Luke 10:36-37
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't ask who was a neighbor, but who proved to be a neighbor. This shifts the focus from merely defining who fits the category of "neighbor" to the actions that actually demonstrate neighborly love. The question challenges the lawyer to consider that true neighborliness is defined not by identity or proximity, but by compassionate action, even towards those considered enemies.
Jesus has just told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a lawyer's question about who his neighbor is. The story recounted the actions of a priest and a Levite who ignored a man attacked by robbers, and a Samaritan who compassionately helped him. Now, Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer, asking him to identify which of the three characters actually acted as a neighbor.
Who is my neighbor? This question, posed by a lawyer eager to justify himself, was met not with a definition, but with a story. Jesus turned the legalistic inquiry into a living example.
The lawyer's question, 'Who is my neighbor?', was intended to limit his obligation. He sought a loophole, a way to define who wasn't his neighbor, thereby reducing the scope of the commandment.
Jesus’ parable flips this entirely. Instead of defining who qualifies as a neighbor, Jesus shows who acts like a neighbor. The priest and the Levite, the 'insiders' who should have known better, pass by. The Samaritan, the 'outsider' whom the Jews despised, is the one who stops.
The key phrase here isn't just 'neighbor', but 'proved to be a neighbor.' This highlights that being a neighbor isn't about fitting a category; it's about actively demonstrating compassionate love in action. The Samaritan became a neighbor through his selfless intervention.
In a world quick to draw lines between 'us' and 'them,' Jesus challenges us to look beyond prejudice and see shared humanity.
The parable’s power lies in its shocking twist: the hero is a Samaritan, a group deeply despised by the Jews. The lawyer, and the listeners, would have expected the priest or Levite to be the exemplar.
By making the Samaritan the true neighbor, Jesus demolishes ethnic, religious, and social barriers. He teaches that God’s love and our love are not meant to be confined by the prejudices we hold.
The 'neighbor' isn't just someone from your own group; it’s any person in need, regardless of their background or your feelings towards them. This radical inclusion calls us to actively break down the walls we build and extend compassion universally.
Understand the original words
plēsion · Greek Adverb/Noun
In the biblical context, this term denotes an individual to whom one has moral responsibility. It expands beyond kinship or proximity to include anyone in need of compassion or care, as demonstrated by Jesus' teaching.
eleos · Greek Noun
Compassion in action; it is the outward manifestation of pity or empathy that results in tangible help for someone in distress or need. It is a defining characteristic of God's relationship with humanity and expected behavior among believers.
The deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans is crucial context. Jesus' parable powerfully challenges the lawyer's narrow definition of 'neighbor' by highlighting the compassionate actions of a Samaritan, a group Jews typically despised and avoided.
c. 2nd century BC
Antagonism Between Jews and Samaritans
Long-standing religious and ethnic tensions existed between Jews and Samaritans, rooted in historical disputes over worship and identity. This deep animosity meant they generally avoided each other.
Early 1st century AD
Jewish Scribes and Lawyers
Teachers of Jewish law, known as scribes and lawyers, often engaged Jesus in debates, seeking to test his understanding and authority according to their own interpretations.
c. AD 25-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
During this period, Jesus traveled and taught, encountering various social groups, including religious leaders like scribes and lawyers who often challenged him.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Journey Through Samaria
Jesus' ministry involved journeys that likely took him through Samaria, where he directly interacted with Samaritans, most notably the woman at the well.
This passage directly quotes the Great Commandment, which is the theological basis for Jesus' parable – love God and love your neighbor as yourself. The lawyer's question about 'who is my neighbor?' was a way to try and limit the scope of this commandment, which Jesus expands through the parable.
1 John 4:7-8John emphasizes that love is the defining characteristic of those who know God. This passage echoes the core message of the Good Samaritan, highlighting that true neighborly action stems from a transformed heart, not just outward actions.
Romans 13:8-10Paul succinctly states that love fulfills the law, directly linking the commandments to love God and love neighbor. The parable in Luke vividly illustrates what it looks like when the second commandment is truly lived out, even across social divides.
Galatians 3:28Paul declares that in Christ, distinctions like Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female, are done away. This spiritual reality is powerfully demonstrated in the parable, where a Samaritan (a hated outsider) becomes the true neighbor to a Jew.
2 Samuel 12:1-7Nathan the prophet uses a story to expose David's sin, compelling David to condemn himself before Nathan reveals the truth. Jesus uses a similar narrative strategy, leading the lawyer to condemn his own prejudiced thinking by identifying the Samaritan as the true neighbor.
vincentLuke 10:36: "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?"
Was neighbor (πλησίον γεγονέναι)More correctly, has become neighbor. Jesus throws himself back to the time of the story. So Rev., proved neighbor. "The neighbor Jews became strangers. The stranger Samaritan became neighbor to the wounded traveller" (Alford).
calvinLuke 10:25-37: "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
- But when the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they assembled together. 35. And one of them, a doctor of the law, put a question to him, tempting him, and saying, 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. Jesus saith to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.…
Jesus doesn't ask who was a neighbor, but who proved to be a neighbor. This shifts the focus from merely defining who fits the category of "neighbor" to the actions that actually demonstrate neighborly love. The question challenges the lawyer to consider that true neighborliness is defined not by identity or proximity, but by compassionate action, even towards those considered enemies.
Jesus has just told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a lawyer's question about who his neighbor is. The story recounted the actions of a priest and a Levite who ignored a man attacked by robbers, and a Samaritan who compassionately helped him. Now, Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer, asking him to identify which of the three characters actually acted as a neighbor.
Jesus has just told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a lawyer's question about who his neighbor is. The story recounted the actions of a priest and a Levite who ignored a man attacked by robbers, and a Samaritan who compassionately helped him. Now, Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer, asking him to identify which of the three characters actually acted as a neighbor.
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"Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”" — Jesus doesn't ask who was a neighbor, but who proved to be a neighbor. This shifts the focus from merely defining who fits the category of "neighbor" to the actions that actually demonstrate neig…
