37. Do not love the idolater

The 37th commandment of Mosaic Law is to not to love the idolater.

Where in scripture?

Deuteronomy 13:9

Do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him.

According to Jewish tradition, one may not love a person who entices others to worship idols. According to Chabad.org, though Jews are commanded to love every other Jew, – even a sinner – an inciter is the exception to this rule.

New Testament References

Matthew 22:39

…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Romans 13:8-10

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, (namely) "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

As Christians, we are called upon to love the sinner, but hate the sin.

As an aside, some people credit the phrase “love the sinner, but hate the sin,” to Mahatma Gandhi. The phrase, however, can be traced back to St. Augustine, who wrote “With love for mankind and hatred of sins.”

Conclusion

Not binding on Christians