Lenten Reading for Luke – Day 17
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 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.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 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. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 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. 35 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.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Discussion: Jesus redefines a core creed for the people of Israel. Why is it significant that he added “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Connecting the story of Mary and Martha with the Good Samaritan is wise – both seem to stress that "one thing" is important above all else. When Jesus affirms that both Loving God and Loving People belong together, he illustrates the power of a faith that is tangible. I read this quote recently: "Bread for myself is a material question; bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one."
I wonder if some meaning was lost here in the translation of the Bible from Greek into English? Our word "neighbor" doesn't seem to encompass all that is meant in this passage. A "Good Samaritan" has come to have the connotation for us of anyone who helps strangers and neighbors alike. Since the Samaritans and Jews, on the whole, did not get along, this would have been at odds with what those around him would think – again defying the norm. But, it appears to be meant as an example where someone puts aside cultural biases and context to help someone in need as a human being. These were radical beliefs at the time, I'm sure – even today!
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