Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
All Commentaries on Luke 10:36 Go To Luke 10
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
God our Lord wished to be called our neighbor. The Lord Jesus Christ meant that he was the one who gave help to the man lying halfdead on the road, beaten and left by the robbers. The prophet said in prayer, “As a neighbor and as one’s own brother, so did I please.” Since the divine nature is far superior and above our human nature, the command by which we are to love God is distinct from our love of our neighbor. He shows mercy to us because of his own goodness, while we show mercy to one another because of God’s goodness. He has compassion on us so that we may enjoy him completely, while we have compassion on another that we may completely enjoy him.
