[Jesus said] “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He [the lawyer] said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)

Our text concludes the Bible’s familiar “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” It addresses things like loving our neighbor and how our discipleship should be visible and courageous and practical. It reminds us that though we may have personal justifications for not loving others (whatever they may be), God’s love and mercy have no such reservations.

Jesus was speaking to a Jewish lawyer who was concerned about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. And after telling him that his first concern should be loving God with all his heart, Jesus then speaks of loving one’s neighbors.

“And who is my neighbor?” the lawyer asks.

If ever there was a loaded question, this is it. Why? Because neighbor issues abound. Countries fight with countries, people like us dislike people like them, politicians bicker, co-workers quarrel, and family members squabble. We are a mess. We are sinners. It’s true whether we admit it or not. We need help and repair. We need a Good Samaritan, don’t we?

To illustrate this, Jesus tells the lawyer a story about a man who was stripped, beaten, and left for dead, by robbers. The victim—avoided by a priest and a Levite who were strictly following the letter of their religious law—the victim was in desperate need of attention. What the victim needed was extreme neighborliness. He needed someone willing to put their concerns on hold and help him out.

To find this extreme neighborliness, Jesus introduces a Samaritan into His story. Now at this, the Jewish listeners must have nearly fainted. Samaritans were despised by many Jews. They would rather kill a Samaritan than shake his hand. What is Jesus doing here?

But Jesus pressed on to make His point: “But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he [the injured man] 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 return’” (Luke 10:33-35).

So, here we have a despised Samaritan—an unholy, messed-up heretic, from a common Jewish point of view—a Samaritan showing kindness. Jesus then asked: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36) The expert in the law had to admit it was the Samaritan, “The one who showed him mercy.” And how did Jesus reply? He told him, “You, go, go and you do likewise” (Luke 10:37b).

Of course, Jesus, the Good Samaritan, is speaking to us. This is God’s Good Samaritan grace shown to us, unholy, messed-up sinners. As the Bible says in Titus 3:4-5a: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy.” Extreme neighborliness is another name for it. It’s love flowing from the cross of Christ as you take up your cross and follow Him. And it works, dear friend. It works.