Luke 10:25-37
The Parable
“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’
“He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’
“So he answered and said, ‘”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”’
“And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’
“But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’
“Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.” So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’
“And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Lesson
Samaria was the capital of the northern ten tribes after the split with Benjamin and Judah; after the defeat of the ten tribes by Assyria, it was depopulated, and other peoples were brought into it to live there. Therefore, the region was no longer of pure blood, but of a mixed race. The Jews did not mix with the Samaritans, John 4:9.
In asking the question, “Who is my neighbor?,” this shows he had made a limitation in his mind as to who his neighbor was; he was trying to justify the distinction he had made for himself. But Jesus shows to us there is no distinction to be made; every man is your neighbor.
Show mercy to everyone who needs it, when it falls to you to do; whether they’re in the church or out of it.
It doesn’t matter who you are; the work of the Lord is in helping others, and God is no respector of persons. It isn’t the priest or the Levite who is acceptable to him, and the looked-down upon who isn’t; it’s the one who does His work, or the one who doesn’t.