An Expert and His Box

LUKE 10:25-37

Have you ever wanted to test a teacher? Or, for the teachers among us, have you ever enjoyed turning a question back around to the questioner?

In Luke 10:25-37 we read about an expert in the Law who wanted to ‘test’ Jesus. When Jesus turned the question back to him, the expert displayed his knowledge by giving the correct answer. He was able to summarise the vast requirements of the Law into two fundamental principles: to Love God with your whole self and love your neighbour.

The “expert” had a box neatly packed with knowledge and understanding. In today’s language we could say he had this box ticked.

But the expert in the Law was not satisfied with the affirmation of Jesus. The Bible says he wanted to justify himself. It’s as though he had an inner need to demonstrate his “expertise”.

The expert was able to tick the box of his knowledge, but Jesus’ story challenged him to open the box of his understanding.

I can think of many times where my understanding has been challenged. There was a time I did not live with an awareness of the challenges facing people living in extreme poverty in the global south. I was not aware of difficulties facing other people unless they were similar to my own. I had a closed-box way of thinking.

I vividly recall, while in college, taking my first trip to a ‘developing country’. That experience shifted something deep within me. Being exposed to the reality that millions around the world are trapped in systemic poverty and injustice challenged me to open the box of my thinking. Now, it is my privilege to work in Tearfund Ireland where our mission is to work alongside our partners who are helping people overcome poverty, withstand crises and transform their communities. In this globally connected world, I am learning how to view people in Africa, Middle East and Asia as my neighbour.

When responding to Jesus’ question, the expert stated two commandments of the Law and said they were equally important. The first, “Love God…” and the second, “Love your neighbour…”.

I find it interesting that the expert did not ask more about how someone could learn to love God with their whole heart. The absence of a question could imply that the expert felt he had that box ticked - that he thought he knew how to love God.

But the question he asked, “… who is my neighbour?”, was put forward as a test – rather than a genuine search for understanding.

Even though the Bible tells us the expert was trying to justify himself. Jesus didn’t chastise him. Jesus simply used the opportunity to paint a vivid picture of what love does and does not look like.

In response to the expert’s question, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus told a story we call the Good Samaritan. Jesus used this parable to challenge the expert, and anyone who’s ever heard the story, to open the box of our understanding on how we demonstrate love and treat others.

Jesus masterfully created a context for the story that everyone could relate to: a road they would be familiar with, risks they would have understood and potential for robbery they may have experienced. The people listening to Jesus would have been able to relate to that person who lay injured on the roadside after being robbed and beaten. They could identify with the fear, the pain, and anger at the injustice.

It is difficult to approach a familiar story as if for the first time. But can you remember the first time you heard the story of the Good Samaritan? Do you recall your surprise when the Priest and the Levite did not help the injured person? In his story Jesus gave no explanation why the Priest and the Levite did not stop to help the injured man. He simply stated that the two religious leaders, those who would have been expected to demonstrate compassion, did not do so. It appears their boxes were firmly shut.

I try to imagine Jesus watching the reaction of the crowd as he told this story. I also try to imagine what went through the mind of the expert at this point in the story. When did he begin feeling like his “clever trap” was beginning to back-fire?  

The people listening to Jesus did not like the Samaritan people. There was animosity between the ethnicities, and a disdain for the cultural practices and social norms between the two people groups. So, for the Samaritan to be the one to do the right thing would have challenged the closed-box thinking of the Expert …and all the other listeners.

Could this possibly challenge your thinking…? Are there perspectives on race, nationality, ethnicity, or diversity that remain closed in your box?

Tearfund Ireland is a Christian organisation. We believe all people are created in the image of God. For this reason, we treat all people with dignity and affirm their individual agency. In as much as we’re resourced, we aim to serve anyone in need. Our approach to humanitarian is aid is based on our understanding that God has commanded his followers to demonstrate his goodness, love and justice to all people.

The Samaritan had compassion on the injured man and applied first-aid before transporting him to an inn where he nursed him and arranged for rehabilitation. Not only did he risk his own safety along the roadside, but he sacrificed his time, money and schedule to help someone in need.

What makes his example even more challenging is the fact that the Samaritan could well have been someone who the injured man considered an enemy. The Samaritan had the courage to open the box of his thinking to help the injured man, even though the injured man may not have done the same for him.

As Jesus told the story, I often wonder what was happening in the mind and heart of the expert. By the time Jesus finished the parable, the expert knew the point Jesus was making. So, when Jesus asked the final question: “Who was the neighbour to the injured man?”, the expert responded, “The one who showed compassion”.

In the many retellings of this famous story the expert is often criticised for his arrogance. But it is important that we give credit to the expert at this point. Though he began the conversation with the intention to trap Jesus, in the end, he demonstrated enough humility to state the correct answer. He was able to recognise that Jesus was challenging him to open the box of his thinking …and he had the humility and courage to do so.

That’s often the way with Jesus, he is not afraid to challenge our closed-box way of thinking. But, as he demonstrated in this interaction with the expert, Jesus is gentle with those who have humility. It is through kindness that he leads people to repentance and change of heart.

The parable of the Good Samaritan provides a clear illustration of what it looks like to demonstrate love to our neighbour. But the story also challenges us to reconsider what we say we believe. Sometimes, it is easy to say we believe the principles of a story simply because the story is familiar.

As we enter a New Year, I invite you to consider including these questions in your goals or resolutions for 2025.

Am I seeking to love God with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength?

Am I growing in love for my neighbour?

How can I better demonstrate love for my global neighbour?

Let’s be careful not to put these questions into a box that we tick and never reopen.

Rather, let’s keep these boxes open and be willing to hear what questions Jesus may want to discuss with us.