Day 13 of 21
If we are to love our neighbor, who is our neighbor?
The lawyer who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life in Luke 10.25 knew the commandments well enough. But when he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" we are told that he was "wanting to justify himself" (v. 29). It revealed the man's self-righteous character, as well as his desire to test Christ.
The prevailing opinion among scribes and Pharisees was that one's neighbors were the righteous alone. According to them, the wicked-including rank sinners (such as tax collectors and prostitutes), Gentiles, and especially Samaritans-were to be hated because they were the enemies of God. They cited Psalm 139.21, 22 to justify their position. As that passage suggests, hatred of evil is the natural corollary of loving righteousness. But the truly righteous person's "hatred" for sinners is not a malevolent enmity.
It is a righteous abhorrence of all that is base and corrupt-not a spiteful, personal loathing of individuals. Godly hatred is marked by a brokenhearted grieving over the condition of the sinner. And as Jesus taught here and elsewhere (6.27-36; Matt. 5.44-48), it is also tempered by a genuine love. The Pharisees had elevated hostility toward the wicked to the status of a virtue, in effect nullifying the second Great Commandment. Jesus' answer to this lawyer demolished the Pharisaical excuse for hating one's enemies.
Contrasting the Levite, a religious person who assisted the priests in the work of the temple, with a despised Samaritan, who rescued the wounded person, Jesus reversed the lawyer's original question (v. 29). The lawyer assumed it was up to others to prove themselves neighbor to him. Jesus' reply makes it clear that each has a responsibility to be a neighbor-especially to those who are in need.
Luke 10:25 NKJV
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Psalms 139:21-22 NKJV
21 Do I not hate them, O Lord , who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
Luke 6:27-36 NKJV
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Matthew 5:44-48 NKJV
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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