FEBRUARY 27, 2024
“…Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
Often in the Gospel of Luke, lawyers and other experts of the Law of Moses will come and oppose Jesus. In the case here, they play another round of their favorite game; a game in which they ask Jesus dumb and sometimes rhetorical questions in an attempt to trick Him. They weren’t asking because they were curious. They knew the text and were trying to get Jesus to make a mistake, which Jesus doesn’t do.
The discourse between the two results in the lawyer asking, “Who is my true neighbor?” For His answer, Jesus presents a parable, as He often does, to make clear His teachings. Many want to know who their neighbor is. “Who is it that we are obliged to love in accordance with the second great commandment?” which was another one of this lawyer’s queries. The corrupt notion of the Jewish teachers was, “Where Jesus says love your neighbor, He accepts all Gentiles because they’re not our neighbors; it only applies to those of the same nation or religion.” Jesus refutes this inhumane thought and shows them we should look at all in need with kindness. We can’t help but look at everyone as our neighbors and show them kindness accordingly, even if they’re not of our nation or religion.
The parable shows a poor Jew in distress who is passed over by his people but is relieved by a good Samaritan. The fallen Jew is relieved by this stranger of a nation the Jews most despised. This Samaritan was taught to honor all men and act with pity, just as he would want done to him if he were in the same situation. The compassion of the Samaritan was no idle compassion; he did not think it enough to say, “I hope someone helps you,” but he offered to help the poor, needy man himself.
He went above and beyond the call of duty to help this stranger as if they were his own family. He helped as much as one would expect of friend or brother, yet here it was done by a stranger and foreigner.
The intent to help is good, but acting on that intent is much better and more critical. The Samaritan’s intent is not what saved the wounded man, but his actions ultimately saved his life. He didn’t run away like the others but decided to do something. If this should happen today, the man’s picture would probably end up on social media, but very few would help. We should ask ourselves what we would do in that situation.
Jesus asks the lawyer, after delivering the parable, “Who was the true neighbor to the man that fell?” The lawyer correctly responds, “He who showed mercy,” to which Jesus commands, “Go, and do thou likewise.” We need to emulate the example of the Samaritan and always help those in need.
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