WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Luke 10:25–37

We love the idea of loving our neighbor… until our neighbor becomes inconvenient.

We’re good at loving people who think like us, look like us, worship like us. But Jesus tells a story that doesn’t comfort us—it confronts us.

And it starts with a question.

Luke 10 says,

“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10:25)

“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (v.26)

The man answers,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind—and your neighbor as yourself.” (v.27)

Jesus says,

“You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (v.28)

Then Scripture gives us the real motive:

“But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (v.29)

That wasn’t curiosity. That was self-justification.

He wasn’t asking who to love— he was asking who he could exclude and still feel righteous.

Jesus Tells a Story

Jesus responds,

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.” (v.30)

Then Jesus says,

“Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.” (v.31)

Then,

“So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” (v.32)

Pause.

These were church people. They knew the Law. They knew worship.

But you can know Scripture and still miss the Savior.

You can be close to God’s house and far from God’s heart.

The Shocking Turn

Then Jesus drops the line no one expected:

“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.” (v.33)

To us, Samaritan sounds kind. To them, Samaritan meant enemy.

Jesus makes the rejected man the righteous example.

And watch what compassion does:

“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.” (v.34)

And Jesus doesn’t stop there.

“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 come back.’” (v.35)

This wasn’t a moment. This was a commitment.

Because love that costs you nothing changes nothing.

The Mirror Moment

If I’m honest…

I like compassion when it fits my schedule. I like helping people when it doesn’t interrupt my plans.

costco example

hs was like forgive him he is having a bad day

The priest and Levite didn’t pass by because they were evil. They passed by because they were busy.

And comfort and business is usually the enemy of compassion.

Jesus Flips the Question

Jesus looks back at the lawyer and says,

“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (v.36)

The lawyer can’t even say “Samaritan.”

“The one who showed him mercy.” (v.37)

Then Jesus says five words that still confront us today:

“You go, and do likewise.” (v.37)

Not go and debate. Not go and post. Go and love.

The Gospel Connection

Here’s the part we can’t miss.

Jesus is the greater Samaritan.

We were the ones beaten by sin. Left broken on the road. Unable to save ourselves.

And Jesus didn’t cross the street— He crossed heaven.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

He paid the price. He carried us. He committed to our healing.

The Dream

So church, let me ask you:

Who do you cross the street to avoid?

Who is God calling you to stop for?

Because the road to Jericho is where faith stops being talked about and starts being lived.

If Jesus loved you when you were down, don’t step over others when they are.

“Go and do likewise.”

🔹 TURN & TALK #3 — Being the Neighbor (Late)

How you set it up: “Jesus doesn’t leave this theoretical. He makes it personal.”

Question (on screen): 👉 What might ‘going and doing likewise’ look like for you this week—practically?

Optional nudge: “It could be a person, a place, or a step you’ve been avoiding.”

Instructions: “Turn to someone near you. Share one small, doable step.”

Why this works: It turns conviction into action.

“I want to give us 30 seconds of quiet. Ask God one question: ‘Lord, who are You calling me to stop for?’”