Who Is My Neighbor?
TRANSLATION
(25) On one occasion, an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (26) And he said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (27) And he answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” (28) “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”
(29) But wanting to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (30) In response, Jesus said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers who stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead. (31) A priest happened to be going down the same road, and, when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) Likewise a Levite, when he came to the same place, saw him and passed by on the other side. (33) But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to the place where he lay. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, (34) approached him, bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then placed him on his own mount, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) The next day he took two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return.’ (36) Which one of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the one who was attacked by robbers?” (37) And he responded, “The one who had mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, and do likewise.”
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan has taken its place in the annals of world literature as one of the most iconic and impactful statements on love to be found anywhere. Among the repetitions that point us to the emphases of this passage are “neighbor” (vss. 27, 29, & 36), “attacked by robbers” (vss. 30 & 36), and “passed by on the other side” (vss. 31 & 32). Luke again presented his readers with a situation in which the one who attempted to put Jesus to the test with his question about inheriting eternal life found himself under the microscope.
Jesus’ authority was first on display in his answering a question with a question (vs. 26) and in his declaring that the man had answered his question correctly and challenging him to live that way (vs. 28). Still, an even greater display of Christ’s authority was seen in the brilliant story he gave in response to the lawyer’s second challenge, “And who is my neighbor?”
OUTLINE
I. The first Q & A – “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (25-28)
II. The second Q & A – “Who is my neighbor?” (29-37)
IDEA STATEMENT
We demonstrate our love for God by showing love to our neighbors wherever we might find them.
APPLICATION
Jesus never provided the lawyer with a precise definition of “neighbor” in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Instead, he answered the question, “And who is my neighbor?” with a compelling story that displayed how a good neighbor behaves.
In a chapel message at Dallas Theological Seminary the speaker offered the following definition: “Loving my neighbor means that I’m always prepared to help anyone who has a need that I am able to meet.” Jesus was not calling us to interfere in the affairs of others, especially with those who clearly do not want our help. Nor was he telling us to do something that lies beyond our scope or capacity. However, if we become aware of someone struggling with something for which we can provide genuine help, we are to step up and unstintingly offer whatever help we can render no matter who that person might be and no matter how inconvenient our helping might seem at the moment. By serving the needs of others whatever they are, wherever we are, whenever we can, and whoever they may be, we are loving our neighbor as ourselves.