Most of us have heard Matthew 22:39 a hundred times: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s a foundational scripture, often quoted when talking about kindness and service to others. But let’s pause for a moment—what if how we love ourselves affects how we love others?
You ever met someone who was mean and hateful? If we take Matthew 22:39 to heart it’s probably because they have a very low opinion of themselves, whether they realize it or not. It may come from something in their past or something someone said, but just as sure as rain falls from the sky, something happened.
See, Jesus didn’t say, “Love your neighbor more than yourself.” He didn’t say, “Tolerate yourself but love others.” No, He made it clear: the way we love others is directly tied to the way we love ourselves. That means if we’re walking around filled with self-criticism, shame, and unworthiness, guess how we’re going to treat other people?
