Blog
“The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” John 4:9
A Jew, a rabbi – A Samaritan, adulterous woman. A divine encounter initiated by Jesus that broke every social, cultural, religious barrier.
If the story stopped here it would make for a good political commentary about loving your neighbor. However, it wasn’t the encounter alone but the content of the conversation that demonstrates Christs’ love.
Jesus exposes this woman’s shame and sin – 5 husbands and the man you live with is not even your husband. Yet, in her sin, Jesus offers her hope: “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (V14)
To love our neighbor challenges us to cross barriers. It serves and sacrifices for others. It helps the hurting.
But most of all, it sees beyond the physical and demands we address the spiritual. It shares truth about sin – without compromise. Not out of haughtiness, spite, or anger. Not to further alienate. But in love to see them reconciled to God.
Love thy neighbor cannot overlook sin.
Love thy neighbor also cannot cast stones at the sinner.
Love thy neighbor is a bridge that leads the sinner to the only one that can reconcile their sin.
Not tolerance. Not acceptance. Not compromise.
Love.
Copyright © 2026 by John Meriweather @ https://www.facebook.com/john.meriweather.3 No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.