We Must Love First
This is the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37:
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Priest, Levite and Samaritan
It is important for us to understand that both the priest and Levite in the parable were religious men who were looked up to and often revered. By contrast, the Samaritan was a person from the region of Samaria, whose people were hated among the Jews in that time. Even though the region offered easy passage for travel, Jewish people would travel on the outskirts to fully avoid its people. While this parable was written 2000 years ago, it is clear we can apply it to how we live today regardless of our culture.
It’s not hard. We often refer to “the good Samaritan” and even pat ourselves on the back when we do something good for others. But let’s understand the weight of Jesus’s words. The Jewish man who was beaten and left for dead was passed by by his own people! Perhaps it was because the religious men thought he was already dead and would have considered him ritually “unclean” and would not defile themselves by touching a dead body. However, the Samaritan (despised by Jews) did not think twice about stopping to help the man. He dressed his wounds and took him to an inn for rest and recovery and further, continued to pay for his care until he fully recovered. Two denarii would have been two days’ wages. We can clearly see the sacrifice this man made for not only a stranger, but one who was considered an enemy!
How Do We Love First? - The Profound Message
Regardless of whether the parable was a true story does not matter. Jesus is clear with His message to the religious leaders then and us today. The message is simply to “love first”. Yes, by loving others first in this sacrificial way, we are keeping His commandment, in part, by loving Him with all our “hearts, souls, strength and mind”. Believers in Christ should keep this in mind especially. Our testimony is strengthened when we sacrifice for our brethren regardless of their background and yes, even if they are an enemy. And it is true it is not easy. At times, we are all representatives of the priest and the Levite making a wide berth and passing by those in need. But perhaps, with God’s help, we can also represent the Samaritan. Remember the old saying that became popular in the 90’s, “What would Jesus do?” Simply, He would “love first”. Let us do the same.
Tonya Noren
January 1, 2022