Who is my neighbor

This question was asked by a lawyer to Jesus in Luke 10:29, “But he willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” Webster’s dictionary defines it as “One living or located near another.”
Jesus tells a story that will define the biblical definition of who a neighbor is in Luke 10: 25-37.

A Jewish man was riding through a mountainous, remote area when he was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the road. A certain priest came by and saw but passed by on the other side. Then, a Levite came by and saw the man but also passed by on the other side.

The priest seemed to have a good reason for not stopping and helping. In Leviticus 21: 1-17, a priest is to keep clean and to not touch a dead body.

The Levite also had a reason for not stopping. The Levite’s main role was to assist the priest in the tabernacle service. The Levite was responsible for the mantling, dismantling, and transporting of the tabernacle. Also, they were responsible for the offering of the tabernacle (Numbers 18).

Then, a Samaritan came by and saw the man. Now the Jews and the Samaritans were bitter enemies. The Jews saw the Samaritans as racial “half breeds” and religious heretics. There was great animosity between them. If there was to be a reason for not helping this man, the Samaritan had the greatest reason.

Yet the Samaritan was moved with compassion. He braved the danger of the elements to allow love to dictate his motive. He gave him medical aid, then transported him to an inn. He then paid the innkeeper to care for the man until he had fully recuperated, which would have been a substantial expense.

Jesus was giving a radical answer to a question from a law expert attempting to limit the implications of the command to love. Meeting the material, physical and economic needs of the vulnerable by deeds is the fulfillment of true justice. We are not limited to how we love but also who we love. We typically think of our neighbors as people of the same social class and means. We tend to limit for whom we exert ourselves.

By depicting a Samaritan helping a Jew, Jesus defines who our neighbor is, that anyone at all in need is our neighbor, regardless of race, politics, class and religion.