By Gina Teeple
Director of Development & Ministry Relations
Who is my neighbor? It is a great question that, if we are being honest, we all ask from time-to-time. It is also the question Jesus is answering when He tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.
A lawyer, or scholar of the law, decides to put Jesus to the test by asking Him what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him what the law says, to which the man replies: “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” (Luke 10:27 ESV).
Jesus affirms his answer. If this man can keep the Law by perfectly loving God and his neighbor, he will inherit eternal life.
At this point in the story, I think we can all identify with the lawyer a little bit. Love God with all my heart? Got it. Love my neighbor as myself? Ummm ... that depends. Who is my neighbor?
Jesus’ answer to this question turns everything upside down. He tells the story of a man who is robbed, stripped, beaten, and left for dead on the side of the road. Two “religious” people walk by (a priest and a Levite), but do not help. Eventually a Samaritan comes along and has compassion on the man.
Wait—what?!?! A SAMARITAN?!?!
If you were sitting amongst Jesus’ audience, his words would have shocked you. Samaritans were NOT neighbors to the Jews. Rather, the two groups were openly hostile toward one another. The Jewish people cursed the Samaritans publicly in the synagogue. To eat Samaritan food was considered equal to eating swine’s flesh.
Yet it is the Samaritan—not the priest or Levite—who was a neighbor to the man beaten and left for dead. How is he a neighbor? He does what is in front of him. He cares for the man’s immediate needs using the things he has.
He binds the man’s wounds and pours oil and wine on them (the oil would have been soothing, while the wine would have acted as an antiseptic). He then puts the man on his animal, takes him to a nearby inn, and pays the innkeeper two days’ wages for the man’s ongoing care.
This parable can be challenging. It isn’t always easy to love your neighbor, especially when everyone is your neighbor. Sometimes you will want to pass by on the other side of the street, like the priest and Levite. As you consider how to share God’s love with those around you, however, it is important to remember that God is always with you, working in and through you, providing for all that you need!
Reflection Questions:
The priest and Levite avoid the man, passing by on the other side of the road, but the Samaritan is moved with compassion. The word Jesus uses here is the same word used to describe Jesus’ compassion for the crowds in Matthew 9:36. How does God’s compassion help us love our neighbor?
Jesus lifted up a Samaritan as the unlikely hero of this parable. How have you been inspired by the work of an unlikely hero— someone you wouldn’t have expected to be the one who acted to do God’s work? Did the work of this unlikely hero encourage you to do the same for someone in your life?
Caring for our neighbor can be overwhelming at times. It is especially tempting to feel like we always need to do more for our neighbor. This parable is an excellent illustration of how it is okay to ask for help. The Samaritan takes care of the man’s immediate needs and then pays the innkeeper to continue caring for the man. What are some ways you can ask others for help when you are overwhelmed?
This month’s study text:
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And 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 And 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 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.”
Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have called me to love my neighbor. Help me to not avert my eyes from the needs of those around me. Give me strength and resolve to love those in need. I know I can’t do everything to save others. Thank you for sending your Son to do what I couldn’t by being the sacrifice for my sins. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Gina Teeple is a Deaconess in the LCMS Lutheran Church. She serves at Worship Anew as the Director of Development and Ministry Relations.