A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

Luke 10:25-42 

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

“Which of these do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robber’s hands? ” – Luke 10:36

The parables of Jesus are always designed to bring out a lesson for life! The parable in today’s reading reveals the real disciple.  Questions asked by people reveal what is within them. Hence when the answers are given, the questioner also is dealt with. A lawyer was testing Jesus by asking Him a question (v.25)- the intention not to receive an answer, but to find fault in the answer of Jesus! 

The answer Jesus gives, is relevant not only to the person who asked the question, but to all people in every age! The attitude of that lawyer exists in many of us- questioning Jesus in many ways!! The question asked was about the requirements to inherit eternal life! Jesus’ answer: the sum substance of the Ten Commandments (Vs.27), which is, love towards God and love towards man!

True wholehearted love of God calls for undivided devotion and obedience to His commandments! In fact, Jesus conveys to the lawyer that the foundation of the Law, which is the Ten commandments, is love and one cannot love God without loving his neighbor. In the religious mind of the questioner, he might have thought that everything can be done through ritually obeying the “written code” – including having eternal life! 

It is very interesting to note the questions and the responses. The first question was what one had to do to gain eternal life! Jesus’ response: the answer to that question was already in the hands of that lawyer – ie the Ten Commandments. But Jesus put that in the right perspective!! Immediately came the next: – “Who is my neighbour?” Wonder why he did not ask the question “Who is God?” which was the first part of the response provided! When Jesus said “Love your God” – there was clarity in the heart of the questioner but when he was told to love the neighbour, the query was “who is my neighbor?”

The second question also reveals the mindset of the lawyer. He was preconceived with the notion that he was “the most righteous” person; so who could really qualify to receive his love?? In His answer, Jesus tells him who is qualified to love by conveying to him his own deficiency! The Bible states in uncompromising way- that if one cannot love the brother who is seen, he cannot love God who is unseen (1 John 4:20).

The Samaritan in the story represents the attitude that all of us need to have – loving the stranger and caring for his needs. The 1^st person – the Priest - represents the quality of people to see everything from a selfish religious view point. Thought pattern: “Why should I take the risk of attending to a stranger?” His faith is of a hypocrite – he does everything to appease men – not God! The 2^nd person- the Levite- represents another quality. Thought pattern: “If this man is dead, I might become ceremonially unclean!” A “holier –than-thou” attitude!! He was selfish - he cared for only himself!

But we need to emulate the attitude of the Samaritan (a Jew is his enemy), knowing the injured man was a Jew, was willing to save his life! It did not bother him whether the injured was a stranger or even dead – he was genuinely concerned!

Brethren, to be a good neighbour, we need to love sincerely; we need to love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9); we need to avoid selfishness (1Cor.13:5). That kind of unselfish love was shown only by Jesus! We need to have His mind and reflect Him!!

Quote for the Day: “Loving your neighbour means helping those in need even if they don’t live next door!” ~ The Veggie Tales