Be a Neighbor; Luke 10

May the mumbling commence!

What happens when the questions of the ivory tower – that religious philosophers and scholars ruminate about – meet the everyday lives of ordinary men?  Jesus is thrust into this very kind of question by an expert in the law.  Read their interchange from Luke chapter ten:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 

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 neighbor as yourself.'" 

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"  (Verses 25-29)

In the other synoptic accounts of this interchange, it is Jesus who provides the answer to the question.  But, in Luke, it is the religious law expert that provides the answer.  I think this little twist shows us that Jesus’ answer is not so unusual.  Both philosophers and scholars had come to the same conclusion for years and years. 

It is a relatively safe conclusion because it is subject to all kinds of interpretation.  What does it mean to love God with everything we have?  What does it mean to love my neighbor?  Or, as the expert in the law asked, “Who is my neighbor?” 

In Christian circles, we often talk a good talk about what we should do.  We may even talk about how this faith of ours should guide our everyday lives.  But, when the rubber meets the road, we want to have our exceptions and caveats.  We want to fit our God into our little box. 

And that does not work with our living Lord!  Read the parable that Jesus tells the expert in the law in answer to his question:

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins 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.' 

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Verses 30-37)

This parable proclaims that the expert in the law asked the wrong question.  It is not, “Who is my neighbor?”  It is “How can I be a neighbor to anyone who comes across my path?” 

The expert probably was not surprised to hear about someone falling into the hands of robbers on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.  That road had long been fraught with danger.  And everything that could be used to identify the man – his possessions and his clothing – was stripped of him.  There was no way to tell who the beaten man was. 

Not to mention, there would be great danger in helping someone on this road.  It may be a trap that robbers had set up to snare a solitary do-gooder.  There was ample reason to pass by quickly on the other side of the road.  The priest, the Levite and the Samaritan all were on their way to do something.  None of them would want to put themselves at risk of being the next victim. 

But the Samaritan cared for him and left him with an innkeeper and promised to return and see the care of the man through to the end.  The expert in the law knew that the Samaritan (though the expert did not mention the neighbor’s hated nationality) had mercy on the beaten man. 

Jesus tells him – and us – to go and do likewise.  Do not look for loopholes.  Just be obedient to God’s call to love and to serve all people who cross our path.  This obedience is the narrow path to truly showing love for God and neighbor. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out