The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-42

If I had to guess I would say majority if not all of mankind holds the desire to be a good person. In the parable of The Good Samaritan Jesus says the two greatest commandments. First, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, & strength. Second, to love your neighbor as yourself.

Meditating on these verses it has me asking myself if I am not loving the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, & strength then can I truly be loving my neighbor as myself? And if I feel that I truly am loving the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul & strength then am I blinded by my own judgement to recognize who my neighbors are?

The lawyer in this parable is basically asking God, “who exactly do I need to love to get what I want and still be considered a good person?” Our neighbors extend much farther than just proximity and convenience. Like the Samaritan, Jesus is an example of truly loving your neighbor. The Samaritans were marginalized. Jesus was despised. The Samaritan risked his life, time, money& energy to make sure the man was taken cared for and then some. Jesus took on the weight of every short coming, every sin, and every ugly part of the entire world. He courageously died so that each of us can be taken care of to the utmost fullest. He died so that our past and future shortcomings are completely forgiven. Loving our neighbor takes courage, willingness, and sacrifice. 

Now as Jesus commands in the parable, let us “go and do likewise”.