Who Is My Neighbor?

Good people, let’s be honest—when I ask, “Who is your neighbor?” what pops in your head? Probably your friends, right? Your crew. The people who text you back, invite you to dinner, or lend you their tools when yours break down.

That’s the easy answer—the low-hanging fruit. But let’s push deeper.

Is a neighbor just the person who lives next door? The folks in your cul-de-sac? The lady who keeps parking in the handicap spot at your apartment complex? Technically, yes. But Jesus stretches our definition further. Much further.

Jesus Flips the Question

In Luke 10:25-29, a religious expert tries to test Jesus. He asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Now, Jesus could’ve shut him down with a quick answer. But instead? He takes him on a journey. He asks, “What does the Law say? How do you read it?”

The man replies: “Love God with everything you’ve got, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Bingo. Jesus says, “Do this and live.”

But then the man—just like us—tries to wiggle out of it. “And who exactly is my neighbor?” Translation: “How small can I make the circle of love and still check the box?”

Sound familiar? Yeah, I do that too.

Enter the Story: A Priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan

Jesus tells a story. And it sounds like the setup for a joke:

A Jewish man, a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan walk into a road…

Except it’s no joke. The Jewish man gets beaten, stripped, and left half-dead. A priest passes by. You’d think he’d stop—nope. A Levite passes—surely he’ll stop—nope again.

But then a Samaritan shows up. The last person you’d expect. The enemy. The outsider. And he’s the one who stops. He bandages wounds. Puts the man on his donkey. Pays for his stay at an inn.

Radical love. Costly love. Love that crosses boundaries.

The Hard Truth

Here’s the gut-check: I’m more like the priest or the Levite than I’d like to admit. I get busy. I guard my time. I keep my money close. Sometimes I don’t love others with the same energy and instinct that I love myself.

But Jesus says: That’s the measure. Love your neighbor as yourself. The same way you grab food when you’re hungry, put on a jacket when you’re cold, or treat yourself to something nice, you do that for others, too.

So, Who Is My Neighbor?

Everybody. The guy at Kroger. The worker at the DMV. The woman on the corner is holding a cardboard sign. The person who doesn’t look like you, vote like you, or worship like you. Even the one who feels like an enemy.

That’s what Jesus says. Neighbor is bigger than geography. Bigger than preference. Bigger than comfort.

A Question Back to You

So let me ask:

• Which neighbors are hard for you to love?

• Who might God be putting in your path today?

• What would it look like to love them the way you instinctively love yourself?

I’d love to hear your take. Drop a comment or send me a message—let’s work through this together.

Because if Jesus taught us anything in that parable, it’s this:
Neighbor love is not optional. It’s the very heartbeat of a disciple.