The Teachings of Jesus in Luke: Who is My Neighbor?

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 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. 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.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” ~ Luke 10:25-35

To love our neighbors as ourselves is such a truth for regulating human society, that by that alone one might determine all the cases in social morality. ~ John Locke

No answers for this text. Only questions to ponder.
- Who are you in this story? Are you the Samaritan? The Innkeeper? The injured man? The priest? The Levite?
- Have you ever been in a situation where to help someone might have been dangerous to you? Have you ever been the Priest or the Levite?
- Samaritans were the enemies of the Jews. Imagining you are the wounded man on the road, who would be a shocking Samaritan to help you?
- How might you tell this story in a modern context to show someone the radical nature of Jesus' love?
- What is the most surprising thing to you about this story?
- What person - someone who the world would see as your enemy - is God calling you to be a neighbor to?
It's hard for us to know how shocking this story was for Jesus' hearers without knowing how much Jews and Samaritans hated each other. 
The very notion of a Samaritan helping this injured man was radical. The very notion that these two men were neighbors was unheard of. It was shocking.
So...how are called to be so radical and shocking today?

Prayer: Lord let me surprise the world with my love for those who the world says I should hate. Amen

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