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An expert in Jewish law asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus, knowing this man was an expert in the law, turned the question back on him, “What do you think is written in the law about this?”
This man quoted to Jesus two passages in the mosaic law, and Jesus told him, “You have answered correctly. If you do that you will have eternal life.”
The two things he quoted were loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself. But then comes an interesting phrase. Luke writes that, “He wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” This tells me that this expert in the law was trying to figure out the least that he could do to be approved by God.
In answer to his question, Jesus told the story that we now refer to as the parable of the good Samaritan. The Samaritan didn’t measure his love by the least he could do, and he didn’t limit himself to doing only what was comfortable or convenient. In fact, he didn’t measure his response at all—he simply did what was needed without any thought of the cost.
This is exactly what Jesus did too. He gave all that was needed because He was motivated by love (Philippians 2:6–8; John 3:16–17, 15:13).
We often use WWJD to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”
Since Jesus embodied love, maybe a more clarifying question would be WWLD—What would love do?
Maybe we could combine this with the Golden Rule. If I was in need, how would I want my neighbor to treat me? Then, as Jesus said to the expert in the law, “Go and do likewise to all your neighbors.” This is what pleases God and glorifies Jesus.
(Read this whole account for yourself in Luke 10:25-37.)
Perhaps a good prayer for us would be: Heavenly Father, I want to love the way Jesus loved. Help me to do what Love would do in all my interactions with my neighbors today. Father, be glorified in my neighborly responses today. I want to follow the example Jesus gave me, so I pray this prayer in His name. Amen.
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Craig T. Owens 