Who Is Your Neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37

When we were kids, we had lots of neighbors…and we knew who they were. We played together, and our parents visited back and forth. Most of us had front porches where we would gather to talk, play games, be neighborly. We knew who our neighbors were at least in relationship to where we lived. Today, it seems that many of us don’t know our neighbors and even fewer of us visit our neighbors. We are afraid we will intrude upon their “favorite” TV show. Or we feel that we have to call. Whatever happened to dropping in to visit?

The expert in law who addressed Jesus and asked Him, “Who is my neighbor?” really didn’t want an answer. He wanted justification for not helping his neighbors.

Jesus was not going to be taken in be such a device. Instead, Jesus told the man the story of the good Samaritan. Now, I think we all agree that it is a terrific story which makes a good point for all of us. We need to help our neighbors when they are in distress.

But Jesus put a twist on this story. The people the we would have considered as the helpful ones…the priest and the Levite…crossed the street and left the man behind. I wonder how many of us have done the same kind of thing in word and/or deed? My guess is that we all have. But I will speak only for myself and say that I have. And it gives me no pleasure to admit that.

But what is it that makes the story of the good Samaritan stand out for us? We do know that he certainly went above and beyond what was asked of him. And he was willing to pay for extended care for the injured man. The reason this is such an amazing story is that Jews and Samaritans could not stand each other. When Jews were going from Capernaum to Jerusalem, they went around Samaria and made the trip 120 miles instead of 60-90 miles. Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans and vice versa.

Therefore the priest and the Levite were behaving as they were taught to behave. The Samaritan behaved as Jesus would have us behave…to show mercy to everyone…not just those in our church, our social status, our race, our religion, our intelligence…everyone. To do less gives Christianity a black-eye.

Carol

Bible Breath: Helping neighbors / Praises God