Summary: Bible Verses for week commencing Sunday, 15 October 2023.

Theme: Who is my neighbour?

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Sunday

He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

Proverbs 14:21

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Monday

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:18

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Tuesday

For this is God, Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.

Proverbs 3:29

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Wednesday

Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 10:24

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Thursday

If you have any encouragement from being United with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

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Friday

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “love your neighbour as yourself.”
If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Galatians 5:14-15

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Saturday

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 3:8

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Note: See also Luke 10: 25-37: The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “ ‘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, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii (two silver coins) and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Summary: Your neighbour is not necessarily the person who lives next door to you; it is not about nationality; not about someone who lives in your community; it is more than just proximity!
Your neighbour could be, for example, a homeless person, a refugee, a migrant;
with an ocean of wants and needs and, you may be able to be a good neighbour of that person.
When Jesus told this Parable ‘Samaritans’ were not highly regarded.
God in us is the spirit of mercy. Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan; He forever offers all a shoulder to lean on; let us try and imitate Him.

God bless.