Who Is My Neighbor?

A modern retelling of Jesus' parable

An attorney stood and asked Jesus, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus replied, "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, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus said, "You have answered well. Do this and you shall live."

But wanting to justify himself, the attorney asked, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man was driving from Jerusalem to Jericho when a tire went flat. Getting out to fix it, he was set upon by robbers who beat him, stole his wallet, and left him for dead.

"Shortly after, a tour bus full of Americans Christians passed by. Although everyone saw the man and some took pictures with their cell phones, no one called for an ambulance. And the driver didn't even slow down.

"Not long after the bus there was a taxi carrying three American pastors who had flown to Israel for a prophecy conference. The cab driver slowed as he approached the man's car, but the pastors urged him to speed up because they were already running late.

"After the taxi there came a Muslim. When he saw the man he was filled with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, then put him in the back seat of his own car, took him to the emergency room and then to a hotel, offering his own credit card as payment in both places. He told the hotel manager, 'Whatever else he needs, put it on my card as well.'

"Which one was a neighbor to the man who was beaten?"

The attorney answered, "The one who showed him mercy."

Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."

based on Luke 10:25-37