumbles.
14. Hebrews 13:1 (NASB)
“Let love of the brethren continue.”
Love should be a constant in our lives—something that we actively pursue and nurture.
15. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NASB)
“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you.”
Paul’s prayer is for our love to grow, not just for those close to us but for everyone.
16. John 15:12 (NASB)
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
The love Jesus showed us is the model for how we are to love others—selfless, sacrificial, and boundless.
17. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NASB)
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous… Love never fails.”
The famous “love chapter” reminds us of the qualities of true love. It’s patient, kind, and enduring—it doesn’t give up.
18. 1 John 3:18 (NASB)
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
Love isn’t just about saying the right words—it’s about taking action. Real love is shown through what we do.
19. Romans 13:10 (NASB)
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Love is the ultimate expression of God’s law. When we act in love, we automatically live in alignment with God’s commandments because love seeks the good of others.
20. 1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
Peter encourages fervent love—love that is passionate and consistent. This kind of love brings grace into relationships, allowing us to overlook faults and forgive.
21. Proverbs 3:29 (NASB)
“Do not devise harm against your neighbor, while he lives securely beside you.”
This proverb calls for integrity in how we treat those around us. Loving our neighbor means ensuring their well-being and not plotting harm.
22. Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Love is expressed through kindness and forgiveness. As God has forgiven us through Christ, we are to extend that same grace to our neighbors.
23. Colossians 3:14 (NASB)
“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Love is what binds people together in perfect harmony. Paul encourages believers to “put on” love, just as one would put on a garment, making it central to our relationships.
24. 1 John 3:18 (NASB)
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
Love isn’t just something we say; it’s something we do. This verse challenges us to express love through our actions and in truth, reflecting God’s genuine care.
25. John 13:34 (NASB)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Jesus raises the standard by calling us to love as He loved us—selflessly, sacrificially, and unconditionally.
26. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NASB)
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.”
The famous “love chapter” describes how love should look in our everyday lives. It’s more than a feeling—it’s about being patient, kind, and selfless in how we treat others.
27. Matthew 5:43-44 (NASB)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Jesus calls us to radical love, extending even to our enemies. Loving those who are difficult or who oppose us reflects the transformative power of God’s love in us.
28. Romans 12:10 (NASB)
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”
Paul calls believers to be committed to one another in love, seeking to honor and uplift others above ourselves. This selflessness reflects Christ’s attitude.
29. Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
True love is rooted in humility. By observing other’s needs, and even putting others’ needs before our own, we demonstrate Christlike love in a world focused on self-interest.
30. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NASB)
“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”
This verse calls us to seek the good of others, even when they hurt us. Loving our neighbor means rejecting retaliation and choosing good in every situation. We repay evil with good.
31. Hebrews 13:1-2 (NASB)
“Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Loving our neighbor often includes hospitality—welcoming strangers and offering kindness, knowing that we might be serving angels in disguise.
32. Zechariah 7:9-10 (NASB)
“Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.'”
God calls us to show kindness and compassion, particularly to those in need. Loving our neighbor means fighting for justice and defending the vulnerable.
33. Leviticus 19:18 (NASB)
“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”
From the Old Testament, this command shows us that love includes forgiveness and releasing grudges. It’s about forgiving and loving even in the middle of conflict.
34. Micah 6:8 (NASB)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Loving others means loving justice and kindness, walking humbly in our relationships with God and others.
35. Philippians 2:3 (NASB)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.”
Love isn’t self-seeking. When we consider others as more important than ourselves, we reflect the heart of Jesus.
36. Matthew 7:12 (NASB)
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Once again, Jesus highlights the importance of treating others with the same love and respect we hope to receive. This sums up God’s desire for how we live in community.
Loving your neighbor isn’t always easy, but the Bible is clear—it is one of the most important ways we can reflect God’s love to the world. As you meditate on these verses, ask God to help you love others in both big and small ways, showing His heart to everyone you meet.
Related Resources:
Being a Good Neighbor Brings Fulfillment
34 Inspiring Bible Verses About God’s Presence
God is Love: A Theology of God’s Love
What to Read in the Bible When You Feel Alone
