Read: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits.
They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.
Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them.
Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man.
If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
(Luke 10:30-37)

Relate:

React: The teacher of the law asked, “Who is my neighbor?” This is a good and very legitimate question. It is one that we each should be asking as well, but I want to flip it for a second. “Who is the Good Samaritan?” What we so often fail to notice is that when Jesus was telling this story, He was being prophetically autobiographical. The Samaritan was despised and rejected by the Jews. Jesus was despised and rejected by men. (Isaiah 53:3) The Good Samaritan saw the man and had compassion on him. Christ demonstrates his love for us in this, while we were still sinners… beat up and left for dead by the world and our own sinful nature… Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) The Samaritan bound up the man’s wounds. Jesus binds up our wounds. (Luke 4:18, Isaiah 53:5) The Samaritan brought the man to the Inn. Jesus brought the Inn (the Church, a place of healing and recovery) to the world. The Good Samaritan promised the innkeeper he would come back. Jesus has promised He will return. So the answer to the question, “Who is the good Samaritan?” can best be answered by saying Jesus is. And if we are truly Christians (Christ-like), then the answer must also be, “And so am I.”

Respond:

Dear God,
Help me to love my neighbor. All too often, I play the part of the Priest or the Levite. I am too busy to show Your compassion. I cannot be bothered. Or even worse, I do not even notice them there. Help me to be more like You. Help me to truly see and feel the needs and the pain of the bruised, broken, and dying all around me. Give me the courage to interrupt my itinerary and sacrifice both my time and finances to truly help whoever I can, whenever I can, and wherever I can. Help me to be more like You.
Amen