123 John | Week 3 | Day 3
Reading
LUKE 10:25-37
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Reflection
- Eternal life—this seems to be the question this man wants an answer for. He appears to know biblical teaching, but he believes that he will be able to accomplish what it takes for eternal life. Since we are all sinners and fall short of God’s standard, what is the only answer to the “eternal life question” he asks?
- The man speaking with Jesus asks a series of questions ending with, “who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds in a way that tells him how he should be loving people rather than whom he should love. Write out ways the Samaritan displays love.
- Maybe it’s easy for us to love some people and hard to love others. Maybe there are people we’re not even considering when it comes to showing love. In your circles (school, teams, organizations, groups) who is someone you could show active love to? Is there someone “unseen” that you need to go out of your way for?