Scripture Post #455: *WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?*

Luke 10:29: "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?"

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Scripture states that a certain lawyer with misleading motives asked JESUS, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

JESUS replied, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" 

The lawyer then said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

JESUS then replied, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."  

Luke 10:29: "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" 

This man didn't ask, "*WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?*" with a bit of sincerity. He asked "willing to justify himself"; hoping that JESUS would tell him what he wanted to hear so that he could feel justified: knowing he'd already accomplished what JESUS' response was going to be. But JESUS' answer was different from what this lawyer expected. JESUS responded with a short story of a Samaritan man stated in the context below. 

Full Context:

Luke 10:25: "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

V. 26: "He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?"

V. 27: "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

V. 28: "And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."

V. 29: "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?"

V. 30: "And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead."

V. 31: "And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side."

V. 32: "And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side."

V. 33: "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,"

V. 34: "And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him."

V. 35: "And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee."

V. 36: "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?"

V. 37: "And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

Originally Published: Wed. 12/11/13