![]() ![]() ![]() I find things like self-seeking, envy, pride, impatience, bitterness. This can be my intention, but then I find that, like Paul writes in Romans, that when I go to do the good, I find the evil present. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the commandment. (Matthew 9:36.) Am I compassionate towards my fellow-man? Or do I let their quirks, their habits, their weaknesses, and even their sin, become a point of contention for me? Do I harden my heart to others, and in my pride and high-mindedness think that I’m better than them? Do I write them off, or have demands on them that they should be a certain way in order for me to love them? Or do I esteem them better than myself, and become a servant to all? (Philippians 2:3 Mark 9:35.) When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them. Someone’s time of need may be when they need to experience patience, compassion, or gentleness rather than irritation, rudeness, or harsh words. But the time of need isn’t always a dramatic incident. That was true selflessness and love.Īnd so “a good Samaritan” has become a phrase for someone who goes above and beyond to help someone in their time of need. But he did stop, and he did exceed expectations to help. In fact, you could almost say he could not have been blamed at all if he kept on walking, as did the Levite and the priest. The Samaritan was the true neighbor because he showed mercy and compassion, even though he had nothing to gain from it.Īs a Samaritan, a people despised by the Jews, he could have felt that he didn’t have any obligation at all to stop and help. True love isn’t performing good deeds in order to keep a good conscience. ![]() But when it came to the moment of their fellow man being in need, when no one could see them doing a good deed, then their love failed. These were men who would probably have said that they kept all the commandments, including loving your neighbor. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.Ī priest and a Levite both passed by and chose not to help. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. As a disciple, everyone I meet should taste the love of Christ in me, so that He can be glorified through me. My neighbor is anyone who crosses my path in life. The story of the good Samaritan shows us that a true neighbor has nothing to do with closeness. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn … So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:29-37. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. “‘And who is my neighbor?’ Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Jesus tells us that to love your neighbor is of extreme importance in fact, it is second only in importance to loving God. ![]()
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