Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” Luke 10:36
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” This hook for Mister Rogers’ television show theme song is unforgettable. The series was impressive in its teaching on morals and love. The movie based on Mister Rogers, starring Tom Hanks, is equally impressive and a delight to watch. In both, runs an underlying theme about being a good neighbor. Jesus taught a lot about being a good neighbor and who we show neighborliness toward. The best-known teaching is the parable of The Good Samaritan.
Prior to this teaching a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replies that a man was mugged on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. He was left lying on the side of the road, bleeding, and half dead. A Priest comes by and passes him up. A Levite does the same. A Samaritan, considered an enemy of true Jewish religion and worship, picked the man up, carried him to a nearby inn and after dressing his wounds, gave the inn keeper more money so the injured man could recuperate.
After telling this parable, Jesus asks our question to this lawyer. Luckily, the lawyer understood the parable and knew the answer.
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37
The key points in this parable started with a question to Jesus about how to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked the lawyer how he interpreted the scriptures pointing the way to heaven. The lawyer answered,
So he answered and said, “ ‘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.’ ” Luke 10:27
Jesus himself had boiled down all the law to these two commandments. Prior to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, faith in and obedience to God, combined with love were how Jews entered heaven. When one or both were missing, God’s judgment, instead of mercy would be their end.
Jesus spent a lot of time teaching on the importance of love of neighbor and mercy toward the stranger. In God’s eyes, everyone is your neighbor, and everyone is due our love and mercy.
It is something we all must come to terms with. Jesus clearly teaches us not to be tight fisted toward those in need. Do not veer away from someone who needs help. Do not hesitate to share the love of Christ with anyone, including an enemy.
If we don’t know Jesus, if He doesn’t know us or if He knows we did not help the least, the last, and the lost then we will find ourselves on the road that leads to destruction.
He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Contemplation: “When I see someone in need what is my response? Do I go the extra mile to help them or to avoid them?
