In the current environment we’re living in, where vitriol, hate speech, lying, and cruelty have become the order of the day, it has become necessary for us, especially professed Christians, to revisit some of the fundamental teachings of Christ, especially as it pertains to the treatment of others, for whenever any harm or injustice is done to persons, it is felt in the Person of Christ.
This fact must never be lost sight of, for there is a tendency, both nationally and individually to isolate ourselves from the sufferings of others, for reasons which have no foundation in the scripture. It’s much better for one to not affiliate himself or herself with Christianity, than to misrepresent the character and purposes of Christ, because this causes would-be converts to stumble.
Thus, the study today is of particular importance, in light of what is on display across the nations of the earth. Self-preservation has become the ruling law with many persons, and mercy, truth, kindness, and willingness to bear the burdens of the less fortunate have been supplanted by a spirit that seeks its own benefit, and is willing to trample upon other people to have the first and highest place.
This spirit is foreign to the Spirit, and character of Christ, because in all that He says and does, there is to be seen a noble benevolence, genuine goodness, and a willingness to put the interests and well being of others before Himself. The very purposes of God are thus encoded throughout the scriptures, so that none should err concerning who God is. Let’s read:
1st John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
James 2:8 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
When the love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of Christians, and other persons, there is no picking and choosing as to who is our neighbor, because wherever we go and whoever we may encounter, a uniform kindness and benevolence without bias will be manifested. There is no qualification for God to love us, and there should be no qualification in our esteem of others.
For instance, when Abraham saw three strangers coming towards him, at high noon, they instantly became his neighbors, for their apparent need of food and drink made them neighbors. Therefore, prompted by the Spirit of God, and motivated by an apparent need, Abraham “Hasted” to bring relief to his new-found neighbors, and the rest is history. Let’s read:
Genesis 18:1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Abraham didn’t ask them what country they came from, nor did he inquire of their religion. He did not see the strangers as a risk to his family or to himself, even though he had not the faintest knowledge of their character or mission. All Abraham focused on was their apparent need, and for that reason they were accounted as neighbors.
Thus, it is against the backdrop of these, and other passages that we’ll begin our study for today: “Who Is My Neighbor” For starters, the scriptures teach us that “My neighbor” is not restricted just to persons living next-door or on our street. The term neighbor according to the scripture, refers primarily to those who are in need, and therefore, the familiar faces, and close proximity are not the only considerations.
The term neighbor is much more far-reaching than locales, and acquaintances, because it transcends borders, ethnicities, and all of the other man-made qualifications which effectively stymie our better impulses. Thus, it was that the question was put to Christ for final resolution, and we would do well to study His response, for it not only deals with one’s qualification as a neighbor, but it also deals with the treatment of such persons. Let’s read:
Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering, said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
The previous verse tells us two things about the person asking the question: [1] He tries to justify himself. And [2] He apparently does not know who his neighbors are. That’s a pretty sad condition to be in, for if one does not know his neighbors, it means that he most likely does not know God. Thus, the reply coming from Christ will address both the questioner, and all current and future neighbors. Let’s read:
Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
The priest and the Levite in this true story represent professed believers who should be representative of the knowledge and character of God. They were supposedly familiar with the laws which reflect the principles of God’s kingdom, and which were to be etched into the very fabric of their daily lives.
But alas, we behold a callous disregard for suffering humanity. The priest was not even interested, and the Levite’s curiosity didn’t morph into compassion when he saw firsthand the plight of the man. When the love of God resides in one’s heart, compassion translates into practical deeds of kindness where it is needed, and thus, there was a serious disconnect between the profession and practice of the Levite. Let’s read:
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Like Abraham, the Samaritan did not inquire as to the man’s ethnicity, country of origin, or religious beliefs. He didn’t ask whether he was in the country legally, nor did he require identification before he helped the man. All he saw was a fellow human being, battered and bruised, and therefore, without stopping to consider his own safety or man-made qualifications, he at once begins to treat him as a neighbor.
Several important accommodations were made by the good Samaritan that we would do well to pay close attention to:
[1] He provided healthcare. Let’s read:
Luke 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine.
Whenever we come across people who are in need of the basic necessities of life, it becomes our moral obligation to provide, even if it costs us, for we see in the story that the Samaritan willingly funded all that pertained to the stranger’s well-being, including health care.
The compassionate treatment of strangers is a big deal with God, and indeed, it is a thermometer of our profession of Christianity. This sacred truth is embodied and is enjoined in several passages of scripture. Let’s read:
Exodus 23:9 Thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19:33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Just Wondering about Sodom!)
One of Christ’s main methods of reaching people, was that he would often address their health issues first, before doing Bible studies. Thus, the Samaritan was indeed a representative of Christ. Let’s read:
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Luke 6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him and healed them all.
[2] The Samaritan provided food, shelter clothing, and transportation. Let’s read:
Luke 10: 34 And he went to him, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Not only did the good Samaritan provide shelter, and transportation to the shelter, but he ministered to his neighbor’s needs in a personal way. According to the story, he stayed the night with his neighbor, providing food, clothing and shelter, and making sure that he was on the road to recovery, before departing on his journey.
This kind of compassion would require rescheduling since the Samaritan was not expecting the situation he came across. But he didn’t think twice to put his personal itinerary on hold, so that his newly-found neighbor could be well taken care of. Self-sacrificing love, and the willingness to bear another’s burdens is one of the most treasured attributes we should cultivate.
[3] He provided for any future needs that became incidental to helping his neighbor get back on his feet. Let’s read:
Luke 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Hear the word of The Lord now, these three basic essentials of good neighborhood are fast becoming a scarce commodity in our day, where “Me-first” philosophies have done violence to the principles of kindness and benevolence. In the estimate of God, true greatness is demonstrated in a willingness to serve the greater good of others, for this is the example set by Christ.
When it came time for our salvation, Jesus did not just stay up in heaven and command angels to do all the dirty work. Instead, He rolled up his sleeves and got soiled, got bruised, and beaten in the process, towing the line until we were rescued from sin. By becoming one of us, He showed that whatever it may take, whatever it may cost to save life, He was ready and willing to do. Let’s read:
Isaiah 53:4 Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
There we have it before our faces. Pride, boasting, self-centeredness, and me first philosophies are all anathema to humility, and true greatness, in the estimate of heaven, because the love of God in the heart can be condensed into one simple mantra: God first, others next, self, last.
A dark cloud has now engulfed many nations, for selfishness is stifling every good impulse, crushing out the very humanity we were invested with by God, and supplanting brotherhood with otherhood. Thus, the time has now come for us to hit pause, to do some serious soul-searching, to see if the tenor of our lives is personal survival, and protectionism.
Let the nobler traits of character, such as courtesy, benevolence, mutual respect for all persons, and a willingness to help the helpless, as was manifested in Christ, be cherished, and cultivated in practical ways, for the habitual manifestation of these traits will cause a new, and brighter day to dawn in the hearts of millions. We close with a few passages of scripture that we will do well to memorize. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
God Bless!