Note 2 at Lk. 10:29: This was not a sincere question on the lawyer's part but rather an evasive question seeking to shun responsibility. This man was seeking to be justified in the sight of God through his actions. He knew he had not loved everyone as he loved himself so he is trying to interpret the scripture (Lev. 19:18) in a way that would conform to his actions. He wanted to define "neighbor" as just his close friends whom he had treated well. Jesus, through this parable, however, defined a neighbor as any fellow human being that crosses our path and is in need of our assistance. It is always wrong to try to interpret God's Word in a way that will match our experiences. We should instead make our experiences match God's Word.

Note 3 at Lk. 10:29: Jesus taught repentance and faith as the means of justification with God (Lk. 18:9-14; Mt. 4:17 with Jn. 6:28-29). This lawyer was seeking to be right with God on the basis of his own actions. Self-justification always produces excuses while repentance and faith towards God produces obedience.

Note 4 at Lk. 10:29: This question of "who is my neighbor" can be used by Satan to deceive us in more than one way. Not only can he deceive men into thinking they have fulfilled the command to "love thy neighbor as thyself" when they haven't, but he will also try to apply this command in a way that condemns those who are seeking to fulfill it by making them think they are not doing enough. We cannot meet the needs of every single person in the world. Jesus wasn't teaching that. This wounded man was directly in the path of these three men. The priest and the Levite had to walk around him. Jesus is simply teaching that we should take advantage of the opportunities we have. The fact that we can't help everyone is no excuse not to help anyone.