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As a believer in biblical teachings, one of the most profound yet most complex commands to follow is the one to love others.
We freely give love to others, especially when we are on good terms with them. Someone treats us well; we treat them well, with love, kindness, and respect. But what if someone mistreats us?
Can we love someone who has betrayed our trust, mistreated us, and hasn’t reciprocated love back to us like we freely gave it to them? According to verses of scripture, we are to love them too.
Thankfully, we aren’t supposed to follow the guidelines of the Christian faith on our own strength but seek God for His grace, which is freely given to us so we can fulfill His purpose to show love to others.
This article will answer the question, “What is love?” Then, discuss why it is important to love others. Afterward, we will look at Bible verses about loving others to support those claims.
What is Love?
Love is defined as a great pleasure or interest shown toward another. You have a fondness and tenderness toward a person.
When you love someone, you like them a WHOLE LOT! Like the band Whitesnake, you may be thinking of someone right now and asking yourself, “Is this love that I'm feeling?”
Now, to go deeper, there are 4 types of love discussed throughout the bible.
- Eros Love – This love is sensual and romantic.
- Storge Love – This love is a love you would show toward your relatives and immediate family.
- Philia Love – This brotherly love unites us for a similar cause.
- Agape Love – This love symbolizes God's love for all humankind. It is a love that is unconditional.
1 Corinthians chapter 13 explains how love should motivate all our actions toward others. Verses 4-8 tell us, “Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].”
Why is it Important to Love Others?
Psychologists have discovered what scriptures have been pointing us to for many years. Love is considered one of the basic needs of all human beings. It is just as essential to us as water, food, and shelter.
We also learn that love is so beneficial to everyone. Not just benefiting the ones who are on the receiving end of love but also those who are spreading or demonstrating love toward others.
Making social connections is vital to our overall physical health and well-being. This precious commodity called love provides us with purpose, security, and happiness.
Love is the ingredient that helps us to forgive others, navigate and overcome trauma, and become more active and healthier people.
Have you ever suffered from a bad breakup, and all you wanted to do was lie in bed or on the couch, eat junk food, and watch TV all day?
During that emotional time, you may have neglected your hygiene and most forms of self-care. Unfortunately, you may have even rejected the love and comforts that a good friend or loved one was willing to provide to help you cope with the situation.
Before long, your girlfriends, sisters, or college frat buddies came over to your house and drug you out for a night on the town to involve you in activities you enjoy and to take your mind off your broken heart. And it worked!
Their love for you wouldn't allow you to waste away in misery. Instead, it was liberating and freeing to you. It also encouraged them and warmed their hearts to see you in a better state physically and mentally in the process.
Loving others frees us from the burden that hatred, resentment, unforgiveness, and jealousy can bring. Instead of love being the ingredient added to a life that gives us joy and freedom when misplaced, it binds us to frustration, anger, and sadness.
To love others is to have a Christlike perspective because “God is love.” So, to have this outlook, we essentially look at others through the lenses of love.
Similar to eye-glass lenses, when we look at others through the lenses of love, we consider their feelings before we say a thing or act a particular way toward them.
We prioritize the well-being of others, granting them the same show of care and consideration we wish to have from others.
Lastly, it’s important to love others because when we do, we consider our flaws and extend grace toward others in their shortcomings. This principle makes us good personal and business partners and more friendly toward strangers.
Loving others is not always an easy thing to do. However, through prayer, meditating on scripture, and being intentional, we can better show compassion to our neighbors.
45 Bible Verses About the Importance of Loving Others
Old Testament Verses
1. Jeremiah 31:3
“The Lord appeared to me (Israel) from ages past, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness, I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.”
2. Deuteronomy 6:4–5
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].”
3. Leviticus 19:34
“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.”
4. Psalm 103:8
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.”
5. Leviticus 19:17–18
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you may most certainly rebuke your neighbor but shall not incur sin because of him. 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.”
You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you may most certainly rebuke your neighbor but shall not incur sin because of him. 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.” – Leviticus 19:17–18
6. Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].”
7. Proverbs 17:9
“He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.”
8. Psalm 40:11
“Do not withhold Your compassion and tender mercy from me, O Lord; your lovingkindness and your truth will continually preserve me.”
9. Song of Solomon 1:2
“May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” [Solomon arrives, she turns to him, saying,] “For your love is better than wine.”
10. Psalm 31:16
“Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.”
11. Lamentations 3:22-23
“It is because of the Lord’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his tender compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.”
12. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up. Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
New Testament Verses
13. Mark 12:31
“You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself…”
14. 1 John 4:8
“The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]”
15. 1 John 4:20-21
“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.”
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.” – 1 John 4:20-21
16. Romans 13:10
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law.”
17. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.”
18. John 3:16
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish but have eternal life.”
19. Matthew 7:12
“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.”
20. 1 John 4:11
“Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.”
21. 1 John 3:18
“Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].”
22. Galatians 5:14
“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].”
23. 1 John 3:11
“For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another.”
24. Matthew 19:19
“Honor your father and mother; and love your neighbor as yourself” [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].”
25. James 2:8
“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.”
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.” – James 2:8
26. John 15:13
“No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.”
27. Romans 15:2
“Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually.”
28. John 13:34
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.”
29. Hebrews 13:1-2
“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.”
30. 1 John 4:19
“We love because He first loved us.”
31. 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now there remain; faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.”
32. Romans 13:8
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].”
33. James 1:27
“Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.”
34. Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor.”
35. Galatians 6:10
“So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).”
So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).” – Galatians 6:10
36. 1 John 4:7
“Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].”
37. Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
38. 1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household], and humble in spirit.”
39. Philippians 2:3
“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.”
40. 1 Corinthians 10:24
“Let no one seek [only] his own good, but [also] that of the other person.”
41. Colossians 3:13
“Bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.”
42. Luke 6:27
“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you.”
43. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore, encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.”
44. Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.”
45. 1 John 4:16
“We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.”
Final Thoughts on Bible Verses About the Importance of Loving Others
I get it; loving others is hard when we know little to nothing about them, we've had bad experiences with them, they hurt someone we love, or they appear to be a terrible person overall.
Our Lord demonstrated the type of love required of us when He sacrificed His sinless life for the sins of all humanity.
He hung on a cross after being physically and verbally abused. Still, he prayed to the Heavenly Father to forgive them because they were crucifying Him out of ignorance.
The Lord was able to care about the well-being of His enemies, and by God's grace, we can, too. Like Jesus, we can be empathetic toward others, even those who frequently oppose us or whose rudeness and indifference catch us off guard.
Admittedly, it may take much prayer and reading scripture affirmations to strengthen our faith. But we can do it.
The Lord will help us to consider the situation before we react. For instance, the person at the check-out counter who spoke harshly to us may have been up all night caring for a sick child.
A person with an unfriendly demeanor may be dealing with grief or depression. The person who hasn't returned our phone calls may be dealing with domestic issues, financial problems, phone anxiety, working overtime, and the list goes on and on.
The Christ-like thing to do is to show warmth and kindness toward others, flaws and all. Give them the same grace that we would love to have from them. Our purpose on earth is to leave it better than we found it. And it all starts with love.
You can change the world and make it better, one heart at a time, by living with the conviction of the importance of loving others.
And if you want more inspirational bible verses, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 37 Good Bible Verses About Having Hope for the Future
- 27 Best Bible Verses About Success & Prosperity
- 21 Bible Verses About Having Self-Control in Your Life
