A neighbor is "the near person" or "the near one." It has a wider meaning than that of the English word "neighbor." There were no farmhouses scattered over the agricultural areas of Palestine. The people were gathered in villages and went back and forth to the fields to work. Domestic life was touched at every point by a wide circle of neighborhood. So the meaning of "neighbor" was much broader than "the one who lives next door or across the street."
Jesus was asked the question, "Who is my neighbor?" in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus, by this parable of "The Good Samaritan," turned the question around to "Who proves he is the good neighbor by his actions?" The neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers was the man (actually considered an enemy) who had mercy on the fallen man and showed this mercy by his actions. So, who is the neighbor? It is the one who has mercy and shows it by his actions [see also Love]. "Neighbor" is not the person seen at a distance and evaluated as a good person who lives near by. "Neighbor" is the person INSIDE of one's own self who is called upon at any time to show mercy by his actions, whether to a friend, a stranger or an enemy. Jesus summed up the characteristic of "neighbor" when He said in Luke 6:27-38: "But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners' lend to ‘sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (See also Matthew 5:38-48.) Of mercy, James 2:12-13 says, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
(See also Judge / Judgment, Mercy / Merciful.)
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