THE GOOD SAMARITAN SERIES Jesus taught in the Good Samaritan parable that everyone is our neighbor. He also said that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. In the parable, we see that the Samaritan compassion, generosity, and kindness, and mercy to the Jewish man. He went out of his way to care for Him when the man was left for dead beside the road. Whoever has a need; that is our neighbor! How important is it to love our neighbor? The Pharisees were trying once again to trap Jesus by asking questions of Him. An expert in religious law asked Jesus what the most important commandments was. " Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) According to Jesus'answer-loving, our neighbor is very important! You have probably heard of the Golden Rule. Jesus said it in Matthew 7:12. "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12). How would you like to be treated? Treat others that way. Would you like mercy? Show mercy to others. Would you like to be forgiven? Forgive others. This is how we love our neighbor as ourselves!