For Whom Are You Concerned?

KEY VERSE: “Which now of these … was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” —Luke 10:36,37

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:25-37

THIS PARABLE WAS spoken by Jesus in response to a question posed by a ‘lawyer’, probably a Levite, who was tempting Jesus to say something that could be misconstrued as being against the Law of Moses. His question was, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus turned the question back by asking what the Law said. The lawyer, well acquainted with the Law, quoted that portion which reads, “Thou shalt … love thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus said, “Thou hast answered right. This do and thou shalt live.”

Jesus knew that God had promised life to anyone who could keep the Law inviolate, so by answering the lawyer’s question in this way the religious rulers could not accuse him of setting aside the teachings of Moses. Jesus knew, of course, that the lawyer could not actually gain eternal life by keeping the Law. This was not the fault of the Law, but was due to the imperfection of the people, resulting from original sin. As Paul explained, the Law was designed to give life, but failed only because of the inability of fallen humans to measure up to its requirements.—Rom. 7:10-14

Jesus, who was able to read the hearts of his opponents, knew that the lawyer was not sincerely inquiring the way of life. Had he been, doubtless the Master would have directed his mind beyond the Law as a source of life.

The lawyer found no fault with the reply. He had been referred to the Law, and he was of the group which professed great loyalty to the Law. But wishing, perhaps to justify himself in the sight of his friends, he asked Jesus for a clarification of the commandment, saying, “Who is my neighbor?”—Luke 10:29

It was in response to this question that Jesus related the parable of the good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite of the parable were two people who, according to their standing as religious servants, should have shown compassion for the robbed and beaten man, regardless of who he may have been. But they did not. They “passed by on the other side,” as though to ease their conscience by not getting too clear a look at the suffering man.

In the parable there was also “a certain Samaritan,” who, “as he journeyed,” also came across the man who had been robbed and beaten, and was close to death. The Israelites despised the Samaritans, who, so far as they were concerned, were not God’s people at all. This made the lesson of the parable all the more pointed to those to whom it was first addressed, for this despised Samaritan did show compassion for the nearly dead man lying by the roadside. He bound up the man’s wounds, “Pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” He even arranged for the innkeeper to continue caring for the injured man, promising to pay the bill.—vss. 33-35

After relating the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer which one of these three men was “neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves.” There was only one answer the lawyer could give, which was that the man who showed mercy was the real neighbor. Then Jesus said to the lawyer, “Go, and do thou likewise.” In other words, Jesus told the lawyer that if he manifested the same spirit of compassion and helpfulness toward those in need, as the Samaritan did, he would be fulfilling the commandment to love his neighbor as himself.

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