How does this verse connect to the concept of loving your neighbor? The Story Behind the Verse 2 Samuel 12:4: “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for his guest.” What the Rich Man Got Wrong • He possessed ample resources yet chose selfish convenience over compassion. • He treated the poor man as expendable, denying him basic dignity. • He violated the spirit of God’s law that safeguards the weak (Exodus 22:21–27). Love Your Neighbor Defined in Scripture • Leviticus 19:18: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” • Matthew 22:39: Jesus identifies this as the second greatest commandment. • Romans 13:10: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor.” Connecting the Dots • The rich man’s action is the precise opposite of loving a neighbor; he subtracts from another’s life rather than adding to it. • Loving one’s neighbor requires sacrificial generosity, not cost-shifting exploitation. • By inserting an anonymous “traveler,” the parable highlights that true love extends beyond familiar circles to anyone in need who crosses our path. Echoes Throughout Scripture • Luke 10:33-37 – The Good Samaritan models the generosity the rich man refused. • Proverbs 14:21: “Blessed is he who is kind to the needy.” • James 2:8: The “royal law” commands active, practical love, condemning partiality. Practical Takeaways for Today • Guard the impulse to protect personal comfort at another’s expense. • View possessions as tools to bless, not shields to hoard. • Notice the “travelers” God places in daily life; respond with open-handed care. • Remember that withholding good from those in need breaks the command to love (Proverbs 3:27). |
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