Who Is My Neighbor? 谁是我的邻舍？

[Dexu Xia]

Go and do likewise. Luke 10:37

Today's Scripture Luke 10:25-37

Today's Insights 

The key to understanding the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) lies in knowing how first-century Israel answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” (v. 29). They’d distorted the command “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) into “love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43). The Jews defined a neighbor as a fellow Israelite, for gentiles were accursed. For the Pharisees (experts in the law), it referred to a fellow Pharisee, for those who knew nothing of the law were accursed (John 7:49). Jesus turned this thinking upside down by making a hated Samaritan (people of mixed race whom the Jews viewed as heretics) the hero of the story. The Spirit can help us today to show compassion to others instead of simply passing by.

Today's Devotional 

From her hospital bed, Marie Coble lit up when she saw the delivery driver whose help had likely saved her life. She’d fallen in her driveway and hit her head, causing a brain bleed. Seeing her injury, Raheem Cooper helped her while calling paramedics. Invited by family to visit her in the hospital, Raheem often brings sweet treats she enjoys to assist her recovery.

Their story brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable is Jesus’ reply to an expert’s question on what he must do to inherit eternal life. Do “what is written in the law,” Jesus said (Luke 10:26), including “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 27). But the expert persisted, asking, “Who is my neighbor?” (v. 29).

Christ’s answer describes a man attacked by robbers, left half dead, and then ignored by two people—a priest and a Levite—who passed him by. “But a Samaritan . . . took pity on him,” “bandaged his wounds, . . . and took care of him” (vv. 33-34). Seeing the hurting man in need, the Samaritan’s help was active, urgent, and without bias—looking past race or creed to assist someone he could’ve ignored.

Thus, Jesus asked, "Which of these three was a neighbor to the man?" “The one who had mercy on him,” the expert said. Said Jesus, “Go and do likewise” (vv. 36-37). In Christ, we too can find the compassion to help a hurting person instead of passing by. It’s a lesson for all in sharing Jesus’ love.

Reflect & Pray

How do you need mercy? How can you show mercy to your neighbors?

 Dear Father, may I look beyond differences to share Jesus’ mercy with others.By Patricia Raybon

“你去照样行吧。”路加福音 10:37

今日经文 路加福音 10:25-37

今日感悟 要理解好撒玛利亚人比喻（路加福音 10:25-37）的关键在于了解一世纪的以色列人如何回答“谁是我的邻舍？”这个问题（第29节）。他们扭曲了“爱你的邻舍如同爱自己”（利未记 19:18）的诫命，变成了“爱你的邻舍，恨你的仇敌”（马太福音 5:43）。犹太人把邻舍定义为同胞以色列人，因为他们认为外邦人是被咒诅的。对于法利赛人（律法专家）来说，邻舍指的是法利赛人的同道，因为他们认为那些不了解律法的人是被咒诅的（约翰福音 7:49）。耶稣彻底颠覆了这种观念，他让一个被犹太人憎恨的撒玛利亚人（被犹太人视为异教徒的混血族）成为故事的主角。圣灵可以帮助我们今天对他人展现怜悯之心，而不是袖手旁观。

  今日灵修 玛丽·科布尔躺在病床上，当她看到那位送货司机时，脸上露出了笑容，这位司机的帮助很可能救了她的命。她在家门口的车道上摔倒，头部受伤，导致脑出血。拉希姆·库珀看到她的伤势后，一边帮助她，一边打电话叫救护车。应玛丽家人的邀请，拉希姆经常去医院探望她，并带上她喜欢吃的甜点，帮助她康复。

  他们的故事让人想起好撒玛利亚人的比喻。这个比喻是耶稣用来回答一位律法专家提出的关于如何才能承受永生的问题。耶稣说：“照律法上所写的去行”（路加福音 10:26），包括“爱你的邻舍如同爱自己”（第27节）。但这位专家仍然不依不饶地问：“谁是我的邻舍？”（第29节）。

  基督就用一个比喻来回答这个问题：一个被强盗袭击、奄奄一息的人，然后被两个从他身边走过的人忽略，一个是祭司，另一个是利未人。“但有一个撒玛利亚人……动了慈心，”他“包扎了他的伤口……并照顾他”（第33-34节）。看到那个受伤需要帮助的人，撒玛利亚人积极主动、毫不犹豫地伸出援手帮助了一个他本可以置之不理的人，因为他们的种族信仰不同。于是，耶稣问道：“这三个人中，谁是那个人的邻舍呢？” 那位律法师回答说：“是怜悯他的人。” 耶稣说：“你去照样行吧”（36-37节）。在基督里，我们也能有这样的怜悯心，去帮助那些受伤的人，而不是袖手旁观。这是我们所有人学习分享耶稣之爱的功课。

反思与祷告 你需要怎样的怜悯？你如何才能向“邻居”表达你的怜悯之心？ 

亲爱的天父，愿我能超越一切差异，与他人分享耶稣的怜悯。

作者：帕特西亚 雷邦