Living What We Believe:Who is Your Neighbor?

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Jesus reminds us that just as God is with us, we should be there for those in need. Who is your neighbor? Who needs you today?

"Freely you have received, freely give." Mathew 10:8

Moses received the 10 commandments from God, giving the people rules to live by. Once there was a Pharisee that was an expert in the law of Moses that wanted to test Jesus, perhaps trick him up in his answer. He asked him, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" and Jesus asked him what was written in the law.

The man 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.

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But the man continued, perhaps looking for a loophole releasing him from caring for others. He asked, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus then told a parable, or story, to illustrate the answer. There was a man traveling on a road known to be dangerous due to thieves. He got beat up and left for dead. Two men, a priest and a Levite, saw him and continued their journey. Who knows why they didn't stop?

But then a Samaritan came along and gave him aid beyond what would be considered "enough." To Jews, Samaritans were hated outcasts, so Jesus used this as an example on purpose. Jesus asked the man which had been the real neighbor and he had to admit that the Samaritan had been.

Jesus tells us to have compassion on all. If someone is hurting physically or spiritually, we are supposed to help them heal. If they have needs, they are our neighbors and we are to help them.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 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. 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.

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

In the parable of "The Good Samaritan," Jesus pointed out that it was the person the Jews felt would be least likely to help that helped the man that had been attacked. This reminds us that any person in need is our neighbor, regardless of who they may be or where they may be from.