Luke 10:29 (ESV)
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And
who is my neighbor?”
An expert in the law wanted to cover every detail to
justify himself. He wanted to be sure he could inherit eternal life. He knew he
had to love God first and to love his neighbor as himself. But now he had one
more question for Jesus: “Who is my neighbor?”
The legal expert asked the right person, because someday
Jesus will judge everyone according to the way they have served others for his
sake (Matthew 25:31-46). And, as we learn from Ephesians 2:8-10, being saved by
God’s grace motivates us to do good and show God’s love to others.
Jesus responded with a parable about a man who gets beaten
and left by the roadside. Two travelers—a priest and a Levite—do not have the
time or the inclination to help the beaten man, so they pass by. But a
Samaritan, whom most Jewish people would avoid (John 4:9), stops to help
without questions or conditions.
The legal expert got the point. And Jesus pressed the point
home: “Go and do likewise.” Would the man’s faith now move him to be a good
neighbor?
Who are our neighbors? Are there limits on our love? “For
we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). How can we be good
neighbors in Jesus’ name?
Dear Lord, You have provided all we need. How can we thank
you? Keep us from holding back our love for others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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