Lesson 4 of 5
The neighbour and mercy
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Study objective: Study parables about love for neighbour and forgiveness.
Reading: Luke 10:25–37Matthew 18:21–35
Luke 10:25–37 WEB
25Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27He answered, “You shall 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.” 28He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” 29But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” 37He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Matthew 18:21–35 WEB
21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. 23Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ 27The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt. 28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ 30He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due. 31So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ 34His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
Background and context
A lawyer asks Jesus who his neighbour is; Jesus tells of a Samaritan who cares for a wounded man. Peter asks how often he must forgive; Jesus tells of a servant forgiven a vast debt who will not forgive a small one.
Observe
- The lawyer asks “Who is my neighbour?”; Jesus asks who became a neighbour (Luke 10:29, 36).
- The Samaritan acts with compassion and cost (10:33-35).
- The servant’s debt is enormous; his fellow servant’s is small (Matthew 18:24, 28).
- The master asks, “Shouldn’t you also have had mercy?” (18:33).
Words, people and events to notice
- Samaritan
- A member of a people with whom Jews of Jesus’ day had long hostility. John 4:9
Understand
- How does Jesus turn the lawyer’s question around?
- What does the size difference of the debts in Matthew 18 teach?
- What links the two parables?
Connect
- Micah 6:8
Love mercy.
Reflect
- Who is the “Samaritan” you find hardest to see as a neighbour?
- Whom do you need to forgive?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- The question is not who deserves love but how to show it.
- Those forgiven much are called to forgive.
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