Skip to main content

Both … and: Luke 10.25–37 (Day 330)

Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.

Pray

Pray

Lord, thank you for your word. Help me to listen. Help me to trust. Help me to act.

Reflect

Daily reflection: Luke 10

Luke continues his ‘Samaritan theme’. In yesterday’s passage they were the baddies. Today we read about a Samaritan helping a Jew in need. People can behave both badly like the unwelcoming Samaritan villagers in chapter 9 and in an exemplary fashion like the Good Samaritan in chapter 10. Can anything good come from Samaria? Well, actually, there can. Don’t demonise those who are different to us, the Lord seems to be saying. Just like any human being, they can do both good and evil.

The second ‘both ... and’ is Jesus’s definition of ‘loving your neighbour’. Charity doesn’t end at home. We’re to be a ‘good neighbour’ both to our nearest and dearest and anyone who happens to need our help, regardless of their ethnicity, faith or politics.

The third ‘both ... and’ is Luke’s juxtaposition of the Good Samaritan and Jesus visiting Mary and Martha. In the parable, some people are too busy thinking about prayer and God’s Law to help a fellow human. With Mary and Martha it’s the opposite. Martha looks after Jesus’ needs and gets no thanks, whereas Mary, who just sits there listening to his teachings, is given the thumbs up. Is Luke giving us a hint that it’s not either prayer or practical love, but both ... and?

The final ‘both ... and’ I can spot concerns the man’s question which led Jesus to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan in the first place: ‘What must I do to receive eternal life?’ Jesus affirms that it’s about loving God and our neighbour. It’s not a matter of either having faith (loving God) or doing good (loving our neighbour); once again it is ‘both ... and’.

Pray

Pray

Lord, help me to do both: love you and love others, because you loved us first.


This reflection was written by Michael Pfundner, Bible Society's Publishing Support Manager

Share this:

Read the Bible icon Read the Bible
Open the full Bible