Selective Compassion

Rabbi

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Dialogue

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Questions

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“Arrested” Effect

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Selective Compassion

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On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternallife?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
- Luke 10:25-29

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Some questions indicate more than they inquire.

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“Is that what you’re going to wear?”

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“Are you going to eat all that?”

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“Are you really going to eat all that?”

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“What type of job can you get with that major?”

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“What do you see in him?”

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And who is my neighbor?
- Luke 10:29

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Non-neighbor

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Limit who falls into the category of neighbor.

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Define who qualifies for neighbor status.

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Validate the humanity of some in order to invalidate the humanity of others.

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Determine who should be loved and who shouldn’t.

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Decide where to draw the line.

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“From whom can I safely withhold my love?”

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In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his owndonkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
- Luke 10:30-37

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“And who is my neighbor?”
- Luke 10:29

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Object

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Subject

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“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
- Luke 10:36

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In the way of Jesus, love, mercy, and compassion are not limited by the object.

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Selective Compassion

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Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
- Luke 10:37b

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Lead with love.

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Model mercy.

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Choose compassion.