Who Is My Neighbour?

Let's talk about neighbours. We all appreciate good ones. The world needs more of them. What kind of neighbour are you?

As a matter of self-confession, I must admit that I haven’t spent much time examining the topic of “neighbors” from a theological position. The recent inciting by elected officials to engage “neighbors” in the exploiting of other neighbors (during this pandemic) has caused me to dig into this a bit more.

Did you know that 2/10's of the Ten Commandments deal with neighbours? The first four commandments deal with our responsibility to God -- vertical. The remaining six commandments deal our responsibility to one another -- horizontal. Those who follow the moral code laid out by God in the mount, live a life of balance. When I am right with God, it makes me want to be right with man.

My vertical relationships keep the equilibrium in my horizontal relationships.

Easy with the Self-Justification

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Luke 10:29

Jesus was always inciting people who were listening to His teaching to respond. Those who were guilty of trying to “catch Him in His words” would slip in to hear Him teaching. Invariably, they would try to catch Him up in a hypothetical case or question. Without fail, Jesus would respond — at times even sarcastically — to their questionings.

On one certain day, a bright young attorney stood to His feet to inquire of the Master: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, understanding who He was speaking to, “What does the law say? How do you read that?”

The attorney responded with: “Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy soul, strength and mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Jesus said: “Thou hast well said. This DO and thou shalt live.” Regretfully, we do not know why that sat so sideways with this attorney… but Jesus knew; and he knew. Evidently his problem was not with loving the Lord with all of his soul, strength and mind. For, in an instant he began trying to justify himself by asking… so who is my neighbour.

In other words, he tried to pass off his lack of “love” on the fact that maybe he didn’t realize they were his neighbours.

Jesus didn’t buy it.

Jesus’ response to the attorney’s fatalistic attempt at self-justification was to set a water mark so high that no one could attain it… enter the Good Samaritan parable.

The whole “Good Samaritan” story is included in the record of the holy writ, as a response to an attorney trying to get technical with Jesus.

It was the result of a self-righteous, religious, legalistic lawyer trying to justify his actions… or lack thereof. I must throw out an increasingly significant warning: When speaking with Jesus, one better go easy on the self justification.

Who Is My Neighbour?

Jesus responds with a story. A certain man was making his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho. And, he fell among thieves. A certain priest passed by on the other side of the road… undeterred by his need. Likewise, a certain Levite passed by on the other side of the road, refusing to meet his need.

Up until this point, the attorney is keeping abreast with the story. His self-justification is doing fine. Jesus was driving the point home with lethal, pinpoint accuracy. In one sentence, He was about to strike to the core of this attorney's Jewish being. After being ignored by the Priest and the Levite, Jesus introduces the character that turns the whole story upside down. A certain Samaritan was traveling the road.

Jesus knew that some Jews would rather die, than be helped by Samaritan.

That Samaritan's blood ran cold.

Which Of These Are Neighbour Unto Him?

All of a sudden, the story is not about who is my neighbor? — which is the question that got this all started in the first place. Now Jesus asks the lawyer: so which of these is a neighbor unto him? Or, in other words, are you a neighbor?

You, Mr. Attorney, wanted to know which “people” had to be included “as your neighbors” — and now I am asking you, “are you a neighbor”? Mr. Attorney, where would you have been, if you had been walking that road that night? What side of the road would you have been on?

People don’t just need Jesus; they need a neighbour!

Our world does not need more organized religion; they need neighbours.

If you are depressed… can I be your neighbor?

If you are suicidal… can I be your neighbor?

If you are divorced… can I be your neighbor?

If you are orphaned… can I be your neighbor?

If you are scared… can I be your neighbor?

If you’ve been taken advantage of… can I be your neighbor?

If you are sick… can I be your neighbor?

If you are bitter, backslidden, broke… can I be your neighbor?

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