Luke 10:30-37
Which of these three,
do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the
robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:36-37)
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most popular
biblical stories of all time. A guy gets mugged and left for dead. Folks on the
road see his plight, but for whatever reason choose not to stop and help. A
Samaritan does stop, and goes out of his way to help. What intrigues me about
the story is the answer given to Jesus’ question about which one proved to be
neighbor. It was the one who showed mercy.
The prophets tell us with regular consistency that the thing
that God desires from us is mercy. When you think about it, mercy is a polar
opposite of judgment. Mercy doesn’t measure someone up and determine if they’re
worthy of our help. Mercy is a loving, gracious response to someone who finds
themselves in a world of hurt. Why does God desire this? Because this is God's modus operendi. God offers us
mercy day in and day out; and if we’re honest with ourselves,we have to admit that we don’t deserve it. When we offer mercy free of false judgment, our hearts beat with the pulse of God's own heart.
Luke 10:30-37 NRSV
30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.'
36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?"
37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.'
36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?"
37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
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