Jesus Our Neighbor By Grace

For the past five days, you have read about the Parable of the Samaritan, who is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Confronted by a lawyer seeking to justify himself with the question "Who is my neighbor?", Jesus shared a parable about a wounded victim of robbery (us), whom a priest and a Levite ignore (the Law)

Then comes the Samaritan, a picture of Jesus, who does not shame us with questions about why we ended up in such a terrible place, but heals our wounds, grants us his life and standing, and provides for us out of the riches of His grace.

Then comes Jesus' question to the lawyer:

 

"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?"

 

"Who was neighbor" as an action - not "who is my neighbor" as identity.

 

The lawyer, refusing to say "Samaritan", actually gave the best answer:

 

37 He that shewed mercy on him.

 

The law offers no mercy, no grace to fallen man in this fallen world. Jesus does, though, and He wants us to do the same. As we receive the abundance of His grace and righteousness (Romans 5: 17), we then grant grace to others (Ephesians 4: 31-32)

 

Jesus then finishes with:

 

"Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10: 25-37)

 

Be gracious!

 

This parable is not a stern demand that we help ever hitchhiker fallen among thieves. There are many who engage in "charity" but have not love, and nothing profits from all that they do (1 Corinthians 13)

 

Let us go from the law and enter into Jesus' grace. Let Jesus be your neighbor today, and let Him supply every one of your needs!