“But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, ‘but who is my neighbor?'” (29)

Jesus paints a picture, through a story, which ends with a Samaritan (an enemy of the Jews) being the hero. Not the priest, nor the Levite, but a Samaritan. Some “half-breed who doesn’t count as a recipient of God’s favor”, in Jewish opinion, but a man who showed mercy.

This story packs a punch by itself, but I can’t help but notice how it comes on the heals of verses like 12 thru 14, which asserts Gentile cities will receive greater grace on the day of judgement than the Jewish cities which reject Christ.

We are accountable for what we know, and for how we respond to the Truth.

This theme keeps leaping off the page at me. God is just in ways which will continue to surprise us.

In the meantime, let’s remain active participants in the Kingdom, Good Samaritans, compassionate neighbors and humble students of Christ’s teaching.

-Bethany