Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed compassion to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
The religious leaders frequently attempted to trap Jesus in His words. On one occasion, a lawyer (an expert in the law of Moses) asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus turned the question back to the lawyer, asking him what was written in the Law. The lawyer responded by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 (Love God with all you are) and Leviticus 19:18 (Love your neighbor as yourself).
Jesus congratulated the lawyer, telling him he had answered well. And he went on to tell him that if he did that, he would live (have eternal life). But, apparently, the lawyer felt convicted by Jesus’ response. So, in order to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” And Jesus responded with the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Who Is My Neighbor?
A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was robbed, beaten, and left half dead on the side of the road. Three other people came upon the scene: a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. The priest and the Levite crossed the road and went on their way. But the despised Samaritan stopped, treated his wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for the wounded man to stay until he had healed.
So, Jesus asked, which of the three was a neighbor to the robbery victim? The lawyer had to admit that it was not the priest or the Levite. It was the Samaritan, the one who had shown mercy to the one in need. And Jesus told him to go and do the same.
So who is my neighbor? The one I am to love like I do myself. They are not just my friends and family. And they are more than the members of the church I am a part of or even other believers. Jesus uses this parable to teach us that the neighbors we are to love include anyone we encounter who needs us. If I see someone in need and can do something to help them, rather than pass by on the other side of the road, I should get my hands dirty and help them.
This is admittedly not easy. But it is what Jesus tells us to do.
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