Growing the Fruit

The Lawyer wanted to know what Jesus was teaching, whether he was worthy to follow.

Jesus, being the “Teacher” “flipped the script” on the man.

He asked the Law-yer what the Law said.

He asked the right question and knew the right answer.

One could say the right law school answer.

He used two references that were held as summation of the Law, the Torah, of the priests and Levites.

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.[1] – Deut. 6:5

18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.[2]– Lev. 19:18

These two are included in The Shema, the most known and repeated prayer of the Jewish people today.

The Lawyer tried to justify his past actions and future intentions by asking “who is my neighbor?”

If Jesus had said, “Those with whom live in peace and harmony with you,” what challenge be to the Lawyers egoist actions? Only caring about people like himself.

If Jesus had said, “Everyone is your neighbor.”

How quickly do you think the Lawyer would have responded with the language of impossibility in fear and a concern for scarcity?

“I cannot possibly help everyone, I am only one man and only have so much to give.”

He would still be justifying the way he had handled those situations in the past.

He also may have wanted to know that he was a good neighbor.

Oftentimes, we come across people who are in a state of distress and respond with apathy or willful ignorance.

We might be commuting back and forth from work or doing our errands and don’t feel like we have the time or resources to help.

Sometimes it takes knowing someone for us to consider helping them.

We know that we should help when we can, but fear or self-concern often holds us back from caring more deeply, truly seeing to another’s well-being.

We want to know that we are good people, whether we could have helped in a better way.

Maybe good neighbors are good because they have done good by caring for others.

Instead of telling the Lawyer outright the answer, which he would have used to justify himself, Jesus told a realistic parable.

A journey on the road to Jericho, where thousands of priests and Levites who often served in Temple worship practices lived.

Those traveling on “The Bloody Way” were often robbed on the treacherous, winding 20 mile road, down 1000 feet into the valley to Jericho.

A priest or Levite would be “ripe for the plucking” along this road.

The priest and Levite ignored the naked, robbed, and injured man.

Nothing is said about what kind of man this was, no qualifications other than his injuries.

No one would see this as having any concern for a neighbor, and the Lawyer certainly could not deny it.

Those who it may have been assumed would be “good neighbors” in this parable were cast as villains, or at least, apathetic observers.

Maybe they felt bad for him, but having a feeling would not be enough to help him.

Then a Samaritan came along and helped the injured man.

A cultural enemy, assumed to be “bad neighbors”

This good neighbor performed first aid, bandaged his wounds, used every resource he had at hand to get the man to safety and health, and still came back to make sure any debts were paid.

In other words, he had compassion in his heart, woundedness of seeing the man injured in his soul, used all of his strength to find the man safety, and engaged his mind in how best to help him.

Is this not the same love that God demonstrated for his people continually?

Is it not clear that this Samaritan man knows the value of love?

It was clear enough to the Lawyer that this Samaritan man was a “good neighbor.”

Therefore, Jesus, the Teacher instructed him to “Go and do likewise.”

Otherwise, “Practice the intent of the Law, Lawyer.”

Paul affirmed this understanding of God among the Colossian believers in his letter to them.

He speaks highly of their faith in Jesus Christ and the love they have because of the hope for their salvation.

He reminds them that the gospel preached to them brought them this faith by the grace of God.

Because they know God and are filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding they bear fruit in every good work, even when enduring hardships with patience.

No other gospel would bear such fruit in them as Love, Joy, Peace, and Patience.

Everyone is worthy of love and help.

We might not be able to help every one, but what if we helped one person while we can?

If everyone helped one person, then every person could be helped.

Those who know God, know that God helped them while they were still at their worst.

It is because of this knowledge that they help others.

Everyone is worthy because God deems them worthy.

It is God who justifies them and God who continually makes us and them perfect in love.

Those who are called to God love and act in love are qualified by him for eternal life.