How does Luke 10:29 connect with Leviticus 19:18 about loving your neighbor? Setting the Stage: Two Passages, One Command • Leviticus 19:18 — “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” • Luke 10:29 — “But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Leviticus 19:18 — The Original Command • Centerpiece of Israel’s social ethics. • “Neighbor” (Hebrew rea‘) literally means one who is near—fellow Israelite, resident foreigner, or anyone within your sphere. • Rooted in God’s character: “I am the LORD.” Obedience reflects His holiness (cf. Leviticus 19:2). Luke 10:29 — The Clarifying Question • A lawyer cites Leviticus 19:18 and Deuteronomy 6:5 (Luke 10:27) yet seeks loopholes. • His question exposes a heart looking for minimum duty rather than maximum love. How Jesus Expands the Definition of “Neighbor” • Jesus answers with the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). • Key moves: – The needy victim is anonymous; ethnicity and status fade. – Religious insiders (priest, Levite) pass by; an outsider (Samaritan) embodies compassion. – The Samaritan crosses ethnic, religious, and cultural barriers, mirroring God’s boundless mercy. • Conclusion (v. 36-37): Neighbor is not defined by proximity or similarity but by opportunity to show mercy. “Go and do likewise” applies Leviticus 19:18 without borders. Shared Themes and Lessons • Same foundation: love for neighbor flows from love for God (cf. 1 John 4:20-21). • Both passages reject selective compassion: – Leviticus forbids revenge toward “any of your people.” – Jesus forbids limiting mercy to convenient circles. • Holiness and mercy link Old and New Testaments (cf. Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:43-48). Practical Takeaways Today • Identify “neighbors” by need, not by likeness. • Move toward, not away from, difficult or marginalized people. • Let God’s own gracious character set the standard for our relationships. |
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