08/30/2026
A word from the LCMS Office of Witness and Outreach: Who is your neighbor? It could be those who live next door or all those with whom you associate on a daily basis. It may be someone God has in mind for you to meet today. The Parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that in loving our neighbors, we care not just for their physical needs, but also for their spiritual needs. What a joy it will be in eternity to have a “neighbor” come up to us and thank us for sharing the Good News of salvation found in Jesus alone.
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from The Good Neighbor Who has compassion, your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
There are some lines from commercials that many people remember, even if they are no longer being played every day as they once were. If you ask someone, “Where’s the beef?” I’m sure they might answer that they remember that Wendy’s commercial from the 80s. Yes, children, I’m talking about the 1900s, yet when I say that, some will differentiate between the 1900s and the 1980s, but the kids don’t care, as you are “Unc” if your birth year starts with a 19. My daughter asked me to rewrite this, but I’m not going to redo it.
While not “Unc,” there are other jingles that carry on, even after a decade. You can finish the slogan if you desire: “Like a good neighbor, …” No, it’s not State Farm; it’s Jesus. Like a good neighbor, Jesus is there. He is the Good Neighbor. He is the Good Samaritan. He is the One Who cares for the man who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead, and He still takes care of him. We should probably unpack the story a bit more before we hear of this again.
There was a man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. This is a common thing. While it might not be the tallest mountain in the world, it is the mount that all mounts look to, except Mount Calvary, as all roads lead to Jerusalem. While the Pax Romana allowed people free travel through the conquered world, the Path of Salvation leads from Jerusalem to heaven.
However, we may need to mention something else, as Saint Paul states elsewhere. It is not the earthly Jerusalem but the heavenly Jerusalem, the one where God reigns and God alone. No earthly king reigns forever, yet one of David’s sons, Jesus, will reign forever in the Jerusalem above.
This man was caught by robbers, brigands, thieves, as they set upon him, leaving him for dead, and went on their way with their prizes. Then three men appeared. No, not a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker. A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. The first two came upon the man, saw him, but, because he might have been dead, passed by, leaving him there.
But the Samaritan came to where he was. When he saw the man, he had compassion. He didn’t just leave him for dead, which he might have been. He checked on the man. When he found that the man was still alive, he had compassion and helped the man. With the background out of the way, we should look at the question from the lawyer: “Who is my neighbor?”
“Who is my neighbor?” This question can be asked in a myriad of ways (use different inflections). Behind it all lie two ways of understanding: trying to get out of the implications of the Law and following the way of the Gospel.
The way of the Law leads to death when it is not followed. This is the way of those who robbed the man and left him for dead. This is sin in its boldest perspective. They abandoned the Law: “You shall not steal,” “You shall not murder,” as they cared nothing for the man. They robbed him of his money and would have robbed him of his life if they had their way.
We heard a few weeks ago about the ratcheting up of the Law by Jesus, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).
Jesus reveals that the Law goes beyond the simple outward keeping of the Word to the thoughts and intentions as well. It is not enough to simply “Not murder,” as even anger, insult, and speech are a breaking of the holy will and Law of God. This is important because we sin in thought, word, and deed. This is a matter of the heart and mind, and both need to be cleansed in the waters of Baptism, just as the exterior of the body is cleansed with water and soap in the shower, bath, or however you clean your body.
Those who try to live by the Law will still die to it because they can never keep the Law of God perfectly. This was the error of the Priest and Levite. They thought they were following God’s Law, but they cared little to nothing for the man who might have been dead. Sure, they saw him, but they had no compassion.
This is different than the Good Samaritan because He has compassion. He went to the man, saw that he was still alive, and helped the man. Pouring on oil and w**e think alcohol to clean the surface wounds, then Neosporin to protect from further infection, before bandaging, kissing the owie, and sending the kids back to further play.
Jesus is the One Who shows compassion to those whom the Law leaves for dead. He has no problem contending with death and the grave. He knows that He lays aside His life and will take it up again. So He willingly goes into death and the grave because He goes to conquer them through His death and resurrection. He bids that we also show compassion to those who need it.
Many people need compassion in this world. But to serve, you must first be served. You are served by Jesus, along with the Father and the Holy Ghost, as He comes to where you are. He comes to you in the pew, in the car, in your favorite chair at home, even in your work or school chair. He comes to you because you need Him to come to you.
He gives you His grace, His mercy, and His peace, which avails for your sins, breathing life into this world of death, and calls you to go and do likewise. You have the opportunity to show compassion to those who need it. You have the opportunity to spread the good news of the salvation which Jesus won for the whole world. You have the opportunity to care for those whom the Law has done its worst, as it leaves them drained of all life.
Be the good news that others need. Be their cheerleader, pushing them to accomplish the good they have set their mind to doing. Be their counselor when they are heading down the path that leads to death. Call them to repent of their foolish pride before it is too late. Share the faith that the Holy Spirit gives, as Jesus is there for you, just like a good neighbor.
The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.
