Love your Neighbor

Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Devotion

For those of you who are currently connected to the digital world, maybe you can relate to the way I’m feeling right now … worn out from conflict and controversy. Here’s what I’m thinking, let’s all delete our social media accounts, get rid of our smart phones, and go back to landlines or maybe flip-phones (I do have teenagers I need to keep track of). Then, we might be able to dial down the level of rage, antagonism, and flat-out hatred that seems to be pervasive in our culture today. It’s evident there is not just one group of people responsible. Many Christians and non-Christians alike share culpability for this heightened state of animosity, but as followers of Christ we are called to something greater.

It’s become common, when confronted with our own tendencies towards other people, to point fingers and make enemies of those around us. Jesus challenges us to move through the world in a way that looks radically different from the current cultural climate we’re living in. If we’re confused or unclear about what this way of living looks like, Jesus’ teaching from Scripture is our trustworthy guide. In his gospel account, Luke describes a scene in which an expert in religious law, a lawyer of sorts, presents Jesus with some questions in an effort to test him.

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-29)

Instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus replies to the man’s question by telling a parable. It’s a made-up tale meant to teach a lesson. Here’s the condensed version: While a Jewish man was traveling along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, he was attacked by bandits and left for dead. A Jewish priest and temple assistant passed him by on their way out of Jerusalem and neither stopped to help. In fact, both crossed to the opposite side of the road to avoid being defiled by a person who might be dead. Then, a third man came along who was a Samaritan. You see, Samaritans and Jews were considered enemies and carried an attitude of hostility toward each other, so it was highly unlikely that this Samaritan would be willing to help a Jewish man in need … and that’s where Jesus’ story takes an unexpected turn. The Samaritan felt compassion for the man and decided to stop, tend to his wounds, and carry him to safety. After finishing the parable, Jesus redirects the expert’s question right back to him.

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same” (Luke 10:36-37).

In his story, Jesus chose the Samaritan, someone who was considered an enemy of the Jews, to be the one moved by compassion to care for the wounded man. With no bonds of friendship or connection between the two, it was the Samaritan man’s compassion alone broke down the walls of prejudice and allowed him to meet the needs of his adversary.

With this parable, Jesus illustrates the reality of life in God’s Kingdom and changes the paradigm of who we consider as our neighbor. Author and theologian Dr. Mark Moore explains, “The power of this parable is that it explodes the parameters of ‘neighborness’ far beyond what this lawyer, or most of us, would ever imagine.”

When Jesus commands “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31), he means EVERYONE. It’s not easy to do, but as Jesus-followers we must examine the way we behave toward all we come in contact with, in person or online … believer or non-believer. In a culture that might tempt us to hate and reject those who look different, believe different, or think different, God’s word offers us a better way. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the strength to do what Christ commands: to love our neighbor by upholding the dignity of all humanity and loving like Jesus, no matter who we encounter along the way.

PRAYER

Lord, the conflict is exhausting. Give us the strength and compassion to reject judgment and love our neighbor—every single person—as you commanded. Amen.

Jill Poe-Thompson
Associate Location Pastor - Edmond

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