Luke 10:25 – One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”  26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”  27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”  29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.  37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (NLT)

In this well know passage from the Gospel of Luke, we have the theme of faith in action.  In this passage Jesus explains what a life lived for God and for others will look like through the story of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus makes it clear as to who are our neighbors, and they are anyone in need.  We can choose our friends, but we cannot choose our neighbors.  God does not play favorites, and neither should we.

What I find most striking about this passage is what started this conversation, and this answer from Jesus, was the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  For most people who have been churched their entire lives, they might lead this man down the famous “Roman Road”.  They might tell this man to confess Jesus as his Savior.  They might tell this man to repent and believe the Gospel.  All good and decent answers, but not the answer that Jesus gave!

Am I saying that we need not confess Jesus as our savior?  Not at all!  But I am saying that this passage, and others, tell us that if Jesus is our Savior, then there will be a different lifestyle in which we lead.  This lifestyle will be defined by service to our neighbors.

Which begs us to ask ourselves over and over again, who are our neighbors?  As we continue to struggle with the question – and we should – we will be led to live as one who has been saved by Jesus.  Paul reflected these words of Jesus some years later when he wrote: “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:8).

Today, let us ask ourselves, who are our neighbors?  Let us seek to love God, and love others, as we live as one of Jesus’ redeemed.  

Posted by Ramón Torres