29 But he, ^vdesiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man ^wwas going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a ^xpriest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise ^xa Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a ^ySamaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and ^zbound up his wounds, pouring on ^zoil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two ^adenarii¹ and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Love Your Enemies

43 ^f“You have heard that it was said, ^g‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, ⁱLove your enemies and ^jpray for those who persecute you, 45 ^kso that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and ^lsends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 ^mFor if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,¹ what more are you doing than others? Do not even ⁿthe Gentiles do the same? 48 ^oYou therefore must be ^pperfect, ^qas your heavenly Father is perfect.

Walk in Love

1 ^jTherefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And ^kwalk in love, ^las Christ loved us and ^mgave himself up for us, a ⁿfragrant ^ooffering and sacrifice to God.