Luke 10:25 – 37

The lawyer asked Jesus this question because he wanted to know what Jesus meant when He used the word ‘neighbour’. In the Old Testament the laws were given only to the Jews and foreigners were not included. According to the lawyer, a neighbour to a Jew was only a Jew (Leviticus 19:18) and he did not have any problem when Jesus said – “Love your neighbour”. But the parable of Jesus extended the boundaries of neighbourhood beyond caste, creed, race or religion. The Samaritan was intentionally introduced into this parable by Jesus, because the Jews hated the Samaritans. Jesus through the story, tried to convince the lawyer, that geographically the Samaritan too was a neighbour; but could the lawyer show love to this man if he was lying on the Jericho road instead of the Jew?

Even the priests who knew the Book very well, could not show love and mercy to the fallen Jew because of legalism. Jesus was breaking down the law to teach the Jews that love and mercy should be shown to all people – irrespective of caste, colour, creed or clan. All the people in society who needed help must be looked upon as their neighbour and not only the Jew.

In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).

The Samaritan showed the love of God to the injured Jew without being clannish but as a neighbour. Symbolically, Jesus after His death became the Good Samaritan to all classes of people in the world – be it Jews or Gentiles.

Thought for the day: Are we willing to extend help to all those in need – irrespective of class, clan, colour, caste and even our enemy?