Chapter 3 (106): 1. Who Is Our Neighbour.—Augustine, In The Book On Christian
120 | THE SENTENCES, BOOK 3
Chapter 3 (106)
1. WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOUR.—AUGUSTINE, IN THE BOOK ON CHRISTIAN
DOCTRINE: "That he who commanded love of neighbour excepted no man is shown by the Lord in the parable of the man left half-dead,' where he calls the one who was merciful to him neighbour.' Then he adds: Go and do you likewise,' so that we understand him to be our neighbour to whom we are bound to show mercy, if he needs it, or would be bound to show it, if he needed it. But who does not see that no one is excepted from our duty to show mercy, since it extends even to our enemies? For the Lord says: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you."*" "And so it is clear that every man is to be considered our neighbour.'
2. THAT THE TERM NEIGHBOUR IS RELATIVE.—THAT THE ANGELS ARE
CONTAINED IN THAT PRECEPT: "The term neighbour is a relative one, nor can anyone be a neighbour, except to a neighbour."' And so it follows
"that the one to whom, and the one by whom, mercy is to be shown is rightly called a neighbour. Hence it is clear that the holy angels are also contained in the precept to love our neighbour, since they show us mercy in so many ways."®
3. THAT CHRIST IS ALSO OUR NEIGHBOUR: ACCORDING TO HIS HUMAN-
ITY, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO HIS DIVINITY, HE TOO IS COMMANDED BY
THAT COMMANDMENT TO BE LOVED AND TO LOVE. "As to this, even the Lord willed to be called our neighbour, as he indicates in the parable of the Samaritan' and in the Prophet: J bore myself as if he had been my neighbour or brother.'® But because the divine substance is more excellent than, and above, our nature, the command to love God is distinct from that of love of neighbour."'' And so, even though God confers all benefits on us, yet he, whom we are to love not as ourselves, but more than ourselves, with our whole heart and soul,'* is not included in the term 'neighbour' in that precept. But we are to love Christ as ourselves, insofar as he is man; love of him according to his humanity is contained in that precept. Even insofar as he is man, we are to love him more than
Choke 10; 305376 *Mt. 5, 44; Lk. 10, 37.
3Lk. 10, 37.
"Mt. 5, 44; Lk. 6, 2:7.
°Augustine, De doctrina christiana, bk 1 c30 n31 *Ibid., bk 1 c30 n32.
Tbid., bk 1 c30 n31.
'Ibid., bk 1 c30 n33.
"CLL 10: 36237
lps, 34, 14.
'' Augustine, De doctrina christiana, bk | c30 n33.
See above, dist. 27 c5 n4.