Why would anyone ask the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
It seems like a foolish question. Most of us have some kind of concept of who we consider our neighbors and would never think to ask such a question. Of course, things become a lot less obvious when we are trying to justify ourselves in the face of moral scrutiny.
This lawyer knows who he considers his neighbor, but he is looking for a way out, a legal way to say he has fulfilled the command, while not surrendering his own autonomy. Jesus sees right through this and gives him the story of the good Samaritan. This particular tale is a beautiful example of love that is not looking for a loophole. The Samaritan just does the right thing without looking for technicalities that will absolve him of any responsibility. For him, this is simply a matter of loving your fellow man.
Today, what parts of your Christian walk are you trying to avoid using “technicalities”? Are you walking to please and honor him, or are you doing just enough to make sure you don’t cross any lines?
What would your life look like if you stopped looking for loopholes and just started living for His Glory?
-Pastor Conley
Luke 10:25–37 (MEV)
25 Now, a lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?”
27 He answered, “ ‘You shall 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 ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus answered, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 By chance a priest came down that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to that place, looked at him and passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. Then he set him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day when he departed, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said to him, ‘Take care of him. I will repay you whatever else you spend when I return.’
36 “Now which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”