Brush Prairie resident Bob Mattila offers some advice from scripture
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
In the Bible, in Luke 10, Jesus tells us how to live, in “The parable of the Good Samaritan.” Samaria was a part of Northern Israel that had been conquered by other countries that replaced the Jews by outsiders who were not Jews, and were despised and rejected by the Jews in Israel.
Jesus was giving a speech when a certain lawyer stood up and asked Him what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him what was written in the law. He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’’ The lawyer then asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told him about a man going to Jericho who was robbed of his clothes, wounded, and left half dead. A priest and a Levite passed him by. Then a Samaritan, (one of the despised ones), came, had compassion on him, bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and took care of him.
When the Samaritan left the next day, he paid the innkeeper, telling him to take care of the injured man, and if it cost more, he would repay it. Jesus asked the lawyer who he thought was a neighbor to the wounded man. He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” That is what we all need to do to everyone.
Bob Mattila
Brush Prairie
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