How easily we turn this text
Into the force of law;
We ought to love the robbed, we think,
But where, in that's, the awe?
Let Jesus get into your head
When what you want's prescription,
Imagine you're the one who's robbed -
Would you throw a conniption
When helped by a Samaritan
You never thought would care?
Oh, no! You'd love the one who just
Your soul and life repaired!
You'd have a new and different view
Of self - for you were saved
By one who rightly couldn't care
If you were in the grave!
I wonder why the Maker of
The earth and heav'n should care
About poor slobs like you and me
Who haven't got a prayer
Until our unsuspecting God,
And neighbor, don't pass by,
And grace, like oil and wine anointing,
Selflessly apply.
Scott L. Barton
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what
must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written
in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as
yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do
this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked
Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who
stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by
chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while
traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on
them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and
took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to
the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I
will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you
think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the
robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him,
“Go and do likewise.”
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