Luke 10:33-34

"But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him" (Luke 10:33-34 RSV).

 

Comment:

This is, of course, the heart of the parable known as the Good Samaritan. A lawyer has asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" (10:29). Instead of answering the question directly, Jesus tells a story so that the answer to the question will come out of the questioner himself. The story is very clear: a man en route from Jerusalem to Jericho was mugged and left by the road in, apparently, very bad shape. Two good Jews—a priest and a Levite. both important roles in the religious structure of the time, passed the badly wounded man and kept going. They could justify those decisions according to the Law, because to touch blood would require a considerable process of purification that would delay their work. A Samaritan is one of the people who were scorned by Jews because they were descended from Jews who had remained in the land during the Babylonian Exile and intermarried with other tribes. And it is the Samaritan who tends to the man with loving-kindness.  

So our 'neighbor' is basically anyone in need, anyone to whom we can be of service. We are all spiritual beings. Distinctions such as Jew/Samaritan, Black/White, Male/Female, Gay/Straight are part of our life experience, but everyone on both sides of any such divisions is our neighbor.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed