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WHO THEN IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Luke 10:27b
First let us look at the word ‘neighbour’.
This is Webster rendition of the word neighbor (neighbour)-a person who lives near another. 2. A person or thing that is near another. Verb - to live or be situated near-by.
Strong’s rendition of the word neighbour - (5997) comrade / kindred. (7138) near or close. (7453) associate - one close and (7934) fellow-citizen.
Some people only see the person living next door to them as their neighbour and if they have loved them, they feel good about themselves. What about the person who lives right across the street? Are not they your neighbors, also? Imagine your house in the middle of a circle and others are surrounding you, they are your surrounding neighbors. Your neighbors can be those who sit next to you at work, church, on an airplane, train, or bus. Not only those who live right next door to you but in the same vicinity as you. They can be those on the next street, or across town and in other towns as well. They can be living in a state next to the state you reside in or even a near by country. Our neighbors are any and everyone.
Jesus was talking to a certain lawyer who wanted to know what he should to to inherit eternal life. The Lord knows what is in our hearts. A lot of times the answers to our questions may not be the answers we want to hear. This man saw himself righteous in his own eyes. No doubt that lawyer thought he fully understood because he respected his next door neighbour. He knew the two greatest commandments when Jesus asked him what was written in the law and how did he read it. What was his understanding of what he had read? He quoted, but did he understand what it truly meant to love his neighbour as he loved himself.
We can never justify ourselves to Jesus. To justify means to be or make right. He did not have the full meaning of the word neighbour. He even asked the question with the wrong motive. Why did I say that? The word states in verse 29 - But he, willing to justify himself said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? How many of us are self-righteous in our thinking?
Jesus gave a parable of the good Samaritan in answer to his question.
Luke 10:30-36
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
BUT, a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own breast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him: whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Jesus used the parable to cause that man to think. He was, after all, a lawyer. That means he had intelligence. And He said (in answer to Jesus question at the end of the parable), He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Our neighbour is anyone who needs our help. It does not matter about their background as opposed to who they are, or, what color they are. It does not matter about their religious background, or how they dress and wear their hair. It does not matter where they are at the time or where you may be at any given moment. It does not matter if we saw others passing continuously by someone in need and does not stop to render aide, God expects you to stop. Being a child of God obligates you.
We are to show love to all people everywhere at any time. Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend or neighbour. This Samaritan demonstrated his love for his neighbour, when we took the time to stop and help this man who fell among thieves when others probably thought he deserved it. Maybe they wondered ‘why was he there in the first place?’ The Samaritan laid down his life when he took time out of his busy schedule to make sure that he had the help he needed before he preceded on his way. The Samaritan showed the love of our Father and glorified him.
Who then is your neighbour? Your neighbour is anyone who needs your help and your prayers.
I love you in Jesus Name.
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