You asked

how might this passage challenge my assumptions about who belongs or who is 'other' in society today?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Leviticus 19:33-34

““‘When a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.”

These verses are part of the Holiness Code in Leviticus, a collection of laws given to the ancient Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. This section outlines ethical and social responsibilities, reminding them of their own past as displaced people.

What does it mean to love a 'stranger' as yourself when the concept of 'self' can feel so intertwined with identity and community?

Then — the setting

This passage comes from the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26), likely compiled during or after the Babylonian exile (6th-5th century BCE) but reflecting much older traditions. It addresses the Israelite community, newly formed and covenantally bound, establishing laws for their distinctive way of life in the land of Canaan. The 'stranger' (Hebrew: *ger*) refers to a non-Israelite who had settled permanently or semi-permanently within Israelite territory, often without family land or legal protections. These individuals were particularly vulnerable, making the command to protect and love them a significant act of social justice and religious obedience.

Across the Testaments

In the Old Testament, the command to care for the *ger* is foundational, appearing repeatedly in legal and narrative texts. It's rooted in Israel's own experience as 'strangers' in Egypt, emphasizing empathy born from shared vulnerability. The New Testament deeply develops this theme. Jesus expands the concept of 'neighbor' (Luke 10:29-37, the Good Samaritan) to include unexpected and even adversarial figures, radicalizing the call to love beyond ethnic or religious boundaries. The early Christian community, often marginalized itself, continued this ethos by welcoming all people, regardless of background (Galatians 3:28), seeing hospitality to 'strangers' as a direct service to Christ (Matthew 25:35).

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Deuteronomy 10:18-19
Echoes the command to love the foreigner, linking it to God's care for them and Israel's past.
Matthew 25:35
Jesus identifies himself with the hungry, thirsty, and stranger, calling for compassion and welcome.
Romans 12:13
Encourages believers to practice hospitality and contribute to the needs of others.

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