25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He 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.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Explanation of Luke 10:25-37
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which teaches profound lessons about love, compassion, and what it means to be a true neighbor.
- The Question About Eternal Life: The passage begins with a conversation between Jesus and a law expert. The expert asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus responds by pointing him to the commandments to love God and love your neighbor. The expert, seeking to justify himself, asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” This question sets the stage for the parable that follows.
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Jesus tells a story of a man who is attacked by robbers, left for dead, and ignored by both a priest and a Levite—two individuals who would have been expected to help, given their religious positions. However, a Samaritan, someone traditionally despised by the Jews, stops and shows mercy. He cares for the man’s wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care.
- The Lesson on Mercy: Through this parable, Jesus challenges the societal norms of His time. He shows that being a neighbor is not about social status, ethnicity, or religious affiliation but about showing mercy and compassion to those in need. The Samaritan, despite being from a group that Jews looked down upon, becomes the model of true neighborly love.
- The Call to Action: After telling the story, Jesus asks the expert in the law which of the three was a neighbor to the injured man. The expert answers, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus then instructs him to “go and do likewise.” This is a call to all believers to actively live out love and mercy in their interactions with others, no matter their background.
Application for Today
The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that love is not just a feeling but an action. Jesus calls us to look beyond labels, prejudices, and differences to show mercy to anyone in need. Just as the Samaritan helped the man on the side of the road, we are called to help those who are hurting, vulnerable, and in need of compassion, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
In our daily lives, we may encounter people who need help—whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Jesus calls us to be compassionate, to show mercy, and to be a neighbor to anyone in need.
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