The first part follows the lawyer who tested Christ by asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. He rightly summed up the Law, love God with everything and your neighbor as yourself, and Jesus said, “Do this and live.” But our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. God’s righteousness comes apart from the law, through faith in Jesus Christ, as a gift of grace, and in the new covenant God gives a new heart and writes His law on it. Eternal life is fullness of life in harmony with God, restored through Christ.
The second part takes up the lawyer’s attempt to justify himself: “Who is my neighbor?” A priest and a Levite pass by the wounded man, while a despised Samaritan binds his wounds and pays for his care. Jesus says, “Go and do the same.” We are to be merciful as our Father is merciful, because love for neighbor fulfills the law.