“So he answered and said, ‘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.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” — Luke 10:27-28 (NKJV)

It is a brand-new day and a new week. It is, therefore, another opportunity to live as God has instructed us to in the Scriptures.

Luke 10:25-37 is a passage known as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus teaches about love, compassion, and mercy. Today, we will take a close study of the lessons from this parable. May the Lord give us understanding in Jesus’ name. Amen.

When a lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus responds by asking what commandments were given in the law of Moses. The man answers with our opening text: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). This dual commandment entails that true faith involves both devotion to God and active love for others.

Jesus uses the example of a Samaritan—someone typically despised by Jews at the time—as the hero of the story. This teaches that compassion and kindness should transcend social, ethnic, or religious boundaries. Loving one’s neighbor means showing kindness to all people, even those we might typically avoid or judge.

In the parable, both a priest and a Levite see the injured man but pass by without helping. The Samaritan, however, stops, treats his wounds, and ensures he is cared for. Jesus emphasizes that it’s not enough to simply know the law or look religious; love for others must be evident in our actions.

The Samaritan’s kindness was not convenient or easy; he invested time, effort, and money in helping the wounded man. This reflects the sacrificial nature of true love and generosity, as the Samaritan put the needs of another above his own comfort and resources.

In conclusion, this parable challenges us to expand our concept of “neighbor” beyond those who are close to us or similar to us. It calls us to include those in need, strangers, and even people we may not feel naturally inclined to love.

Action Point: Starting today, show compassion, mercy, and be willing to help beyond social or religious barriers to meet the needs of others.