EMPOWERED Love: Love your neighbor

Yesterday, the two great commandments were to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Before you dig into today’s reading, answer this: 

• Who is your neighbor?

Luke 10:30-37 | Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

• The man who was hurt was a Jew and the two men who passed by were Jews too. The man who helped was a Samaritan. The Jews hated Samaritans.

  • What is surprising about the actions of the Jews?

  • What is surprising about the actions of the Samaritan?

• How does the Samaritan show love to the man who was attacked?

• Could the Samaritan have done less to help the man who was attacked and still have been loving? Why do you think he does so much?

• From this parable told by Jesus, who is your neighbor? Think of it this way: Is there anyone who is not your neighbor or who you do not have to love?

• Like yesterday, who are you loving well? Who are you not loving well? What can you change?