But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him …
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
(verses 29-33, 36-37)
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What a great story. It’s become so familiar that it can fly right over us. But the punchline still lands. “Go and do likewise.”
This expert in the Law knows his stuff. He answers the question regarding the essence of the Law in exactly the way Jesus himself did: “’Love the Lord your God with all …’ and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (verse 27). But when Jesus tells him to do exactly what he’s just quoted, the man tries to squirm out from under the commandment’s weight. “And who is my neighbour?” he asks, smugly certain the question is unanswerable.
It is then that Jesus tells his famous story. A man is travelling on the very steep, very treacherous, seventeen-mile road between Jerusalem and Jericho. En route he is waylaid by robbers who strip him, beat him, and leave him half dead. Shortly, along comes a priest who sees the man, but passes by on the other side. Perhaps he feared the robbers were still close at hand; perhaps he was concerned lest the man be already dead, leaving him ritually defiled through contact with a corpse. Whatever his reason, he heartlessly avoided any involvement.
A Levite followed next, similarly passing by on the other side. Heartlessly uninvolved.
But then came a Samaritan, who would have been despised and considered a half-breed by Jews of the day. He certainly wouldn’t have qualified as a “neighbour” in their eyes. Ironically, Jesus puts him as the hero of the piece. He stops, takes pity on the man, binds up his wounds, puts him on his donkey, and carries him to the safety of a local inn. When he’s leaving the next day, he gives the innkeeper two denarii, which would have been advance room-and-board payment for at least three weeks, and possibly much longer. Plus, if there are any further expenses, he gives his guarantee that he will cover them.
Which of the three (Priest, Levite, or Samaritan) was the neighbour? Jesus asks. The answer is obvious. The expert in the Law gets it – how could he not? “The one who had mercy,” he says. “Go and do likewise,” Jesus concludes.
It was inescapable instruction for the lawyer – equally for us. Will we have open eyes to see those in need, the ones the Lord himself brings into view? Will we allow our own agenda (even our religious priorities) to get in the way of fulfilling the command? Or will we instead overcome our own avoidance-rationale and step in, step up, get down, and give aid?
Unsurprisingly, in the years since he told the story, many have seen Jesus himself as the ideal personification of the Good Samaritan. It's true. He has gone out of his way to meet us in our need, stepping down to our level, then lifting us up in healing and restoration, all at great cost to himself. It’s a powerful insight. Praise his name.
But don’t be distracted from the story’s original aim. It was principally told by Jesus to describe how he wants us to live. It’s feet-on-the-ground instruction for living as “neighbour.” Having eyes to see. Pausing. Getting down and dirty. Spending resources. Caring.
On the road to Jericho. On the road of life.
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Lord Jesus, praise you that you have come down to meet me in my need, providing the healing and forgiveness and restoration I desperately need. Shape me now by your own heart to extend that sacrificial care to those you bring into my path. Give me eyes to see. Equip me to serve. For love of neighbour. For love of you.
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Reflect:
Is there anyone in your path already that the Lord is calling you to serve? How?
Keep eyes open in the coming days to see with the Lord’s own eyes.
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Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash
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