A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan walk into Jerico.  It sounds like the beginning of a comedian’s set up for a joke, right?  But Jesus is setting up yet another great story that teaches Truth.  Truth is Who we know.  Truth guides how we behave because of Who we know.  Confused? 

Let’s go deeper…

A religious scholar, looking for loopholes around Truth because he really doesn’t know the Person of Truth with whom he is debating, asks, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”  Can you imagine the eagerness of Jesus to tell a story to parallel the real Truth of the matter.  We can almost hear Jesus think out loud, “I’m so glad you ask!  Have I got a story for you that will help you know exactly who your neighbor is with how to relate to them!”

There was a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan…

Luke 10, The Message

Defining “Neighbor”

²⁵ Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”

²⁶ He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”

²⁷ He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

²⁸ “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”

²⁹ Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”

^30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

^33-35 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

³⁶ “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

³⁷ “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

This story Jesus told must have blown the mind of the inquiring religious scholar who, like most Jews, hated Samaritans.  Samaritans were from the “other side of town” and judged unworthy to walk alongside.  Why, then was a Samaritan the hero of the story? 

I’m so glad you asked…

By using a Samaritan as the hero, Jesus disarmed the Jews, for the Jews and Samaritans were enemies (John 4:9; 8:48). It was not a Jew helping a Samaritan but a Samaritan helping a Jew who had been ignored by his fellow Jews! The Samaritan loved those who hated him, risked his own life, spent his own money (two days’ wages for a laborer), and was never publicly rewarded or honored as far as we know. 

The prophet Micah shares God’s heart in this and helps us to understand Jesus’ story even more…

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

What the Samaritan did helps us better understand what it means to “show mercy,” and it also illustrates the ministry of Jesus Christ. The Samaritan identified with the needs of the stranger and had compassion on him. There was no logical reason why he should rearrange his plans and spend his money just to help an “enemy” in need, but mercy does not need reasons.

Who we believe and follow reflects our behavior toward all people.  And all people matter to God! 

Be a neighbor, says Jesus.  Look closely at the actions of the Samaritan;

• He saw the man’s condition and his heart went out to him.
• He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds.
• Then he lifted him onto his donkey,
• And led him to an inn, and made him comfortable.
• Then paid the bill in full!

Isn’t this like what God did for us?  God saw our condition.  His heart of compassion went out to us.  Because of His deep love for all of us, God sent His Son to earth to heal our wounds and save us from all sins.  God offers comfort as we recover from brokenness to wholeness in Him.  Jesus then paid our debt in full, trading His life for ours!

Jesus redefines this noun, “neighbor,” as a verb of action. The one who is a neighbor is one who acts justly, shows mercy, and walks humbly with God.

Oh Lord,

I get it!  I’m grateful that the scholars of your days on earth asked the hard questions, because your answers are perfect and clarify our Godly response to you and to others.  I love that all are welcome into your Kingdom.  I understand that all have sinned and fall short of your glory.  I celebrate that all who believe are redeemed.  All are accepted.  So help us to be more aware of others and be a neighbor to all as you have taught us so well.  Help us to be aware of others’ conditions, show compassion and mercy minus judgement, with a willingness to give what we must to lift, encourage, comfort, as we lead them to you. 

In Jesus Name, Amen