In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

Luke 10:30-35

I remember seeing Mr. Rogers for the first time when our family lived in Chattanooga. I was in second grade, so I didn’t think much about it at the time, but he clearly left an impression. Even if you never watched his show, you probably recognize his signature line from the opening song: “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

From everything I’ve read and learned about Fred Rogers, those words weren’t just a clever lyric—they were a genuine expression of how he lived. He truly cared about people. And because his care was authentic, his invitation resonated. You could sense that he meant it.

That sincerity stands in sharp contrast to the question posed to Jesus by a religious expert: “Who is my neighbor?” The man wasn’t asking out of compassion or curiosity. Luke tells us he wanted to justify himself. He was likely hoping for reassurance, maybe even affirmation. Instead, Jesus responded with a story that did the opposite.

The parable of the Good Samaritan disrupted cultural assumptions. It exposed the limits people place on love and responsibility. And it embarrassed the religious elite while inviting everyone else into a deeper, more demanding understanding of neighborliness.

According to Jesus, a good neighbor isn’t defined by proximity, similarity, or convenience. A good neighbor is willing to be interrupted. Willing to be inconvenienced. Willing to help not only a friend, but a stranger—especially one who has nothing to offer in return.

A good neighbor does more than what is expected.
A good neighbor steps into the mess.
And ultimately, a good neighbor points others—not to themselves—but to Christ.

Mr. Rogers asked the question gently: “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
Jesus answers it boldly—and then says, “Go and do likewise.”