The Neighbor that is Merciful

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “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. 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, 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. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 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” (Luke 10: 29-37).

The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to reveal the sorry condition of the inquiring man’s heart. Like a diligent young lawyer he sought “to justify himself”. He missed the whole point of Christ’s message here. Jesus taught that the law that leads to life leads to Him. God’s law leads repentant sinners to life by revealing our desperate need for the Savior… “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). Through faith in Christ as the propitiation for our sin we receive the gift of new life… “Whom God put forward as propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins” (Romans 3:25). To help the young lawyer grasp this truth, Jesus answered with a parable that illustrated the evidence of the new life. The self-righteousness of the priest and Levite contrasted with the compassion of the Samaritan to reveal the transformation that occurs in the heart of a truly born again believer. Earnest disciples are encouraged here to let Christ make us more like the neighbor that is merciful.

The merciful neighbor is compelled by relationships, not religion. Like the priest in Jesus’ parable, we sometimes rely on religious rules and programs as we seek to grow as disciples. This is because we are still learning to walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh… “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The Teacher compelled Paul to exhort us to crucify, to put to death our sin nature… “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Denying the flesh and living fully in the Spirit is impossible without the new birth because it requires the same kind of faith that we exercised when we were born again… “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6). Among the glorious results of this kind of saving faith is a new, compassionate heart that is in step with the leading of the Holy Spirit… “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). The priest’s steps were enslaved by religion, but like the steps of the Samaritan, the true disciple’s steps are guided by the Spirit to respond with the compassion and mercy of the Lord to those in need.

The merciful neighbor is concerned about people, not productivity. Like the Levite in Jesus’ parable, we are inclined to trust in our performance and works as we seek to grow as disciples. Christ is not impressed by what we do, but who we touch with His gospel of life. The needs of others are opportunities to share Christ… “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). The Levite’s agenda was bound by his to-do list, but like the Samaritan, real disciples are free and eager to show the love and mercy of Christ to those in need.

The merciful neighbor is convicted by compassion, not cost. The new hearts of truly born again believers are compelled to imitate the merciful heart of the Samaritan. The heart that is being conformed to the compassion and mercy of the heart of Christ is increasingly sensitive and responsive to the needs of others… “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

As we grow up into Christ His love compels us as He conforms us into the likeness of…

The Neighbor that is Merciful.