On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ”Teacher,” he asked,
“what do I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”
He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply, Jesus said: “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and
went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same
road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So, too, a Levite,
when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a
Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took
pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then
he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The
next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’
he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may
have.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into
the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, ”Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37
Jesus asked the scholar how he interpreted the law. But later, He asks
him to clarify “neighbor.” How might we define “neighbor?”
Perspective - Writer 1
Who is my neighbor? The quintessential question posed by an expert of the
scripture.
Dressing his intentions in a reliable answer, he asks Jesus what he must do to
inherit eternal life. Jesus refers him to the Law. “Love the Lord your God with all
your heart, soul, strength, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” But the
man is not content. He presses Jesus for an answer. Who is my neighbor?
Jesus replies to his question with a parable – The Good Samaritan. Perhaps the
most well-known and well-loved of all of the parables, it is the story of a stranger
who goes beyond the expected response to help. A beautiful picture of “Who is my
neighbor?”
Except that the protagonist in Jesus’ parable was a Samaritan, hated by the Jews.
We are not told the nationality of the man attacked and left to die, but Jesus is
very clear on who did not help. A priest. A Levite. Two men whose calling would have
indicated at least a second glance.
But are we much better than they? Do we choose to be “neighbors” to those like us
or to those whose differences are compatible with our lifestyle? It is so much easier
to help someone we deem worthy of help. Perhaps the Priest or the Levite justified
their lack of compassion by weighing the importance of their time and function to
the needs of an unknown man.
The questioner was so incensed by the role of the Samaritan in the parable that,
when Jesus asked him who had been the neighbor to the man attacked and left to
die in the road, he only identified the Samaritan as “the one who showed mercy.”
The merit of the story was lost in the abyss of age-old prejudices.
O God, please help us not to play the game of who is important when we cross the
paths of those in need. We are all Yours. You have given us worth.
Perspective - Writer 2
For years, I focused on the lawyer’s question to Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” and
overlooked what Jesus asked in return, “Which of these three do you think was a
neighbor to the man?” The way we define “our neighbor” is actually our identity,
not theirs, and that answers both questions.
As Christians, our identity must be found in Christ. “For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do.” (Ephesians 2:10) He transforms our heart and mind which affects the way we
see those around us and how we treat them. As a result, we won’t spend time trying
to define who our neighbor is. Instead, we will spend time figuring out how to see and love everyone the way Jesus does. We will be a neighbor, a light, to everyone we encounter. "Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Perspective - Writer 3
In God’s eyes, our neighbors are not just the people who live next door or across
the street. Our neighbors can be found anywhere that we are. Years ago during my
lunch break from work, I saw a lady who had fallen outside the bank and as a result,
had a badly broken wrist. It was pouring rain. No umbrella. I sat down next to her,
held her arm, and tried to shield the rain from her with my body until the
ambulance arrived. Was I late getting back to work? Yes! Was I soaking wet? Yes!
Did I care? NO! Did I know her or ever see her again? No! But she was my neighbor
and needed help. Nothing else mattered.
Listen for God’s prompts wherever you go and act accordingly. He will put us in
situations in order for us to show His love to others. It’s what He calls us to do.
Don’t cross the road. Stay the course that God has put us on.
Perspective - Writer 4
As I began studying this, it shocked me that I had forgotten, or never really
thought about, the context of this parable. I had heard many times the moral
lesson of being charitable and loving to all people. But I don’t recall ever
connecting it with the original question that was asked by the lawyer, “What shall I
do to inherit eternal life.” As Jesus so often does, he returned a question with a
question. He made the questioner answer the question and thus reveal his own
heart.
The scribe was interested in what he needed to do in order to obtain eternal life.
Being proficient in the scriptures, he knew the law ordered him to love God and
love his neighbor. However, knowing and doing are two completely different things.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus encounters the Pharisees and Scribes many times.
He often criticized them for their mere display of obedience. Their version of “law
keeping” was often only external and more like a performance for others to see and
admire. In modern terms, we could say they followed rules without working to
establish a genuine relationship with the Rule giver. When the focus is only on
following the rules, our lives veer quickly towards self-reliance, self-absorption,
legalism, and religiosity. Like so many throughout time, this lawyer could not see
that he, just like the beaten and battered man on the road, was completely
helpless on his own.
The story following the parables tells of two sisters. One is completely consumed
with the necessary actions required when hosting a dinner party. The other ignores
all the activity and sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to His teaching. The busy
sister asks for Jesus’ help in admonishing the younger sister. Jesus responds that her
sitting at His feet is “the one thing” that is necessary. It is more important for
her to hear and soak in the relationship with the Lord than anything else.
In Hosea 6:6, God says, “I don’t want your sacrifices – I want your love; I don’t
want your offerings – I want you to know Me.” Only when my heart and mind truly
understand the true grace and mercy which has been given me through Jesus will it
be possible for me to show compassion towards my neighbor. Left on my own, I will
always choose self. I will always choose to drive past the man on the street corner
asking for money. I will always walk toward my friend group and away from the
visitor at Church. But God changes my heart so that I can see with His eyes and
feel compassion towards all.