“Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:36-37
The story of the Good Samaritan is one of the more famous of Jesus’ parables. This great story is told in response to a teacher of the law who asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus immediately responds with a question of his own, asking “What does the law say?” The lawyer proves to be a good student of the law. He answers Jesus with the correct response:
“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.” -Luke 10:27
The teacher of the law knew the right answers to the first question, but he was not satisfied with just one question. He followed up with a second question, “Who is my neighbor?” This question seems to really capture Jesus’ full attention. He does not answer with a question, like he so often does, instead he answers with a story about a Jewish man who was attacked on the road to Jericho. The end of the story tells us that if it were not for the kindness of a Samaritan man who was passing by, the Jewish traveler would have most likely perished on the road that day.
Jesus knew that the young lawyer understood the letter of the law, but he wanted to expand his vision of heaven to include earth. The story of the Good Samaritan pushes us to see beyond just following the rules to seeing the heart of God at work within the law. Samaritans and Jews had been enemies for hundreds of years. Through this beautiful parable, Jesus reminds us that love extends past our preconceived notions. Mercy, kindness, and love are the foundations of God’s kingdom. Like the Good Samaritan, let us “Go and do likewise.”
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
