Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
Read Luke 10:25-37 on biblegateway.com
Verse 25Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Verse 26He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" Verse 27He 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." Verse 28And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." Verse 29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Verse 30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Verse 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Verse 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Verse 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. Verse 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Verse 35The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Verse 36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" Verse 37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Devotion
So often, we want to think of our “neighbors” as just those friendly people who look like us, talk like us, and live near us, but who might need a smile, a friendly visit or a hotdish. Here in this parable, however, Jesus stretches the boundaries of our thinking regarding who our neighbors really are. Jesus is making the point that our neighbor can be very different from us.
Neighbors can be from another culture, speak a different language, or be from a different socio-economic group from you. Neighbors could even be from a religious group or a political party that you may not usually have much to do with, or maybe even go out of your way to ignore. Neighbors are folks along your way who are in any need, or who come to your aid in kindness and mercy when you’re in need. Neighbors are folks who share deeply from what resources they have to offer in compassion and care for their fellow humans on the road of life.
Prayer
Loving God, shine your light into this world, that I may see those in need of care or who are reaching out to me as compassionate neighbors. Then give me strength and vision that I can reach across borders too and give of myself in kind neighborliness that boundaries may dissolve and your peace and mercy reign. Amen.
Interested in digging deeper into today’s text?
Read more here.