Continuing in Luke today,
"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He 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."
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. " Luke 10:25-32 (NIV)
I'd like to look at this in two parts.
Jesus often taught in parables, many times just saying things like "a certain man" or "two men," yet here he specifically chose a priest and a Levite (the tribe God specifically chose to serve as priests and in the temple) for the examples of men who ignored someone in desperate need.
I have to wonder why? I think it's because if we are not careful, we can get too busy "doing church," feeling that our "religious activities" are all that God requires of us. The lesson is so clear, a person can be very a very active church member, yet have lost compassion along the way.
Before we let ourselves off the hook too quickly, let us examine our own hearts in this. I have to admit, I'm afraid I may fall into this category a little too easily and I find the example Jesus used rather convicting.
After all, we are commanded to do two things, love God and love our neighbor. If that is not the basis of our activity for the Lord, we can end up as the man whose question prompted this parable, simply trying to justify ourselves.
