Hello again! I pray that all is well and all will be well in your lives.
This week we’ll start on the second set of the ten commandments (5,6,7,8,9,10). This is the set that deals with our relationship towards one another. Jesus summed this set up by saying:
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” –Mark 12:31 (NIV)
Now, before going into the individual commandments let’s go over what Jesus said (quoted from the Old Testament), as it’s the core reason for the commandments. Since as just commandments, they are just rules/chores: the law. Jesus is telling us to look beyond them as chores, and let our relationship towards one another be from our hearts (recap Post Part 1). Love, here also means compassion, empathy, sympathy and so much more. If we love our neighbor as ourself, then most of these rules will come naturally.
Who is my neighbor? Jesus gave the perfect answer to that question with The Parable of the Good Samaritan. Please take the time and read it for yourself, or again even if you already know it.
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ (Deuteronomy 6:5); and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18)”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” — Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)
There are four characters in this parable including the victim. The victim was Jewish, as were the priest and the Levite (think of Levite as a deacon). Not only were they of the same race, they represented the highest morality of society. The Samaritans in Jesus’ time were mixed race Jews and each were hostile towards each other, so Jesus made a very clear and loud statement by using a Samaritan. We can always show kindness, find empathy, as well as sympathy for our family, those who are close to us, and those who we can relate to. However, the commandment is for your neighbor; your neighbor is your fellow man, any man or woman. Further, your fellow man includes those who hate you. Last, the parable is not just meant for extremes, in this case it was life threatening, but for all of our interactions.
Back in the early 2000’s, before cellphones were common, I was going out late at night with some friends, I wasn’t saved at the time. A lady was coming down the street frantically begging people for money, so she and her daughter could get a bus ride home. Her daughter who looked about 13yo was behind her looking ashamed.
After nothing but rejections from other people, the lady finally approached me and I saw the tears in her eyes. I felt compassion and I wanted to help, but my friends said no, she’s probably some crack-head trying to get her next fix. So, I looked at her and said “I’m sorry”, then walked away with my friends. After walking less than half a block, I stopped, looked back, and thought I really should go help her, but I didn’t.
I had read the parable of The Good Samaritan many times, and it always shocked me that a priest and Levite would not help, but that day I was the priest and Levite, and to this day I regret that I did not help that lady and her daughter.
Please take note of the setting in the parable. At the time the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notoriously dangerous. It even had the nickname “The Way of Blood” because robbers killed so many people traveling it. So before scorning the priest and Levite, ask yourself would you have stopped in such a place? Further, were they wrong for not stopping? I mean, it easily could have been a trap. Noticed how the parable says “when they saw the man”, they passed by on the other side. That is, they went out of their way to avoid him. Possibly because they thought it was a trap, or that the robbers were still around and they needed to get out of there or they’d be next.
Whereas the Samaritan saw him and took pity (compassion) on him. Truth is, the Samaritan kind of put his life on the line to help the man out.
Now, I am absolutely NOT saying go out and put your life on the line! It is a fact that we live in a world full of scams, grifts, exploitations and people who want to take advantage of us. We absolutely need to watch out for them.
In my case I had compassion, it wasn’t dangerous, and it wouldn’t have even been financial burden to help the lady out. The sin for me, was that I didn’t follow through on my compassion; I let it grow cold.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, –Matthew 24:12 (NIV)
I could have let my compassion stay hot by offering to buy the bus ticket instead of giving cash if there was any doubt. Or, better pay for them to get a taxi. Love is compassion in action: it finds a way to make things happen.
We may not always agree or see eye to eye with each other, but we should still treat each other with kindness and respect. Yes, even when kindness and respect are not shown to us. So, as we go over these commandments, think about these things. Think about the person you really do not like and think about the person who doesn’t like you. The reason(s) and/or detail(s) do not matter. Yes, I’m being dismissive, as that is literally what Jesus is telling us to do: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you have an issue with that, remember the question started as: “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
May God bless and keep all who read this.
May God bless and keep all brothers and sisters, new and old, in the faith in his name.
With his love and mine,
Chrom