The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute

re you a good neighbor? That’s the real point of this parable. It’s not

“who” is my neighbor (Luke 10:29), but am I a good neighbor towards

everyone, no matter who they are? Jesus was not limiting who one’s

neighbor is, but instead, be the kind of neighbor you ought to be towards

everyone you meet.

After telling the story, Jesus asked, “Which of these three, do you think,

proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke

10:36, ESV). The lawyer answered, “The one who showed him mercy. And

Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise’” (Luke 10:37, ESV).

The Samaritan shows considerable unselfishness. Look at four

unselfish deeds the Samaritan did for this wounded man:

First, he bound up his wounds. He may have shredded some of his

own clothing to make the bandages. He might have carried the oil

and wine for meal provisions or to supply his own injury needs, but

instead used them on this hurt man. Second, he set him on his own

beast, likely the one he had been riding himself. Third, he brought

him to an inn where they could find shelter and help. Usually, he

would spend the night outside and save the cost. But a wounded man

needed more adequate accommodations than a healthy traveler.

Fourth, he took care of him. He did not leave the man immediately.

He spent the rest of the day and night caring for this man. 1

There is nothing like having a fellow human being with you for

support and comfort.

To be compassionate is to be sympathetic toward someone. Out of the

Samaritan’s pity, he provided help. Being a good neighbor cares, even

when it costs.

The Samaritan went to the wounded man, poured oil and wine onto his

wounds, and bandaged him. He was practicing the golden rule (Matthew

7:12). He was doing for this man what he would have wanted someone to

do for him if he were in the same situation.

The Samaritan helped the man because he was hurt and needed assistance.

He was going to be neighborly towards this man, whether he was a Jew or a

Samaritan. He did not show respect for persons (cf. James 2:1).

We might think that showing care towards someone of the same skin

color, nationality, or religious convictions, or anyone who is not

considered our enemy, is being neighborly. Jesus tells this story about the

Samaritan to demonstrate that being neighborly is much greater than

that. The Samaritans were different from the Jews in race, nationality,

and religion. There were tremendous hostilities between them. “For Jews

have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9, ESV). In spite of these

hostilities, this Samaritan was going to care for this Jewish man who

needed help.

ach person plays an important role in the overall message Jesus is teaching.

First, look at the lawyer. He asked Jesus a question, “to put him to the

test,” asking what one must do to have eternal life. Jesus responds by

asking, “What does the Bible say?” The lawyer quotes Deuteronomy 6:5

and Leviticus 19:18, and Jesus says, “That’s right.” “But he, desiring to

justify himself,” asked, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-29, ESV). This

question generates the parable. And we will see this week that the lawyer

asked the wrong question. Asking the right question is important.

Several days ago, I went camping with my two sons (ages eight and

seven). We hiked to the top of a waterfall and followed the running water

into the mouth of a cave. The deeper we walked into the cave, the darker

it became. Thankfully, we had a few headlamps and a lantern to see the

way. We explored and, because of the light, avoided tripping over rocks

and stubbing our toes. The light exposed what was dangerous and helped

us walk safely.