Who is My Neighbor?

One day, Jesus was teaching. And an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

 

“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” 

 

The expert answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

 

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” 

 

But wanting to justify himself, the expert asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 

 

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 

 

“Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

 

“So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

 

“But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

 

“The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ 

 

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 

 

“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. 

 

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

 

See Luke 10:25-37

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