“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:36-37
What comes to mind when you think of the word neighbor? You probably think of the person who lives next door, or down the street, from you if you are like me. As we study Scripture, we read about our neighbors. For example, Luke 10 tells us the story of a man who asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor.” We learn from Jesus’ response, however, that being a neighbor is more than proximity. It is more about a lifestyle of love and care for the people around us.
A man in Luke 10 asked Jesus a poignant question. “Who is my neighbor” (verse 29). This religious man had previously said that he knew that Scripture commanded him to love God and love his neighbor. After acknowledging that, this man wanted to know who his neighbor was. He wanted to know who he had to love and who he did not have to love. Instead of answering the question, Jesus told a story where two religious leaders passed by a dying man on the side of the road, failing to help him. A Samaritan man saw the man and helped him, ultimately saving his life. After telling the story, Jesus asked the religious man a question, “Which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” (verse 36). The man acknowledged it was “the one who showed him mercy” (verse 37). That man demonstrated neighborly love.
It is interesting that Jesus never really answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Instead, He flipped the question upside-down. The religious man in this story wanted to know who his neighbors were, but Jesus was more concerned with him actually being a neighbor. The same is true for all of us. Rather than focusing on who our neighbors are, we need to focus on being a neighbor. When we do this, the rest will fall into place.
Take some time to think about what we learn about neighbors in Luke 10. First, who has God placed in your path who needs extra help and love? These, my friend, are your neighbors. Second, evaluate how you have been living as a neighbor. What is going well? What needs improvement? How can you step out and love the neighbors God has placed in your life today?
Luke 10:36-42 (NLT)
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
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