AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR? - PART 5

THURSDAY 01 MAY 2025

The central idea in today's article is still the fact that a certain lawyer who was an expert in Mosaic Law asked the Lord Jesus a question: "AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?" And till this day, I'm grateful to have the privilege of delivering an expository comprehension of this vital question to the world around me. Praise God...More below!

Reference: Luke 10:29 New International Version (NIV)

"But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?"'

The third passerby was a Samaritan (foreigner), who was travelling, and then came across the battered man that encountered the robbers who stripped him of his clothes and belongings.

Having gone their way unconcerned, after beating him up and leaving him half dead, the Samaritan saw him, and was deeply moved with compassion toward his dire and critical condition, and furthermore, as it consisted in his power of understanding and sympathy, he geared towards the interest of his recovery.

Indeed, the good Samaritan was the "beau idéal" of this parable; the very practical quintessence of a proximate neighbour, yet this goodness was not carried out within his own neighbourhood. When he saw the helpless, he displayed an empathetic attachment. To fully grasp his mindful and compassionate tolerance, let us consider the versified passage below:

"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'" (Luke 10:33-35 MSG).

Beloved, the Good Samaritan went over to the injured man, stopped the bleeding, applied some first aid, and then, put the weak fellow on his donkey. He brought the man to an inn and cared for him throughout the night. If the injury was too bad, the Samaritan would've taken him to a hospital for proper treatment and prescription medication. As if that was not enough, the next day, the Samaritan took out some money—two days' wages to be exact—and paid the innkeeper, saying, "Please take care of this fellow, and if this isn't enough, I'll repay you next time I pass through." Advertently, his action was pleasing to Jesus Christ and to my humble self.

Interestingly, when a Bad Samaritan meets you, he or she would likely give you an ugly look as a Jew or even reject the weak and downcast, as an unworthy fellow. In a small Samaritan town known as Sychar where Jesus talked with a Samaritan Woman who came to draw water at the well, He said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"...The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" [For Jews do not associate with Samaritans] - See John 4:9 (NIV). For the Jews in Israel, Samaria is a place to be strictly avoided. In fact, the Jews don't even use dishes Samaritans have used.

But what is my point here? It was a Samaritan woman that refused Him a drink with zero consideration of being a neighbour to the Lord. She looked at Jesus in astonishment and then began to mutter and utter an adamant denial of a simple request - a drink, on account of race-related conflict. Beloved, there is such a thing as good and bad Priest; there is such a thing as good and bad Levite, and there is such a thing as good and bad Samaritan. Which one are you? Are you a neighbour to the weak, the oppressed or the one in forlorn condition? Stay tuned for part 6. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 3:27; Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:16.

Guided Prayer:

Thank you Lord for the ability to always express a strong and growing conviction of your goodness which grants me insight into viable ways that uphold and sustain the hope and interest of others; an impactful transformation powered in me by the Spirit of truth, in Jesus' Name, Amen.