Thursday: Who Is My Neighbor?
Daily Lesson for Thursday 20th of March 2025
In Luke’s account, just after Jesus declares the two greatest commandments of love for God and love for a neighbor, a lawyer, “wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ ” (Luke 10:29, NKJV). In response to this, Jesus tells the now-familiar, but then shocking, parable of the good Samaritan.
Read the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. What is this passage saying in light of the cry of the prophets for mercy and justice and of the kinds of injustices that different people groups have inflicted on “others” throughout human history?
Image © Educational Concepts Collection at Goodsalt.com
Jesus did not just talk about justice; He came to bring it. He was and will be the fulfillment of the prophetic call and longing for justice (see Luke 4:16-21 in light of Isaiah 61:1-2). He is the desire of all nations, especially those who recognize their need for deliverance.
In direct contrast to the enemy, who grasped for power and sought to usurp God’s throne, Jesus lowered Himself and identified with those under sin, injustice, and oppression (without being infected by sin), and He defeated the enemy by giving Himself in love in order to establish justice as the One who is just and the Justifier of all who believe. How can we claim to be concerned about the law that Christ died to uphold if we are not concerned about what Christ calls the weightier matters of the law?
Psalms 9:8-9 proclaims, “He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (NKJV). Likewise, Psalms 146:7-9 adds, God “executes justice for the oppressed” and “gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down” (NKJV).
How much clearer could the Word of God be in regard to how we should seek to minister to those around us who are in need and are hurting?
|
What can we learn from the life and ministry of Jesus about reaching out to those in need? Even if we can’t perform miracles as He did, for many hurt people, how could our help be deemed “miraculous” enough? |
(11)
The most popular or the most referenced parable of Jesus is the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). This story (parable) is very popular for a number of reasons.
1. This story appeals to many people because it teaches about the universality of love and compassion. It demonstrates that true love and compassion goes beyond cultural, racial, nationality, and religious barriers.
2. This story has got very strong moral and ethical importance. Human beings should help one another regardless of any perceived human barriers. Whenever there is a human need, human beings should respond to save lives. Life is precious whether it is a stranger or an enemy.
3. This story is popular because it addresses the very need of every human being. All human beings need to be treated with kindness particularly when at the weakest point.
The parable of the Good Samaritan has got critical lessons that are very essential for those who are waiting for the second return of Jesus Christ.
1. True love is practical
2. True love transcends all boundaries
3. Compassion is not just a feeling, it is action
4. Religiosity does not guarantee righteousness
5. Salvation is for all including those whom we perceive as sinners
6. Love is the fulfilment of all laws
7. Serving humanity has no excuse
8. Loving others is evidence that we have received the salvation of Jesus Christ.
“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself” - Galatians 5:14
Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan must have irked the Jews. There was a deep theological divide between the two. Each had their own version of the Torah but the biggest divide was over the placement of the Sanctuary. The Jews had their temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem while the Samaritans built theirs on Mount Gerizim. The Jews hated the Samaritans and called them names.
I have had my own "Good Samaritan" experience. When I was a lecturer we had a Catholic woman who had been a nun teach the Legal Studies course. Teaching was only a minor part of what she did. Her main activity was working as a lawyer for the homeless, drug addicts, battered women and other folk who could not afford legal representation. She was a real asset to our business studies program and gave our students a wonderful insight into the value of applying legal skills in the community.
The irony of a Catholic teaching in a Seventh-day Adventist institution and showing us how to be a Christian was not lost on us. There were critics who made comments about Catholic influences in Adventist institutions but those of us who knew this woman remembered the story of the Good Samaritan and let her works speak for themselves.
I am reminded of this every time we have a theological argument.
This was, in fact, not a parable, but a true story, and was well known to the crowd…
“A certain man,” said Jesus, “was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, which both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.” Luke 10:30-32, R. V. This was no imaginary scene, but an actual occurrence, which was known to be exactly as represented. The priest and the Levite who had passed by on the other side were in the company that listened to Christ's words.” The desire of ages, page 499, paragraph one
The simple answer is those we come upon in our daily life who are in need, as illistrated by the parabe Christ gave after the lawyer, who asked the question who is my neighbor.
The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 teaches us about God’s heart for love, justice and mercy, especially in light of humanity’s long history of injustice toward others which sometimes is based on race, class, religion, or nationality.
Jesus served others out of genuine love, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the brokenhearted and establishing justice.
He judges righteously, defends the oppressed and cares for those in need. Therefore, if we are His followers, our lives should reflect these same priorities.
We never know when our help to others could be answering their prayers, and in fact be playing a part in their miracle. God doesn't always supernaturally intervene in the affairs of people. Sometimes he sends his people to be his hands, feet, ears, or heart to those in need.
Think about that!
Thanks, indeed. What a sweet reality truth!
Wooow all comments makes me feel so happy and teach me something new about responsibilities in life as a Christian. Thanks to all of you.
As I read Thursday's lesson study, my thoughts drifted to the atrocities of slavery and other injustices in the world. I began to wonder how one can possibly explain such profound wrongs. The conclusion I arrived at was that I can't explain them—there are no easy answers. Then, I reflected on how God's people, the Israelites, were mistreated by the Egyptians, and how Jesus Himself suffered unjustly, with no one stepping in to intervene. Strangely, I found a measure of comfort in the fact that God, too, was a victim of injustice.
The author of the lesson study posed a thought-provoking question: "How can we claim to care about the law that Christ died to uphold if we are not equally concerned about what Christ calls the weightier matters of the law?" This question made me realize that our concern for the law is shallow when our religious experience becomes merely a formality—an empty practice devoid of true compassion, justice, and love.
The weightier matters of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness, are what truly matter to God. It is not enough to go through the motions of religious duty without embodying the deeper principles that Christ Himself lived and died for. True obedience is found not just in the letter of the law but in living out its spirit, especially in caring for others in a broken and unjust world.
"How could our help be deemed “miraculous” enough"?
The answer is simple and plain: to be doing the will of God by following Jesus (voice) through the Holy Spirit. That's the key to being efficient (or miraculous) in the lives of those around us.
what does repentance mean to you all