“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?”
Jesus later asked which man had been a neighbor to the wounded man.
The answer was: “He that shewed mercy on him.”
Jesus answered: “Go, and do thou likewise.”
Monday, Jesus commanded us to love.
Tuesday, Scripture made us examine our own hearts.
Today the question becomes more uncomfortable:
In Luke 10, a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
On the surface, it sounds like a reasonable question. But Scripture tells us that he was trying to justify himself.
In other words, he wanted to know where the boundary was.
Who counts?
Who doesn't?
How far does this commandment actually go?
Jesus responds with the story we know as the Good Samaritan.
A man is attacked, robbed, wounded, and left on the road.
A priest sees him and passes by.
A Levite sees him and passes by.
Then comes a Samaritan—a person whom Jesus' Jewish audience would not naturally have expected to become the hero of the story.
He sees the wounded man.
But he doesn't merely see him.
He stops.
He goes to him.
He treats his wounds.
He transports him.
He pays for his care.
And he makes provision for what might be needed afterward.
The Levite saw a problem.
The Samaritan saw a person.
That's the difference.
Love refuses to reduce people to categories.
Not Republican or Democrat. Not Black or White. Not rich or poor. Not church member or unbeliever. Not friend or stranger. Not somebody who agrees with me or somebody who doesn't.
Before any of those descriptions, there is a person standing in front of me who bears the image of God.
And Jesus shifts the entire question.
The lawyer asks: “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus essentially asks: “Will you become a neighbor?”
and discuss whether somebody deserves help.
Love crosses the road.
That does not mean wisdom disappears.
It doesn't mean everybody receives unlimited access to your life.
It doesn't mean you ignore danger, remove healthy boundaries, or pretend wrongdoing is acceptable.
But boundaries cannot become an excuse for indifference.
We can protect our peace without losing our compassion.
We can exercise wisdom without surrendering mercy.
And we can disagree with somebody without denying their humanity.
who lives close to me.
My neighbor is the person
God puts within reach of my mercy.
Look for somebody you would normally pass by today.
Maybe they need encouragement. Maybe they need somebody to listen. Maybe they need practical help. Maybe they need prayer. Maybe they simply need to be treated with dignity.
Don't only ask: “Is this my responsibility?”
Ask: “How can I be a neighbor?”
Then do something.
Mercy doesn't only notice.
Mercy moves.
LOVE CROSSES THE ROAD.
