Sometimes, we can't leave well enough alone

 Luke 10:25-37
²⁵ An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.^[a] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” ²⁷ He answered, “You shall 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.” ²⁸ And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

 ²⁹ But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

I just can’t help loving this poor guy.  I’m not talking about the victim in the parable – or the Samaritan or the priest or the Levite or the innkeeper – but rather the “expert in the law” who set this whole thing up.
 
Now, please don’t think that the admonition for merciful living eludes me.  This is a marvelous parable.  But there is a kind of big-picture issue that I think speaks volumes to all of us who study and live out Bible truths.
 
This expert in the law asks Jesus how he might inherit eternal life.  Jesus knows that there are all kinds of sectarian answers to the question.  So, if only to see if he can be on the same page as the questioner, Jesus turns the question back to the expert and asks, “Well, what do you think?”
 
The expert quotes the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:5. This is the defining scripture passage for all Israel.  It would take way too much time to outline the significance of this verse here.  Suffice to say that this is a scripture portion which all practicing Jews would recognize.  The questioner then tacks on Leviticus 19:18b, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
 
To this Jesus replies, “Good job.  You hit the nail right on the head.  Live like this and you’ve got your bases covered.”
 
Here, the expert of the law should have thanked Jesus for his time and moved along.  But, BUT, the guy just can’t leave well enough alone.  He has to say a little more.  He has to push things a little farther.  He desires to “justify himself.”  He is looking for another “ataboy.”  He seems to want more affirmation from Jesus that he has gotten things right.
 
So, he pushes his luck.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.  Fine.  But just who exactly IS my neighbor?”
 
This is where that sectarian question kicks in.  Rabbis variously have said that “neighbor” means those who dwell in close proximity to you, as in “next-door neighbor, backdoor neighbor, down-the-street neighbor.”  Others would say those who live in your town or district.  A broader meaning includes those of one’s tribe, or even all Israel.”  So, the expert says in essence, “and who are the people whom I must love in order to inherit eternal life?”
 
The answer is in the parable that Jesus tells, and I am guessing that all this didn’t make our expert vary comfortable.  He is, after all, a person whose confederates have tended to be conservative, party-line toeing¸ traditional scribes or Pharisees.  People generally see this fellow as being in an adversarial relationship to Jesus.  So, a parable that elevates a Samaritan (historic opponents of Jerusalem Judaism) to a level of admiration, and then compels the expert to make such an admission, must be a bit uncomfortable for Jesus’ questioner.
 
It seems to be a common human trait that we can’t just leave well enough alone.  We push, we lean in, and the result is often that we abandon our comfort zone.  This expert in the law could have taken Jesus’ initial response, tipped his hat, and walked away.  But in order to try to turn the conversation back on himself, he gives Jesus the opportunity to tell him that he must live like the Samaritan in the parable.  It didn’t take long for a nice, safe answer to turn into a squirming, collar-tugging admission.
 
I think Luke must have this in mind as he tells the story.  There is a rather simple truth wrapped up in a larger observation on human nature.  It is not always possible to discern the ramifications of our words – or deeds.  A thoughtful approach to all that we do yields a more faithful outcome.
 
The peace of the Lord be with you.