The teacher of the law asked about what was the greatest commandment. Jesus answered, "What is written in the Law?" After they agreed to that answer, the lawyer asked, "Who is my neighbor?"
In response to the question, Jesus gives the Parable of the Good Samaritan
In the context of the parable,
1. Who can be a neighbor as Jesus defines being a neighbor? It would be neighborly to do part of it and not all ...according to Jesus.
2. Who else can fulfill the law besides Jesus? If your answer is "no one", then who else can be neighborly as the law describes?
3. What is the point of the parable if Jesus is the only one who can be a neighbor to 6 billion people?
2007-04-22 02:13:07 · 4 answers · asked by DS M 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
1. Who can be a neighbor as Jesus defines being a neighbor? No one
2. Who else can fulfill the law besides Jesus? No one. If your answer is "no one", then who else can be neighborly as the law describes? Only Jesus can fulfill the law.
3. What is the point of the parable if Jesus is the only one who can be a neighbor to 6 billion people?
As Paul said in Ro. 3, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Since this is true, the lawyer asking the question, "Who is my neighbor?" to justify himself, can not justify himself. The parable proves it and that is the reason for the anger at the end of the parable.
If you quote Ro 3 and say "All have sinned" and say that only Jesus is sinless, then you also have to admit that no one can "love God with all their hearts" or "their neighbor as themselves" as the law requires.
As you can't say:
1. "I came close to coming to a stop at the red light" to a policeman, or
2. "I came close to putting the blood of the lamb on the door frame" to the death angel at Passover,
so you can't say to God that you fulfilled His law. If you did fulfill the law, you wouldn't need a savior/redeemer.
Jesus is pointing out to the lawyer that he can't fulfill the law and so he can't be justified by the law. No man can. So it is only by the blood of Jesus that we can stand justified before God. Jesus was presenting the man with his need so the man would seek God for the sacrifice needed for his redemption.
Grace is only possible when the law has condemned someone. Most want grace to interceed before someone is condemned. Chaos is what occurs when there is no law or the law is not able to be enforced...not grace. So the lawyer had to stand condemned before Jesus could offer grace.
Jesus didn't chase after the lawyer as he didn't chase after the rich man. There is much to find in the parable if you seek.
2007-04-22 09:13:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoo Boy. Another lesson in plain speaking.
As Jesus taught, the greatest commandment is love.
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."
It goes on and describes a Priest, and a Levite (Bible scholor) both passing by the man that needed help. The only one that stopped to help was a stranger.
The one that showed love and mercy, even though he was not from there, was the neighbor.
""1. Who can be a neighbor as Jesus defines being a neighbor? It would be neighborly to do part of it and not all ...according to Jesus.""
The neighbor was the one that did it all. You are putting words in the mouth of Jesus that he did not speak.
""2. Who else can fulfill the law besides Jesus? If your answer is "no one", then who else can be neighborly as the law describes?""
Anyone that goes the whole way in helping out a needy person. Everyone can fulfill the law. (Love)
Thus #3 is a non question. The point of the parable is to love everyone, as they are your neighbor.
2007-04-22 02:30:01 · answer #2 · answered by edjumacation 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus asks the lawyer about what he knows best: the law. He knows that keeping the law is the appropriate answer. But he standard set here, "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," is one which no one could keep.
Jesus in the parable refuses to define who a neighbor is. Instead He asks a question proving something greater than the exact answer anticipated. Being a neighbor to someone is not limited to family relations or proximity. It is showing the love of God to all who are in need, who ever they may be, where ever they may be. If we are to do this, we will quickly find that we are incapable of completing so perfect a love. Since the law requires perfect obedience, the doing of this lesson would be something most difficult for the lawyer.
This parable also teaches the impossibility of "earning" one's salvation. The point of the parable is that we do not have to agree with other people's beliefs and opinions or condone their actions, but Jesus calls us to overcome our prejudices and show our kindness to all people of the world and consider them our "neighbors."
2007-04-22 02:44:21 · answer #3 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Loving - or at least, being nice to - 'thy neighbour' is a fundamental instinct that all social animals have.
CD
2007-04-22 02:22:08 · answer #4 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋