Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
A lawyer puts the question to trap Christ: what must I do to inherit eternal life? But a good question asked with a mean or contentious spirit is no good question at all. If we speak of eternal life as mere matter of dispute, we take God's name in vain.
AI summary
Commenting on Luke 10:25-37
And he said, he that showed mercy to him,.... Meaning the Samaritan; which he was obliged to declare, though of another country and religion, and accounted as an enemy; yet the case was so plain, as put by Christ, that he could not with any honour or conscience, say otherwise: then said Jesus unto him, go and do thou likewise; such like acts of beneficence...
Verse 36. Was neighbour. Showed the kindness of a neighbour, or evinced the proper feelings of a neighbour. The lawyer had asked him who was his neighbour? Jesus in this beautiful narrative showed him who and what a neighbour was, and he did this in a way that disarmed his prejudice, deeply affected him in regard to his own duty, and evinced the beauty of religion.