Luke 10

Read: Luke 10

Luke 10:29, 36, 37 “But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’… ’Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

Think

When a lawyer asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:29), he tried to test Jesus, the law's author. But Jesus turned the tables by asking the lawyer what the law said. The lawyer summed it up in two commands: love God with all you are (Deuteronomy 6:5) and love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus agreed and said, “Do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:28).

Feeling convicted, the lawyer tried to justify himself by asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37). This story points out that the neighbor we’re called to love is often not one we choose but one God chooses for us. The Jew and the Samaritan wouldn’t have chosen each other as neighbors. Their bond was formed by one man’s unplanned disaster and another man’s chosen compassion in response to an inconvenient, costly need.

This parable shocks us into realizing that God expects us to love needy strangers, even broken people, as neighbors. If this is true, how much more does he want us to love our immediate neighbors—the ones we deal with daily? Sometimes, these neighbors, these relatives, and these coworkers are the hardest to love. As G.K. Chesterton said, “We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next-door neighbor… He is the sample of humanity which is actually given us.”

Loving our neighbor sounds beautiful in theory but gets tough in practice. The real beauty of love is found in the selfless, unplanned call to love the difficult people in our lives. Our first neighbors are our family members, given to us without choice. Families are the training ground for neighbor love because they are a miniature version of the world. The early church also faced this challenge, dealing with a diverse and often conflicting community of believers. The distinguishing mark of the church has never been a perfect society but its members’ love for each other, especially when it is costly and inconvenient (John 13:35). Jesus calls us to love the difficult, messy people around us, saying, “You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

Apply

Look for opportunities to help those in need, even when inconvenient or costly. Volunteer your time, offer a listening ear, or provide practical assistance. A simple idea is to join a serve team or small group where you can meet the needs of your community.

Pray

Lord, help me recognize the people you have placed in my life and show them the same compassion and care that the Good Samaritan showed. Guide my actions and fill my heart with your love so I can show your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.