The story of the Good Samaritan was a story Jesus created to explain who our neighbor is. Jesus’ story explains that the neighbor is the person in need, be it the widow, orphan, stranger, alien, foreigner, hungry, sick, imprisoned. However, His application of the story turns it around to what it means to be a neighbor. Neighbors show mercy. They go to the aid of another in time of need. They spend money out of their own pocket to help. They take time to delay their journey in order to meet pressing needs. In the end, Jesus is saying, “That is your neighbor. Now what are you doing to be a neighbor to your neighbor?”
“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37 (NRSV)
