Today's Scripture
The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
RJ's Devotion
WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE say?
V. 25-28 The Lawyer asks Jesus the question, which we might all ask. “what must I (we) do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus doesn’t answer for him since Jesus knew that the lawyer already knew the answer.
V. 29-35 Then Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan, which we all are familiar with.
V. 36-38 Jesus asks the golden question, “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to this man.” And he continues by saying, “Go and do likewise.”
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
As I am reading this well-known commandment and story, there are two thoughts that hit me.
First, the lawyer already knew what he needed to do, just didn’t do what he believed. Second, he asks Jesus, who his neighbor was,- and yes Jesus did describe the man who was robbed, as the neighbor who we should have taken care of- but at the last verse we see how Jesus was saying how we need to become a neighbor first.
So the question should be ‘who should I become a neighbor with’ instead of ‘who is my neighbor.’
When I become a faithful neighbor, I can start loving my neighbor, as myself.
It is not a command to find a person, who is lying on the ground, but it could be a command to be a truthful neighbor to the ones we pass by and help them when they are beaten.
Prayer
Lord, help us to become a truthful and loving neighbor to everyone we meet and work with, today. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN.
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