Luke 10:29 KJV — But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-37
Key notes
One of the most interpreted scriptures of all time is the parable of the Samaritan. Many of us call the Samaritan in the parable the ‘good’ Samaritan; indeed he was good but the parable was not about who a good person is. The Lord was answering the question “who is my neighbour?”
When you read the scripture carefully, a lawyer wanting to tempt Jesus Christ asked Him to tell the most important law; then the Lord answered “love the Lord with all you are; and your neighbour as yourself.” The lawyer wanting to justify himself asked “who is my neighbour?”
It was at this point that our Lord Jesus Christ told the story to point to the fact that your neighbour is the person that helped you when everyone else was indifferent. You owe them your life. Love them as you love yourself. Your neighbour is not someone who lives close by; your neighbour is anyone who willingly helps you when all others refuse to.
Remember, when the man fell among the thieves, both the levite and priest did not help him; it was the Samaritan that helped. That makes the Samaritan his neighbour. So your neighbour is someone who willingly helps when all others turn their back on you. Your neighbour is not someone next door. I exhort you today to love, as you love yourself, all those who helped when others turned their backs on you.
Personal prayer
Dear Lord, help me to love my neighbour as myself. I now understand the risk they took for me; I now understand that it costs them something to help me when others turn their backs on me. Help me to love them as myself.
Amen
