Who Is Your NEIGHBOR, Biblically Speaking?
Both the Old Testament and New Testament teach us to “love your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39 & James 2:8). But who specifically is your neighbor? ‘Neighbor,’ in the Hebrew is rea (RAY-ah), which means “friend, companion, fellow.” In the Greek it’s plésion (play-SEE-on) meaning “someone near or nearby.” In other words, your neighbor in the biblical sense refers to anyone near enough that you can influence in a positive way.
The Lord was asked this particular question when he was ministering on Earth 2000 years ago. Notice His response:
25On 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?”
27He 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.”
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30In 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. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He 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. 35The next day he took out two denarii e 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?”
37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
The story consists of four main characters aside from the robbers — a man, a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan. Each of these are symbolic as follows:
- The beat-up man left for dead represents fallen humanity doomed to death, which is the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).
- The priest and Levite who pass by the dying man represent useless religion, which cannot save.
- The Samaritan, however, symbolizes Christ, the compassionate one who provides the way to health and life (John 10:10 & Matthew 11:28-30).
Believers are Christians (Acts 11:26), aka those who follow Christ, the Anointed One. As such, we are to be “neighbors” to those in our path who are in need and who accept our help. Obviously you can’t assist those who stubbornly reject your compassionate aid, but you can help those who humbly do.
Related Topics:
What Makes a Believer a “LEGITIMATE CHRISTIAN”?
The Four Types of LOVE in the Bible
Does Walking in AGAPE LOVE Mean You Should Be a DOORMAT to Abuse?
What Does Love “Always Protects” Mean?
Deny Yourself or Love Yourself — Which Is It? (Both)
Religion and Christianity — What’s the Difference?
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