WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
February 12, 2009 - 6:00am
Luke 10:25-37
Whenever Jesus spoke, he taught those who listened. He never lacked an audience. There were always many who wanted to hear the sweet words of wisdom, of love, of justice and of mercy that Jesus had to say. The occasion found in Luke 10:25-37 was no different.
The crowd sat mesmerized as the Master revealed eternal truths to the astonishment of his enraptured listeners. Perhaps there was a pause, a momentary lull and, in that instant, a man stood up. A hush fell over the crowd because the dress, the demeanor, and the diction of this distinguished looking man identified him as a doctor of law. Now, a lawyer in that time and place demanded respect for he was in fact more than a man of law. He was a man of Mosaic Law; he knew the scriptures. What is more, he was likely a teacher of law, he was probably a scribe and since Jewish life was guided by the law, once he stood up, everyone else shut up. When he talked, people listened and this lawyer didn’t disappoint the crowd. His question was simple yet profound: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Here are 5 ways Jesus could have answered him;
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
- John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NKJV)
- John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”
- John 10:28, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
- John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
But, Jesus chose not to answer him with those words. Perhaps, it was because the lawyer asked a question to which he already knew the answer. Perhaps, the man’s motives were questionable. He may have been testing the Master, the Law-Giver, the Wonderful Counselor, the Righteous Judge, our Advocate who ever lives to make intercession for us. Still, Jesus was not offended, vindictive or judgmental. Jesus was only filled with love for this man. He sensed there was another question in the man’s heart that only Jesus could answer. Beyond our games, our desires and our understanding, Jesus knows our needs. So, Jesus patiently brought the lawyer around to recognizing his real need. He asked, “What is written in the law and how do you read it?” The man answered, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said, “You have answered rightly. Do this and you will live.” Then the man wanting to justify himself said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” This was the social, cultural and spiritual question. We commonly believe that our neighbor is the man next door.
But, Jesus opened the man’s understanding and ours as well by telling the story of the good Samaritan. Luke 10:30-37 is worth reading. In short, a man lay beaten and robbed on the roadside a priest and a Levite passed him by; church folk. But, the least likely person, a Samaritan, a man scorned by the Jews, stopped to help this victim. In relating this story, Jesus taught us more lessons than this writing allows. The Samaritan stranger went to the man, bending over him. He then bound up his wounds, mending him. The Samaritan took him to an inn, tending to him. Then he took two pence and gave it to the host, spending on him. The Samaritan further said, if this poor man needed anything else, the Samaritan would repay, lending to him. Jesus explained, “He showed mercy on him”. Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Christ has shown that our neighbor is more than the guy next door or the member of the family of faith. It has no reference to race, color, class or distinction. Our neighbor is every person who needs our help. Our neighbor is every soul that is wounded and bruised by life’s ups and downs. Our neighbor is everyone for whom Christ died. Now that we know who is our neighbor, let’s go and do likewise that we, too, might have eternal life.
Dr. Clifton Davis
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