Asking the Wrong Question
Scripture reading for November 13: Luke 10:25-29 “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And 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 answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?””
Knowing and understanding the truth of God’s Word will make us free from guilt and shame. We are told to study to show ourselves approved by God. This lawyer came to test Jesus, not really to learn from Him. But Jesus was aware of his heart and loved him enough to take time to interact with him through a series of questions. The initial question of Jesus was “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus in turn asked him what was written in God’s Law and how he understood it. This man had a good answer for Jesus from God’s Law. The Law was summed up by a command to love God and love your neighbor. Jesus affirmed his answer.
But the motive of his heart was to justify himself, not learn from Jesus. He asked Jesus, the Rabbi, one more question: “Who is my neighbor?” At this question, Jesus told him a story of a man who was robbed and beaten and left beside the road. A priest saw him but passed by as did a Levite traveling the same road. Next Jesus told of a Samaritan traveling that road who stopped and helped the injured man, taking care of his needs. Jesus then asked another question: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36) The answer was obvious. The man was instructed in the truth that his own reasoning revealed to him. The Truth sets us free to fulfill God’s Law of love!
Prayer: Father God, help me to ask You the right questions and to listen to Your questions for me. As I share the Good News and minister to hurting people, remind me to love my neighbor as myself. Amen.
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