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Commentaries
English
Luke
  
29But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"30Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.31Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.32Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.34So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’36So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"37And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."


This expert in the religious teachings of the Mosaic Law did not like the act of love, but argument, and conversation. He was not willing to turn his hard heart and stony mind in repentance into the fire of the love of Christ, but persisted in argument to try the Holy One, and derive knowledge from him in the limits of love. Christ answered him in divine authority that he clearly realized the depth of the law, but this knowledge is not sufficient, for it is to be applied. The Son of Man showed him what the heavenly Father wanted us to do practically.
In this parable, we are all like this poor traveler who fell among thieves, for life is merciless, and each one is trying to steal the other’s shirt. If an accident happened to a driver at night, and no one of the passers-by stopped in spite of his signals made to them, the poor driver would suffer spitefully. If a confused young man sought some brother to hear his complaint, give advice him advice, and pray with him, and none of the brothers responded to him, he would despair of all brothers to seek them anymore. He would also curse them. If rich peoples let themselves go in their imaginations and relax, and did not help in building poor peoples, God’s unavoidable wrath would come.
Have you ever hoped that some friend would help you in a bitter insolvency, and this friend did not turn to you, but denied you and pretended not to know you? How did you feel? Know this selfish man to be your own heart, for the way of your life is paved with the crushed and the poor who had expected your help, but you passed by them mercilessly.
Do you want them to curse you before God for your hardheartedness? Do you abstain from visiting the sick for fear of microbes? Do you feel disgust at dirtiness and do not enter the huts of refugees? Are you clever to an extent, which prevents you from speaking with the ignorant whom God has chosen to inherit his kingdom? Do you want today only to sing with the choir of your church, or also to speak with your friends about God? Do you not have enough time to succor and relieve a dirty beggar knocking at your door? By leaving out such a neglected man, you have left out God, your Lord, for the loving Holy One and the rejected poor man are one.
The despised Samaritan became an example to the entire world and a token of Christ himself who was merciful to all men, secured them to the end, and gave his precious blood as a price for our salvation. Thus Christ taught us how to answer the lawyer’s question, by correcting his question and then answering it. It is not necessary to ask about the duties by which we may please God, for this is the wondering of the cold and selfish. But he who loves asks about those in need of help that he may hurry to them and help them. Christ completely changed the purport of the question about neighbor. None is my neighbor, except he who did not pass by me, but had compassion on me and saved me. In this manner, we love him as he loved us, and we become neighbors to all men.

Prayer
O Lord, forgive me the knowledge of my duties that are lacking kind acts. Change my heart that I may become a neighbor to the afflicted, hurry to them and help them, as you hurry to me and save me. Fill my heart with your love that I may love you and love all men at all times, and serve them in practical services.
Question
Who is your neighbor?