The many different ways in which Jesus responds to people make a very interesting study and spiritually repays much reflection as it helps us to understand better how God deals with us in different situations and enables us to grow in awareness of His presence in our lives and so open our hearts to God's liberating truth and creative love. As in today's Gospel passage, Jesus not infrequently answers a question by asking another question. This is not any kind of condescending pettiness but a rather effective pedagogical method: rather than receive a ready-made answer from a master, it is more profitable in general that we be formed to reflect on our own experience.

The man in today's story was obviously taken aback at Jesus' question followed by praise and finally his somewhat abrupt summing up "Do this and you shall live." So he wished to justify himself and tried to continue the discussion. At this point, Jesus assumed his role as a teacher and answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The phrase "Good Samaritan" has entered into all our language and societies in some way - an indication that Jesus spoke deeply to human experience.