Who is my Neighbor?

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
ESV Luke 10:29

Ministry in action. That’s the best way I know to describe Luke chapter ten. A lot of great things are happening. Jesus has been sending out followers, two by two, into towns where he would be passing through. They went into these towns ministering to the needs of the residents and announcing that ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ The frontrunners return overjoyed that even demons are subject to them in Jesus name. But Jesus reminds them that their joy should rest in the fact that their names are written in heaven and not that demons were subject to them. And Jesus gives thanks that miracles are being wrought by ordinary folks; referring to them as “little children.”

It is against this backdrop that a lawyer stands up to test Jesus with a question. Though we are not told explicitly in the text, the biblical setting seems to support that this guy would have been an expert in religious law; someone from whom you would seek counsel in religious matters.

Now, I ask you, what do you know about lawyers? OK…be nice now! Several things come to mind when I ponder this question. But I submit to you just this one: A lawyer never asks a question in a public forum that he does not presume to know the answer to. So, this lawyer stands up to test Jesus by asking: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Surprisingly, the lawyer and Jesus agree on the answer in verse 27: “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.” But the lawyer has this nagging question in the back of his mind…who is my neighbor? For the lawyer, it was the question of the day. Perhaps he thought his neighbors were other lawyers; the Pharisees perhaps; other religious leaders maybe. Though we don’t have time to expound on it here, it is highly unlikely that the lawyer would consider a Samaritan as his neighbor.

But at this point, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story well. Three different people come upon a man who had fallen victim to foul play and left half dead on the roadway. The first two (both religious leaders) passed him by for reasons untold. The third was a Samaritan; a most unlikely candidate to lend assistance. But we know from Scripture that he did. He had compassion on the victim and went out of his way to lend a hand.

At the end of the parable, Jesus turns the tables and asks the lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved [emphasis mine] to be a neighbor?” They agree that it is the one who showed mercy and Jesus commands the lawyer to go and do likewise.

Did you notice how Jesus changed the question? The designation of ‘neighbor’ no longer hinges on whether someone is physically located near me. Nor does it seem to matter what someone’s social status is. Ethnic background is thrown out the window as well. Jesus puts the emphasis on you, me and our actions. To whom can we prove to be a neighbor?

Reach out to someone today regardless of race, gender, age or social status. Help with a physical need; share your faith in Jesus; prove yourself to be a neighbor.

-Ken Askew