And who in this story is 'the other?'
Are there more than one? Who is not 'the other?'
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?”
And the lawyer answered Him saying, “‘Thou shalt 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 Jesus said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you shall live.”
But the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
And Jesus answered him saying, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his belongings, assaulted him and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked at him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion for him. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. And he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
And on the next day when he departed, he took out two pieces of silver, and gave them to the host and said to him, ‘Take care of this man. And if you spend more, when I come back this way I will pay you.’
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him that fell victim to the thieves?”
And the lawyer said, “He that showed mercy to him.” Then Jesus said, “Go you, and do likewise.”
