‘The one who showed mercy to him,’ he said.
Luke 10:37
Then Jesus told him, ‘Go and do the same.’
The lawyer of course got the answer to the question correct. The Samaritan was the neighbor of the man who was hurt. And, in his answer, the lawyer gives expression to the compassion presumably found in the heart of this Samaritan.
When Jesus says to the man, go and do the same, He isn’t telling the lawyer to love his neighbor. That lesson has been taught by the previous question and answer. What Jesus means is that the lawyer should live in a manner consistent with the commands of God.
The priest and the Levite claimed to follow the law and didn’t. The Samaritan was not an expert in the law, but he was actually trying to follow it.
Now, for those who would ask the obvious question, circle back to the beginning of the lawyer’s conversation with Jesus. The obvious question is, why did Jesus tell this man that loving his neighbor and trying to follow God’s law would win him eternal life? The lawyer quoted two laws. The one about the neighbor was second. The first was to love the Lord God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength. This means we are to obey Him. And salvation is a matter of obedience.
If this lawyer truly loved the Lord he would accept Jesus as the Christ and have eternal life. If, on the other hand, he was like the priest or the Levite in the story, he would only pay God lipservice and fail to truly obey and repent.
Heavenly Father, thank You for communicating with us. You are merciful to us in that You have revealed Yourself to us. Thank You for allowing us to obey unto life. To be alive for You and with You forever is a true delight! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.