Who Is My Neighbor?

In Luke 10:25–37 Jesus is having a discussion with an expert in the law wherein the expert quotes this portion of the law: 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. The expert then asks Jesus, and who is my neighbor?

Jesus answers him with a parable. You may be familiar with this story about a man who had been injured by robbers along the road. Several people walking along the road crossed to the other side to avoid helping the injured man. Then a Samaritan man from Samaria comes along.

Instead of avoiding the man, he stops, offers help, assists in getting him to a place where he can rest, and pays for the injured man’s care. Jesus answered the question Who is my neighbor? With an example of a person who had mercy on the one who was vulnerable and needed help. He then commanded the expert to go and do likewise.

One thing that stands out in this story is that Jesus’s definition of a neighbor is extended beyond a person who lived near the Samaritan’s home, even from another region or country. The Samaritan had mercy on someone who was not a Samaritan. There are many vulnerable and marginalized people living in our community, and some are from other countries. Whatever their situation, we are called by Jesus to have mercy on them by offering our help and assistance.

What are some practical ways we can love our neighbors?

Pray for a sensitive heart and eyes to see the vulnerable and marginalized people in our community
Consider joining an Alliance Church Good Neighbor Team to help assimilate a newcomer into our community
Join the Alliance Church Action Team
Donate items needed by organizations that provide help
Invite a newcomer to an Alliance Church event and offer to pick them up and sit with them
Invite them into your home for a meal and introduce them to your friends and family.