Lev 19:16-18 | TNotes | STEP | 19:16 Do not spread slanderous gossip: The image here is of a merchant who trades and sells harmful rumors and accusations. This practice would quickly erode and undermine the sense of community so valued in Israel (cp. Prov 11:13 ; 16:28 ; 20:19 ; 26:20 ; 2 Cor 12:20 ).

19:16 ^a Do not spread slanderous gossip: The image here is of a merchant who trades and sells harmful rumors and accusations. This practice would quickly erode and undermine the sense of community so valued in Israel (cp. Prov 11:13 ^b; 16:28 ^c; 20:19 ^d; 26:20 ^e; 2 Cor 12:20 ^f).
19:17 ^g for any of your relatives: The Hebrew term can refer to any fellow Israelite; all Israel was considered one family (cp. 1 Jn 3:15 ^h).

• Confront people directly: Love does not mean closing one’s eyes to wrong; reproof can help a person change.
19:18 ⁱ love your neighbor as yourself: This is the cornerstone for biblical ethics in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (see Matt 22:39 ^j; Mark 12:31 ^k; Luke 10:27 ^l; Rom 13:8-9 ^m; Gal 5:14 ⁿ; Jas 2:8 ^o). It includes foreigners (Lev 19:34 ^p; cp. Luke 10:30-37 ^q). Conversely, hate leads to a grudge that can bear violent fruit (see 1 Jn 2:10-11 ^r; 4:20 ^s).