He asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 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. Which of these . . . 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.” Luke 10:29-31,33,34,36,37
Jesus doesn’t really teach us who our neighbors are, but he does teach us how to be a neighbor. God wants you to show love, care, and compassion to those who are in need. But why would you want to help others whom you don’t even know? Jesus didn’t just help you, he saved you by coming to your rescue. He willingly put himself in danger when he went to the cross and suffered your punishment for you. Jesus is the ultimate neighbor. Because of his extraordinary love, you can be a neighbor to others.
Excerpt from 5-Minute Bible Studies: For Families