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After taking a few weeks break, we are continuing our study of Luke chapter 10 and in particular, we’re looking at verses 25-37. This is commonly referred to as the story of ‘The Good Samaritan’. I’m sure you’re more than familiar with this passage, but please read these verses every day this week and, if possible use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 10:27-29
‘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.’” “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 neighbour?”’
I’m old enough to remember the days when no-one locked their front doors. We knew the names of just about everyone in the street and would regularly ‘pop next door’ to borrow things that we needed.
Back in those days, we knew our neighbours really, really well. Sometimes we even went on holidays together and the sense of community was tangible. For some people, they were well known several streets away and it was possible that the entire village knew some people. There was one particular gentleman who lived next door to me who was very well known in the village. One time, his wife was concerned that she couldn’t find him and asked if I could go looking for him. I walked the streets of the town and just about everyone I met knew who he was and could tell me if they’d seen him or not.
This sense of ‘neighbourhood’ is a thing of the past in most places today. Very often, even the people who live closest to us are strangers. We may be aware of the car they drive but I wonder how many people know their names or have any personal knowledge of them.
To anyone who lived during that kind of community spirit and culture, the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ is a strange one. Surely, it’s obvious isn’t it? Well, yes and no.
The context of this scripture is a land where the people were being occupied by an opposing force. The rulers were brutal and showed little kindness or mercy. The Jewish people, who were rightly regarded as God’s chosen people, had significant issues with anyone who wasn’t a Jew.
The original Scripture in Leviticus 19 says ““Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD.” Many people interpreted this as ‘Love your neighbour as yourself, but hate your enemy’. Some took this even further and stated ‘Love your neighbour, the Israelite’. The Pharisees stretched it even further to be ‘love your neighbour, the Pharisee’.
The expert’s question was an attempt to trick Jesus into upsetting at least some of the people listening. I’m sure that he was quite happy with himself and thought that Jesus would never be able to answer this difficult question. He was preparing a trap for the Saviour and was confident that whatever answer was given, someone in the crowd would be upset and would stand in opposition to Jesus.
Tomorrow we’ll look at Jesus’ answer but for now, the lesson to learn is to not bend the interpretation of scripture to suit our own preferences. May God grant us grace to obey His Word in our lives and to follow His leading in everything.
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