Who is my neighbor?
The wounded man lay dying by the side of the road. He had been brutally attacked and robbed by bandits.
Now, when hope of help was almost gone, he dimly heard hoof beats which stopped beside him. Someone gave him a cool drink of water, then carefully cleaned and dressed his wounds.
The kind stranger helped the injured man climb onto his donkey. Then he took him to an inn, tended him through the night, and even paid for his continuing care.
What a selfless, generous act! The surprising thing about this story is that the two men were from different people groups which hated each other.
Jesus said we should love our neighbor, and this is the story he told to illustrate how to do that. We show generosity to the one in need. Mercy to the one who is neglected by others. Kindness to the different and unlovely one. They are our neighbors.
“We show generosity to the one in need. Mercy to the one who is neglected by others. Kindness to the different and unlovely one. They are our neighbors.”
Luke 10:36-37
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”