Who Is Our Neighbor?

 

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And 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.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’” (Luke 10:25-35 ESV).

 

From the day I was born until the day I headed off to college, I lived near my family. In fact, for much of that time our “apartment” was above the grocery store my Dad owned and operated. Growing up in the grocery business meant we knew most of the folks that lived near us and shopped in our store. Even the schools I attended were relatively small giving us the opportunity to know others well. So, being a neighbor meant much more than a geographical description.

 

Knowing that His teaching about loving our “neighbor” would be unclear to some, Jesus’ gives a clear definition that is much broader than most would accept or practice. Here He uses a parable of a man who is robbed and beaten along the road. However, these are not the only people who are our neighbors. The Bible also mentions “orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). And we are not to forget “to show hospitality to strangers” and to “continue to remember those in prison” (Hebrews 13:2-3). Throughout Scripture, we are reminded often to love and care for people who are poor. People in need are our neighbors.

 

Like the priest and the Levite, our spiritual leaders are our neighbors too. So are our community members, friends, and family. Our own people are our neighbors. Jesus pointed out especially that the Samaritan was a neighbor. To the Jews in that day, the Samaritans were despised like enemies. People may look different to us, and they may believe and act differently, but they are our neighbors. Anyone who is other is my neighbor. We are to love them all!