"And, Who is My Neighbor?"
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Yeshua, "And who is my neighbor?' (Luke 10:29)
This is a strange question, if you consider who was doing the asking. Those assembled (If you don't know), are attempting to trick Jesus into condemning Himself, with His own words--this was surely an odd question from such a source (if you don't know what he is up to). Take note--not just anyone was asking this question of Jesus--this person was referred to as a "lawyer", "religion scholar", "expert", "teacher", "expert on the Law", "expert in Moses' teachings", etc. (in various versions). This man knows the Law. He knows all of the Law--surely he knows the 16th and 17th verses of the 20th chapter of what we call the Book of Exodus. (The Law for Jewish people consists of the Torah--and over 600 commands that had to be memorized and kept. If you offended in one point, you failed to keep all of the Law! Hence, the sacrifices of so many bulls and lambs--are you thanking God for GRACE??!!!) Yet, this "expert" wants to know who his "neighbor" is?
Your neighbor isn't only the person you choose. He could be the one you wouldn't touch. Jesus went right to the heart of the matter. He knew that these men who sat in accusation of Him, were those who weren't willing to get to the heart of the matter and reach (or touch) others at the point of their real needs. (Remember this admonishment from the Savior? "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi." (Matthew 23:2-7) They were the religious men of the day--in it for the benefits. In it only for what they could gain from the people. Jesus spoke harshly of them. Today, is no exception. He used a parable that time, though.
He painted a picture of a man--no background--just that he was hurt, and in need of help--who was it who passed by, though??? The priest. The Levite. Those were Jesus accuser's. Who didn't pass by the man in need? The Samaritan. Samaritans were, in that day, considered "hereditary" enemy's of Jews. Samaritans and Jews lived separately with their animosities--long-held and intact. Samaritans were Jews, too, who in the past had intermarried (which was against God's Law--see the forgiving nature of God???) with others outside of Judaism and eventually, after Solomon's death, became estranged, completely from Judah. In this day, Jesus, being a Jew, is expected to have no contact with Samaritans (see John 4:9), or to view them favorably. As Jesus begins His story, he doesn't say who the injured party is--just a certain man--which in that day, generally, indicated that it was a Jewish man, to His hearers. So, imagine as they listened, to Jesus speak of an injured Jewish man, laying in the road, left for dead by a band of robbers (also common in that day, particularly on the road to Jericho). It is also normal for priests to go to Jericho--a large settlement of priests dwelled there.
What Jesus makes plain to His hearers that day, is that it was a priest and a Levite, both of whom knew the Law--and knew that it was a commandment to show mercy and to help a neighbor, according to the Law (Exodus 23:4; Deuteronomy 22:1-4), who passed by (a Jewish man [only to have the Jewish man in need rescued by the one whom they hated the most]--much as they had been doing to those they were called to serve!). Note, when Jesus finishes the parable, He distinguishes between those who KNOW and those who DO, by saying, "Go, and DO, thou likewise." It isn't that they didn't know--or that we don't know--it is what we do, it is how we respond to what we know, that will determine our eternal destiny (Matthew 25:31-46). There are many injured "neighbors" all around us--will we continue to pass by, pretending not to see--knowing that we have the ability to meet the need? Will we begin to pour oil and wine in the wounds and bind them up and carry our neighbors, giving them a chance to heal. Will we continue to speak that unbiblical cliche'--"pull yourself up by your own bootstraps"--some of our neighbors have no "boots". We tell people to depend and rely on God--He uses us to give them what they need--He has not created any trees of money, to my knowledge.
Whatever natural blessings we obtain, God uses human instrumentation to supply them. That's why the Scripture says, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall MEN give into your bosom." (Luke 6:38a, KJV). God uses us to bless each other--He uses us to bless and help our neighbors! It isn't just with words, but with our deeds, as well, or else we become like the "expert" who knew, but didn't "do". James teaches us about this errant way, too. "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:15-17). Seeing a problem, and feeling bad about it, but doing nothing to correct it, is faithless--loveless, too. That's what Jesus wanted the religious leaders to get, while they were busy trying to trap Him, that day. I don't know if any of them got it that day--maybe, someone in the crowd went home, with something to ponder--maybe he was in the Upper Room on Pentecost. Maybe that parable changed his life. I'd like to think so.
What about us, though? When are we going to change? When are we going to throw away the ideologies of 20th-century industrialized thinking, that caused us to move away from each other, to think about ourselves, and focus on gaining more and building "bigger barns". When are we going to become neighbor-conscious? To be neighbor-conscious, proves that we are God-conscious, you know. ("If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?") [1 John 4:20]
It's wonderful to know the Word, but to do it, is better. Love one another. Be neighborly--"as the Scripture hath said".
"And Jesus answering said, 'A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. And when he saw him he had compassion on him, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 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.' Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?' And he said, 'He that showed mercy on him.' Then said Jesus unto him, "Go and do thou likewise." (Luke 10:30-37, 21st Century KJV)
Comments
Post a Comment