Luke 10:25-37
Jesus exposes self-justifying religion and calls for mercy that becomes neighbor to the one in need.
25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “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.”
28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’
36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”
37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Jesus exposes self-justifying religion and calls for mercy that becomes neighbor to the one in need.
Luke records a legal expert testing Jesus about eternal life and attempting to justify himself by narrowing the category of neighbor, so Jesus answers with a parable that redefines neighbor-love as active mercy toward the needy, even across despised boundaries, and commands the man to go and do likewise.
This follows Jesus’ declaration that revelation comes to the humble (10:21–24). The lawyer’s question demonstrates the opposite — intellectual testing rather than humble reception.
A legal expert stands to test Jesus, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks how he reads the law, and the lawyer answers with Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18: love God wholly and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus affirms the answer, but when the lawyer seeks to justify himself by asking who his neighbor is, Jesus tells of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who is attacked, stripped, beaten, and left half dead. A priest and Levite see him but pass by. A Samaritan sees him, is moved with compassion, tends his wounds, transports him to an inn, pays for his care, and promises further payment. Jesus asks which one became neighbor to the wounded man, and the lawyer answers, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus commands him to go and do likewise.
The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen
The kingdom of God comes through Jesus’ sent mission, gracious revelation, costly mercy, and attentive hearing, calling disciples to rejoice in salvation, love the wounded neighbor, and sit under the Lord’s word.