The Good Neighbour:
The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37 NIV
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Yeshua Christ. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Yeshua replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Yeshua, “And who is my neighbour?”
30 In reply Yeshua said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. Note: Thieves. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him Note: Thugs. and muggers. and went away, leaving him half dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Note: Same old story. Only paid emergency services pick up victims today. Sometimes. Same old.
32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Note: Same old story today.
33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. Note: Good chap.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Note: And he didn’t expect or even need a knighthood, or gong of any kind. We should all be living that way. I Try, I try when I’m out and about I really try.
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” Note: More to the point for living today which of them were not, because he could have added a great many more examples on the same theme. Hundreds. I certainly could. All people everywhere will have to improve their standards immensely to be considered my neighbours.
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Yeshua told him, “Go and do likewise.” Well done Yeshua. Good parable. The more important point being the one’s who were NOT good neighbours, and that is everyone today including people who run the justice systems, and many more of course.
