Who Is My Neighbor?

A lawyer questioned Jesus about who was his neighbor, and ... 

Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

"Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

"But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 

"On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 

"Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 

And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Luke 11:39-37 

Jesus points out the the holy people, the priest and the Levite, ignored the injured man, but the Samaritan stopped and not only cared for the man but paid for him to stay at an inn while he recovered from his injuries.  The Samaritans were regarded as bad people who were to be avoided. One time, when Jesus and His disciples were on a journey. they took the long way around to avoid them.  (Luke 9:51-56)  Yet, here Jesus is commending a Samaritan as being good, and more than that - being better than the holy people who passed by the injured man.

I think this is so we will consider putting our faith into action so when someone needs help, we help or at least find someone who can help.  

We are to minister to others without consideration of who they are, but knowing that we are commanded to do so, because everyone is our neighbor.  

So, look for neighbors to help.