A few chapters before this one, Jesus told us to “Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” [6:27]
Now as Jesus is approached by a Pharisee with a question, Jesus provides an example of what He meant by loving our enemies.
The Pharisee wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. That is the same question the Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus. Both men thought they had it all together, they were doing what the rabbis always taught as the way to eternal life “Obey the statutes of God and avoid all sin.”
While both asked the same question, Jesus’ response was tailored to each man’s situation. The Rich Young Ruler was told to give away all his wealth. Jesus first responds to this Pharisee’s question with a question. “What is written in the law?” [vs 26]
The man answers that the law commands to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” [10:27 HCSB]
Jesus agrees and tells the man “Do this and you will live.” [vs 28]
But … and here is the thing that we often do likewise … the Pharisee wanted the details. “Who is my neighbor?” [vs 29]
Jesus tells him, through the parable of The Good Samaritan, that his enemy is his neighbor. A Samaritan was hated by the Jews. He was considered a member of a mongrel race. There is no way a Pharisee would have stopped to help a Samaritan, but in Jesus’ parable, it is the Samaritan who stops to show mercy. The Samaritan loved his enemy.
The Pharisee has to admit that is what happened, and Jesus tells him to “Go and do the same.” [vs 37]
Wrapped up in the great command to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, is the deep truth that our enemies are included.
