The beloved physician Luke wrote concerning Jesus, “behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how do you read it? And he answering said, You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself. And he said unto him, you have answered right: this do, and you shall live”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-nine of his book Luke shared how the lawyer asked, “who is my neighbor?” where we read:
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
The verse reads, “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, ...” Luke began with the words, “but he” or “however, notwithstanding, nevertheless and moreover the lawyer”, “willing to justify himself” which means “intending, having in mind, wishing and desiring to render his own self righteous and as he ought to be”, “said unto Jesus” or “uttered, declared, proclaimed and questioned the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Luke shared how the lawyer desired to make himself “righteous” by asking “Jesus” the following question.
The verse continues, “and who is my neighbor?” Luke added the words, “and who” which means “and what person whether male or female” “is my neighbor” or “exists as the lawyer's or any other person's, fellow man or one with whom they live or have chance to meet”? Luke shared how the lawyer asked Jesus exactly who was his “fellow man or neighbor”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn the lawyer's motive was to make himself righteous, and we discover his question concerning who is his “neighbor”. Jesus confirmed “loving God” and “loving your neighbor” as the two main written laws, and the inquiry of the lawyer revealed the part that tends to be the most difficult for people. Most people want to know Jesus' answer to the lawyer's question because “loving God” is much easier than “loving people”, and they want to know who God expects them to love. God loves everyone, and because He does, He sent His Son Jesus to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world. God wants people to be like Him, and when they are, they love everyone including all their “neighbors”.
Next time Luke writes how Jesus began a story about, “a man” who “fell among thieves”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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