Jesus: Love Your Brothers And Sisters And . . .Your Enemies

Jesus: Love Your Brothers And Sisters And . . .
Your Enemies

Luke 10:25-37 ESV

 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Jesus had a very specific purpose in telling this parable, especially as He talked with the Lawyer mentioned above, who presumed his own righteousness before God. Jesus used parables as mental mirrors designed to force us to see ourselves, not as we imagined ourselves, but as God in truth sees us. The lawyer sincerely believed he had done all of the right things in God’s sight. He presumed he had met Heaven’s expectations, that he had actually loved God with all his heart and mind and strength. I honestly think, he just glossed over the “loving your neighbor” portion of the two great commandments.  So, he apparently got a little nervous as Jesus’ tale proceeded. 

As Jesus began, I believe he was totally immersed in the parable, being drawn in by the beginning, which presented a very real danger he and his fellow Jews faced as they walked sometimes lonely and dangerous roads outside Jerusalem.  The appearance of thieves along the road would not have surprised him. The violence those thieves unleashed on the innocent traveler would not have surprised him. Jesus had him hooked.

What’s this?
A priest passing by the beaten man on the other side of the road?

Then Jesus shifted the Lawyer’s view so that he would see himself. Along came a priest. I believe he fully expected Jesus to picture the priest as the hero—the godly man who would step in and save the poor victim beaten and battered, lying beside the road. I can just imagine the Lawyer standing taller as he waited for Jesus to praise the priest as he demonstrated the righteousness of God, as the Priest  would probably call others to come to join him and save this desperate man. But what’s this?  Jesus said the priest hurried on by on the other side. Well, the Lawyer must have said to himself, “But what else could he do? The thieves might still be nearby. They might attack me too. Why, it might be some kind of trap. I bet the man on the side of the road is one of a gang of thieves out to get me. I’ll just get past this trap as fast as I can.” 

What’s this?
A Levite also passing by the beaten man on the other side of the road?

And Jesus continued the parable. The Lawyer must have been wondering what in the world was going on. Oh, here comes a Levite—his own kind of guy—and he stood tall once again. Surely he would save the day. He would undoubtedly do his duty and help the beaten and probably dying man. But what’s this? Jesus said this Levite saw him and also passed by on the other side. Well, again there had to be a good explanation for such a seeming failure to care for the apparent victim. Perhaps, the Lawyer could have been thinking, “The Levite has pressing business in the next village. Anyway, someone with less responsibility would have more time, and probably more strength and skill. I bet the Almighty has someone with medical training who will come by soon. Just leave him in God’s hands.” 

What’s this?
A Samaritan, a despised Samaritan stopping and caring for and providing for the poor beaten man?

By now Jesus had firmly secured the Lawyer’s attention. How was this Master Teacher going to recognize the Lawyer’s righteousness in this mesmerizing story? But what’s this? The Lawyer could not believe his ears? A Samaritan! A despised Samaritan! Jesus was making a Samaritan the hero of this story! How could it be? Everyone knew the Samaritans were half-breed, idol-worshiping half-pagan’s who would never do such a kind deed—stopping and treating and taking to an inn this poor man on his own donkey—and paying for his treatment. No! Why would Jesus make such a heathen do such a godly thing? What kind of story was this?

And then Jesus held the mirror clearly in front of the Lawyer, as he pierced his heart with the question; “Which of these three proved to be the true neighbor to the man who fell among the thieves?”

So, how do you picture yourself in the world? As a mighty King or Queen, or perhaps as a pawn in the hands of a world you certainly cannot command?

But what’s this? What could he say? I think the humbled Lawyer must have mumbled his answer; “The one who showed him mercy.” You see, it wasn’t about labels, it wasn’t about ethnic differences, it wasn’t about human interpretations and expectations. It was all about God’s Truth and His demand that we love Him with all that He has made us to be, and that as we love Him, and ourselves—that we love others even as we are loved by God Himself. We must quit imagining ourselves as a king or queen in this world, but as a pawn of the world, or a servant to our God and King.

Who Would My Samaritan Be?

I have to pause and ponder,
who would my Samaritan be
if Jesus were telling this
parable to me?

Would my Samaritan be
someone I despise because they
look too different from me to
actually see?

Would my Samaritan be
someone I treat with suspicion
since they speak too different from
my people and me?

Would my Samaritan be
someone I could never trust for
their world view could not fit in
with the world I see?

Would my Samaritan be
one I see as my enemy
who makes me feel hatred and fear—
just too different, you see?

Who would my Samaritan
be? Perhaps if Jesus held up
a mirror in front of me—could
it possibly be just me?