This week, we will look at The Parable of the Good Samaritan, which is found in Luke 10:25–37. Here, we see a lawyer trying to test Jesus. The lawyer asks about what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him what is written in the law. The man answers correctly. But the lawyer wanted to justify himself in front of Jesus. He asks, “And who is my neighbor?” – Luke 10:29.

Jesus begins to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.” – Luke 10:30. We see a man who’s had a horrible day, literally half dead. That sounds like an awful day to me. Jesus, here is painting a picture. Yes, the man is physically half dead, but I also believe Jesus is showing us that there are people who are spiritually dead, hanging on for dear life, all around us.

“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.” – Luke 10:31-32. People who, by occupation or by obligation, pass by the man. There are so many times when, in the busyness of life, other obligations, or honestly, a lack of compassion, people like this are passed over. They might not be physically half dead like the man, but spiritually, they are gone.

“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” – Luke 10:33-34. The most likely man comes to his rescue. Out of all the men, a man of a different religion and culture extends his hand to help the man.

The Jews and Samaritans did not like each other. After King Solomon’s reign, Israel split into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom (Israel), later associated with the Samaritans, and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), home to the Jews. Samaritans only accepted the Torah, rejected Jewish prophets, and worshiped on Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem.

But despite this history, the Samaritan man was the only one willing to extend a hand. Jesus is showing you and me that following Him doesn’t just mean loving people who are Christian, the fun people, or those who don’t bother us. Jesus tells us here that loving our neighbor, the second greatest commandment, and it goes far deeper than that. We are to love and extend a hand to the people we don’t like, those we disagree with, and those we think are wrong.

The world right now calls for us to do the opposite. But if we love Jesus, we are called to a love that is far deeper than what the world seems acceptable. 

While preaching the greatest sermon known to man, Jesus, in Matthew 5:44-45a, says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” Jesus calls us to love. I want to encourage us to be the friends and family that God wants us to be, to not just know what kind of people to be but to live it out. It’s really, really hard sometimes. Extending love and grace to someone whose voice just feels like nails on a chalkboard is hard, but it’s what you and I are called to do. We can only do that when we lay our hearts in the hands of Jesus, allowing him to give us the strength, compassion, and grace to love others.