Week 27, Friday: Charitable

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).

Transcript

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Welcome to Hearing God's Stories, a daily devotional on the parables presented by the Jenkins Institute.

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Week 27, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10, 30 through 37 by Russ Crosswine. Friday. I'm Dale Hubbard. Charitable. Are you a good neighbor? That's a real point of this parable. It's not who is my neighbor, but am I a good neighbor toward everyone, no matter who they are? Jesus was not limiting this to one's neighbor, 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? The lawyer answered, The one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said, You go and do likewise. Luke 10, 37. The following two paragraphs are adapted from an article originally written by James D. Bails. Jesus told the lawyer to act on the same principles of showing mercy to those who were in need. The man's question had been answered by changing it from who is my neighbor to who was neighborly. The Samaritan had not asked of what race this wounded man was. He had not disputed as to whether or not this was a neighbor of his. Acting on the principle of love, which seeks to meet the needs of those who are in need, the Samaritan had done what he could for the man. The lawyer should have asked himself, Am I neighborly? That's the key question. Is applic in application of this parable we could ask, to whom should I be courteous? Or am I courteous? If I am courteous, it will be manifested regardless of with whom I'm dealing. Am I kind? If I'm kind, the kindness will be demonstrated in dealing with others, not because others have deserved my help, but because I'm trying to live the life of Jesus. There's a great difference between asking toward whom should I conduct myself as a Christian, and asking, am I a Christian and do I conduct myself as a Christian should toward everyone I meet? Today I will be neighborly toward everyone, no matter the color of their skin, economic status, nationality, ethnicity, and etc.

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