The Neighbor We Step Over
Today, I opened to Luke 10:37–42
"Go, and do likewise." — Luke 10:37
In these verses Jesus concludes the parable of the Good Samaritan with a simple command: "Go, and do likewise." Immediately afterward, Luke records Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary, where He reminds Martha that being with Him is the "one thing necessary."
At first glance, these stories seem unrelated. One is about serving your neighbor. The other is about sitting at Jesus' feet.
But together they expose a subtle danger: appearing devoted to God while neglecting the people God has placed directly in front of us.
It is possible to travel across oceans with the gospel while ignoring the wounded soul across the dinner table. It is possible to teach Bible studies, lead ministries, and speak boldly about Christ while refusing to lovingly confront a brother or sister trapped in sin We can become passionate about reaching strangers yet unwilling to bear the uncomfortable burden of loving those closest to us, our own brothers.
The priest and the Levite likely had religious reasons for passing by the injured man. Their ministry may have seemed more important than stopping.
Let's selah and search our hearts honestly before the Lord. Do you do what the priest and the Levite do to the injured? Do you believe ministry work to be more important than grieving with a grieving Sister of the faith, or confronting her sin? Do we give our Sisters a few minutes of our time, offer to pray as opposed to pausing to pray with her, and go on quickly and passionately to our ministries?
In these verses we see that Jesus commends the one who interrupted his plans to show mercy. That was the goal: to. show. mercy.
Sometimes we do the same.
We tell ourselves we're "protecting peace" when we're actually avoiding difficult conversations. We call it "grace" when Scripture calls us to restore one another gently (Galatians 6:1). We celebrate evangelism while neglecting the harder work of discipleship and biblical love.
Love is not merely proclaiming truth to the lost.
Love also warns the wandering believer.
Love bears burdens.
Love enters uncomfortable conversations.
Love refuses to leave a brother or sister bleeding spiritually simply because helping them is inconvenient.
Then Luke turns our attention to Martha and Mary.
The irony is striking. Martha is busy serving Jesus Himself! The Christ! Yet she has become distracted from Him. Mary chooses the better portion by remaining at His feet.
The order matters.
If we are not first abiding with Christ, our ministry can become activity without affection. We may begin serving Christ while s l o w l y losing the heart of Christ.
The Good Samaritan teaches us who to love.
Mary teaches us where that love begins.
Only those who sit long at Jesus' feet will have eyes to see the hurting neighbor beside them and hearts willing to enter the mess.
The gospel is not only carried to distant places.
It is lived in living rooms.
It is practiced in church pews.
It is displayed in difficult conversations.
It is proven in patient mercy.
Before asking, "Lord, where should I go?" perhaps we should first ask, "Lord, who have I been walking past?"
There may be a wounded neighbor much closer than we think.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I've been eager to serve publicly while neglecting to love faithfully. Give me courage to show mercy, humility to receive correction myself, and wisdom to lovingly restore those You've placed in my life. Keep me close at Your feet so that my service flows from communion with You rather than mere activity. Teach me to love both the stranger and the brother beside me, for Your glory. Amen.
