Jesus On Friendship
Luke 10:29-37 (NKJV)
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
John 15:13 (KJV)
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Friendship In The New Testament
James 2:23 (ESV)
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
James 4:4 (NIV1984)
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Friendship In The Old Testament
Exodus 33:11 (KJV)
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Leviticus 19:18 (NIV1984)
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Proverbs 11:13 (NIV1984)
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
Proverbs 16:28 (NIV1984)
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV1984)
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 22:24 (KJV)
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Proverbs 27:6, 10 (NIV1984)
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,
and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
Song of Solomon 5:16 (NKJV)
16 His mouth is most sweet,
Yes, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,
And this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem!
Scripture contributions for June 2011 by: Paul Anderson, Linda Anderson, Matthew Anderson, Shirley Blacklock
