路加福音第十章第29—37節那個律法師接著問耶穌第二個問題:誰是他的鄰舍。他問這個問題的原因是在第一個問題裏他回答耶穌說愛神愛鄰舍就能承受永生,所以這個律法師為了證明他是義人,就接著問誰是他的鄰舍,他好去愛他而得永生。我們注意到在第二個問題裏這個律法師沒有問誰是神而是問誰是他的鄰舍,因為他自以為他知道神是什麽樣子的。其實他根本不知道我們真實神是什麽樣子的,不然他怎麽不信耶穌呢?但是耶穌還是回答了他的第二個問題,就給他打了個比喻。這個比喻說有一個人從耶路撒冷去耶利哥,在半路上被強盜剝去衣裳打個半死丟在那裏。有一個祭司和一個利未人先後經過那裏,看到他,心裏就有這樣那樣的顧忌,比如需要保持他們所認為的潔淨,因此看到他沒有救他而是繞路走了。惟有一個撒瑪利亞人,行路來到那裏,看見半死的他就動了慈心給他療傷,然後把他送到旅店照顧他。然後耶穌問這個律法師:這三個人(祭司,利未人和撒瑪利亞人)中那一個是落在強盜手中的人的鄰舍呢?耶穌問的很有意思,因為耶穌沒有直接給他答案,而是反問了他一個問題:誰是落在強盜手中的人的鄰舍?而一開始這個律法師問的是:誰是我的鄰舍?因此可見,耶穌大可能的意思是讓這個律法師認識到你自己其實是那個落在強盜手中的人,連你自己都需要被拯救,而你想的卻是去救別人。但是因為這個律法師的愚妄,他回答耶穌說“是憐憫他的”。耶穌就繼續照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他說:你去照樣行吧。這個比喻也說明靠屬世的利未人和祭司的獻祭是救不了人的,隻有靠從天而降的耶穌的獻祭才能得救。
路10:29 那人要顯明自己有理、就對耶穌說、誰是我的鄰舍呢。
But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
路10:30 耶穌回答說、有一個人從耶路撒冷下耶利哥去、落在強盜手中、他們剝去他的衣裳、把他打個半死、就丟下他走了。
Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
路10:31 偶然有一個祭司、從這條路下來.看見他就從那邊過去了。
By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
路10:32 又有一個利未人、來到這地方、看見他、也照樣從那邊過去了。
In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
路10:33 惟有一個撒瑪利亞人、行路來到那裏.看見他就動了慈心、
But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
路10:34 上前用油和酒倒在他的傷處、包裹好了、扶他騎上自己的牲口、帶到店裏去照應他。
came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
路10:35 第二天拿出二錢銀子來、交給店主說、你且照應他.此外所費用的、我回來必還你。
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'
路10:36 你想這三個人、那一個是落在強盜手中的鄰舍呢。
Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"
路10:37 他說、是憐憫他的。耶穌說、你去照樣行吧。
He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."