你是個好鄰舍嗎？
路加福音十章25至29節
25有一個律法師起來試探耶穌，說：“夫子，我該做甚麼才可以承受永生？”
26耶穌對他說：“律法上寫的是甚麼？你念的是怎樣呢？”
27他回答說：“你要盡心、盡性、盡力、盡意愛主你的 神；又要愛鄰舍如同自己。”
28耶穌說：“你回答的是。你這樣行，就必得永生。”
29那人要顯明自己有理，就對耶穌說：“誰是我的鄰舍呢？”
信息分享
然而，我們卻經常忽略一個要點，就是耶穌之所以講出這個比喻，是為了回答一個律法師的提問。福音書經常記載有人前來詢問耶穌，有人數過共有多少個問題嗎？他們提出各式各樣的問題，有些是真心求問，有些卻是想試探耶穌。今天的情況也是一樣。當你與人談論耶穌基督的時候，就會同樣發現這兩類人。
這位律法師當然很熟悉舊約的律法，這是他的「專業」。然而，他只有頭腦上的知識，而非真正認識神的心意。他來到耶穌面前，開始了這個問答遊戲。
「先生，我該做甚麼才能承受永生呢？」
也許，他早已在腦海中部署了對答的方案。可是，耶穌卻沒有直接回答他的問題，反而反客為主地問他：「律法上是怎樣寫的？」
這個問題令他嚇了一跳。「你竟然拿這個問題來問我？你不知道我是這方面的專家嗎？你問我這個問題，簡直就是把我當學生。」於是，他回答了耶穌的問題，而且把律法的要求概括得很清楚（27節）。
基督回答說：「說得好！你只需把你所說的行出來便行了。」
然而，那人卻要挽回面子，因為遊戲沒有依照他的想法來進行。他可能在心中盤算：「我該如何脫身呢？對了，我可以問他『鄰舍』是代表甚麼。」於是他便問道：「先生，我們猶太人認為只有猶太人才是鄰舍。你的看法如何呢？」
耶穌的答案非常精彩，結果還引出另一個反問（36節）。我們明天繼續看下去。
ARE YOU A GOOD NEIGHBOUR?
Luke 10:25-29
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Message
Yet we often overlook the man whose questions prompted the story. Has anyone ever counted all the questions Jesus was asked? There were all kinds, both sincere and insincere. It is still the same. Speak to people about Jesus Christ and you will find this true.
This man knew the Old Testament law. That was his occupation. He knew it in his head, not in his heart. He made the first move in a game of questions and answers.
'Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'.
Perhaps he had worked out his strategy beforehand. But the man he was facing didn't make orthodox moves. He sprang surprises. 'What is written in the law?'
That surprised him, 'Are you asking me, an expert in the law, what it says? You've answered me as if I were a schoolboy.' He did however summarise the law well (v.27).
Christ said, 'Good! All you need do now is to obey what you have said'.
But the questioner had to save face. The game wasn't going the way he'd planned. 'How can I get out of this? I know, I'll ask him what does "neighbour" mean? We Jews say only a Jew can be considered our neighbour. What do you say to that Teacher?'
The answer was fantastic and led the way to the final question Christ asked (v.36). We'll look at it tomorrow.