Who is my neighbor?
A certain lawyer asks the question, “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers with a parable, commonly called, “The Good Samaritan.” What is the message of this lesson?
Luke 10:25-37
Background
Luke chapter ten records Jesus sending out seventy ahead of him to places that he was going to come (v1). There is much excitement upon their return (v17), and the Lord Jesus offers a prayer of praise. Jesus rejoices that things revealed to these “babes”, were “hidden from the wise and intelligent.” (V21) After the prayer is a blessing, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see.” (v23) In contrast, he continues that prophets and kings wished to see the things they saw and hear the things they heard but they did not. (24)
From the return of the seventy to the introduction of the lawyer, the lesson is that the LORD has revealed Himself to babes but hidden Himself from the wise and intelligent.” (Luke 10:21-24). In the next section He will illustrate this. Who would be better to represent the wise and intelligent than a lawyer.
Why Parables?
(34) All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: (35) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matthew 13:34-35
(10) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
(11) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Matthew 13:10-11
The stage is now set for the Lord to contrast the “babes” and the “wise.”
A Certain Lawyer
The connection to this next section is seen in the first words “AND BEHOLD.” (Luke 10:25) Luke chooses these words deliberately to indicate that this next story is a continuation of the previous one.
Luke introduces the next character as “a certain lawyer.” The text does not demand that an adjective be used here. Luke could have simply written, “a lawyer.” August Van Ryn counts forty times that Luke indicates a “certain” person, including three in this section. This is not a fictitious character. He is a real person who had an encounter with the Lord.
What Must I do?
The text clearly states that the intent of this lawyer was to put the Lord Jesus to the test. Would Jesus contradict the Law of Moses? A similar situation is recorded by John when they bring a woman to Jesus that was caught in the act of adultery.
(4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. (5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.
In neither case does the Lord Jesus contradict the law or the prophets. In His own words He says,
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matthew 5:17
The lawyer asks, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” [Luke 10:25]
Some commentators make much of his use of the word “inherit” here. However, this is the same question asked by a “certain ruler” aka “a rich young ruler” which is recorded in all three synoptic gospels [Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18]. Jesus uses the phrase “inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19:29). There is no indication that this is intended to contrast the gift of eternal life by faith and somehow earning eternal life by performance.
Other commentators will dwell upon the word “do” to contrast faith versus works. The argument falls apart if you attempt to apply the same criteria to the Philippian jailer who asks “what must I do to be saved” in Acts 16:30. The error of doing a word by word study of the phrase “what must I do to inherit eternal life” can lead to missing the point of this story. It can lead toward allegorical interpretation and away from the clear meaning of the text.
The term everlasting life appears only one time in the Old Testament. It is in reference to the resurrection of the just and the unjust.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2
What Does Moses Say?
“What does the law say? How do you read it?”
While similar to the conversation with the Rich Young Ruler, Jesus does not begin with “thou shalt love the Lord thy God” with him. Why? There is no impure motive in the young ruler’s question. This young ruler has a heart for the things of the LORD. Mark describes the man as running to meet the Lord. Mark also records “ Then Jesus beholding him loved him” before commanding him to leave his wealth to others.
On the other hand, the lawyer is trying to trap Jesus in a technicality of the Law of Moses, but sets the trap for himself instead. The real difference is not found in the command to love your neighbor (do this and live), but in the command “follow me.”
When Jesus says, “this do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:28) He is referring to the life promised according to the law.
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. Leviticus 18:5
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Romans 10:5
The Law of Moses only offers life, not eternal life. The first commandment with promise as Paul reports to the Ephesians (6:2) is to honor your parents. The promise is no “eternal life” but “that your days be long upon the land.” (Exodus 20:12). This is the best that the lawyer can hope for.
Do not misunderstand the answer of Jesus to this question. He does not promise eternal life through obedience to the Law of Moses, but “that thou shalt live.” [Luke 10:28] A healthy moral life may increase our lifespan on earth, but it will not offer the forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Let’s unpack this a little further.
It is often said that there are two paths to eternal life. The path of the Old Testament being righteousness through obedience to the law. The path of the New Testament being righteousness by faith.
The fact is that the righteousness of the law never resulted in the forgiveness of sin or eternal life. The righteousness of God has always been by faith. Consider these Scriptures.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23
The Law of Moses only offers life, not eternal life. The first commandment with promise as Paul reports to the Ephesians (6:2) is to honor your parents. The promise is no “eternal life” but “that your days be long upon the land.” (Exodus 20:12). This is the best that the lawyer can hope for apart from the righteousness of God by faith.
Jesus responded in accordance to the Law of Moses and without contradiction. However, this man was not interested in following Christ. He is apparently obedient to the Law of Moses as he understands it, but it is not obedience from the heart.
Who Is My Neighbor?
When the scribes and Pharisees brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to the Lord, they try to get Jesus to contradict Moses. Here is what they said.
“Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”
John 8:5
In similar fashion, this lawyer tests the Lord Jesus by adding a clarifying question. He hoped to trap the Lord Jesus, but traps himself instead.
Who is my neighbor?, he asks. This sets the background for the parable. The purpose of this parable to show who demonstrates the heart of the Father. Who represents the Lord by demonstrating what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
Perhaps we can pause here to consider just what this means. I suffered through my share of college math to get through nursing school. How do you prove an equivalent equation? If it has been a while for you, let me word this differently. How do you prove an equation that says this equals that? It is actually quite simple. If this equals that, then that also equals this. Don’t let that ruin your day. The point that I am making is that if it is true that you love your neighbor as yourself, then it must also be true that you love yourself as your neighbor. Think that one through to its logical conclusion.
Compare this to Ephesians 5:28. Men, love your wife as you love your body. If you love your wife, you love your body. Then in 5:29 he explains that we take care of our body (nourish), thus we men should care for our wives in this same way.
Paul will further explain that the marriage relationship is symbolic of Christ’s love for His church.
How we care for others tells us how much we love the Lord!
The parable of the man who fell among thieves.
The parable that follows only appears in the Gospel of Luke. Luke, the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) provides a very detailed narrative.
Many commentaries make Jesus the Samaritan, the wounded man is unable to save himself, the law and the prophets as illustrated by the priest and Levite cannot save him. Jesus saves the man and places him in the care of the Holy Spirit until He returns. End of Story. There is no argument that there is a gospel application to be made here. However, is that the message that Jesus was giving to this young lawyer? Proper exegesis of Scripture dictates that we must first find the meaning, then the application. One meaning, many applications.
Jumping directly into an application is a common way of interpreting parables. The use of allegory and symbolism should be done carefully. To properly understand Scripture, you need to understand the context of the story, the purpose of the parable, and the meaning that comes from that. Otherwise, you risk going beyond what is provided in the story.
When there is allegory, like the Sower and the Seeds, the Lord typically explains it.
The three parables in Luke 15 are similar to the parable here. There is a tendency for preachers to jump directly to an application without determining the meaning first. The Lord begins this set of parables in Luke 15:14 with “What man of you,” addressing the Pharisees and scribes he is speaking to. They, the Pharisees, are the shepherds that lost their sheep, the woman that lost her coin, and the brother of the prodigal son.
Likewise, when Jesus answers this lawyer with a parable, the reader can expect the lawyer to be represented in the parable. The point of this parable is to answer the question, “who is my neighbor.”
Remember the math lesson earlier? If the lawyer loves his neighbor as himself, then ideally, his neighbor should love the lawyer as himself. Both being righteous law keepers. So, who do you suspect that this man counts as his neighbor? You might also consider who he wishes to exclude from being his neighbor based upon his question.
I believe that the man who went down to Jericho is the lawyer. The thieves are not identified by the Lord. Their function is simply to rob the man, beat him, and leave him for dead.
Now here, I will venture into some symbolism. This lawyer is dead and does not know it.
These are the words of Jesus. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27 (see also Paul in Acts 23:3) [This refers to the practice of whitewashing tombs before Passover so they could tell if anyone had “touched the dead” and were defiled – disqualified to eat the Passover.]
Going back to Ephesians again, 2:1 and 2:5 refer to the fact that apart from Christ, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Romans tells us that all have sinned (3:23) and the wages of sin is death (6:23).
This poor lawyer, is a major character in the story. As noted above, let us turn the story around.
The lawyer asked, “who is MY neighbor?” The answer he is given in this parable is, “who is neighbor to YOU?” The answer may surprise you. It certainly surprised him.
The Levite and the Priest are men highly respected by the man. To this lawyer, these are his neighbors. These are the ones that he should love as himself. But when the question is reversed, is the lawyer THEIR neighbor?
The answer is obvious. When he has lost everything, he becomes as the poor outcasts that he is desperately trying to avoid by his question. Luke is all about the poor and the outcast.
This is not unlike the prodigal in Luke 15 who loses his friends when he runs out of money.
The first to discover him represents those that he might call his neighbor. They kept the Law of Moses, even to tithing of spices, but avoided any contact with the poor and outcast. Their fear of being defiled or made ceremonially unclean was more important than true compassion.
As priest and Levite, they also represent the Law of Moses that this man trusted in. They passed him by. Abandoned and left to die by those he would call neighbor, the representatives of all that he depended upon for access to God, an unexpected character enters.
Even the very word, Samaritan, was an insult from the mouth of a practicing Jew. He is not poor, but he is an outcast. He is not welcome in proper Jewish circles. The would not share a meal together. Even talking to this racially half Jewish, impure man would be unacceptable. A righteous man like this lawyer would never touch or be touched by him. But there he is, broken, bleeding, and dying all alone. Under other circumstances, the lawyer would likely have rather died than be touched by this ceremonially unclean Samaritan. However, being near dead, he was not able to resist.
Recall the woman at the well who responded to the Lord Jesus when he asked for water. “Why ask me?” “Jews do not have dealings with Samaritans.” (John 4:9)
So, the very person who the lawyer would reject as his neighbor, an outcast of Jewish society, does for him what he, this lawyer, would not have done in return.
Shame on him! That is the primary message of this parable to the lawyer. The heart of the father is to care for widows, orphans, and the stranger (foreign born one).
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Deuteronomy 10:18
Consider the words of James.
(5) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (6) But ye have despised the poor. James 2:5-6
The lawyer was looking for life in obedience to the Law of Moses, but failed to represent the heart of the law, that is the heart of the Father. True righteousness is representing the heart of the Father to all men.
Without compassion for others, obedience to the law is useless. The contrast is found in Luke 10:33 where it says of the Samaritan, “he had compassion on him.” That is what the lawyer truly lacked.
What of the details? Before assigning symbolism to the oil and wine, consider the author of this gospel, Luke, whom Paul calls the “beloved physician” [Colossians 4:14]
Do not skip these details. Close your eyes and travel to that dangerous road called the “Way of Blood” for its reputation.
- He had compassion (10:33)
- He came where he was (10:34) – contrast the priest and Levite
- He bound his wounds, with oil and wine – effective but costly.
- He sets him on his own beast – providing comfort and accepting difficulty.
- He cares for him at the inn – staying with him during critical recovery.
- He pays for his continued care.
- He did not stop with “enough,” going beyond basic rescue.
The Lord’s second question
Which of the three was neighbor to the man?
The application?
The Lord simply says, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
They say that if you want to know how a young man will treat your daughter, watch how he treats his mother and sisters. If you want to know the character of an employer, what how he treats his employees.
What does how we treat the poor and the outcast say about our character? Do we have the heart of the Father? Do we show the love of Christ?
Who is our neighbor? Do we speak to the homeless and downcast, or do we avoid contact?
Do we allow culture and politics excuse our lack of compassion.
If it does, then shame on us too.
Perhaps you are here and you feel as though you have been beaten and left for dead by the world. You have not experienced compassion and the love of God that we are talking about.
Perhaps you have tried religion or church or some other substitute, but found like this poor man that none of those you trusted as friends are willing or able to bring you relief from your suffering.
There is an outcast waiting to bind your wounds. His name is Jesus.
He was despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53).
He came unto his own, and his own rejected him. (John 1:11)
Will you do what the rich young ruler could not do, follow Christ!
Will you ask for what the lawyer desired but could not attain to: Eternal Life.
Jesus said, “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47)
Will you receive his gift of eternal life today?
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