Jesus was directly speaking to a Jewish expert in the Law in the hearing of other Jewish listeners. This context is important as the man’s question is in response to Jesus saying love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Luke 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ESV
This man, like many people, was looking for a loophole. If we can define our neighbor, we can justify lack of love for “certain kinds of people.”
Luke 10:30-37 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” ESV
The Good Samaritan reveals the character and nature of Christ in doing something for someone you know would never do the same for you.
This was a shocking and challenging story to these Jews because they hated Samaritans. They had religious differences that ran deep, and Jews avoided them socially, religiously and even geographically.
It is kind of difficult for us to relate to the characters named in the story. A priest in our context could be a respected pastor. A Levite in our context could be a person on the worship team or very involved church member. You get the picture. These would be esteemed leaders in our faith contrasted against this “Samaritan.”
If Jesus were making this point to us today, to have a resembling shock value, he might reference “the good communist” or “the good muslim”. To Republicans he might say, “The Good Democrat” or to Democrats, “The Good Republican”. In Israel he might reference the good Palestinian. The Palestines would hear about the good Israeli.
By making the Samaritan the hero, Jesus challenges our prejudices and addresses our filter of neighborly love. He was confronting worldly perspectives calling us to a radical love that goes beyond ethnic, religious or even moral boundaries.
Common rabbinical teaching of day Lev 19:18 love neighbor as yourself
Imagine their shock when he said, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27).
We can love our enemies even if that kind of love doesn't reside in us. It may have to reside in God and come to and through us.
Keeping God in the forefront of our minds is the fundamental secret to caring for our souls and for the souls of those around us! It changes us from the inside out and empowers us to be able to offer the very love of God to others.
Neglecting time in God’s presence for me awakens a secret search for praise, talking about myself, less love and consideration for others, a general feeling of unease, irritability, a general feel of unease, its hard to concentrate on scripture and prayer and just an overall lack of peace.
Nothing flourishes if it does not submit to and go through the process of nourishment.
GP2RL: Make room for a deep place of prayer for people in your five-foot circle praying for them by name. Write their names and be intentional about loving them well this week.
