“You jerk! What kind of question is that?” That might have been my response if I had been Jesus in that moment when asked, “And who is my neighbor?” The question was obviously a set-up. This expert in the law was trying to trip him up to catch him in some sort of “gotcha” moment.

This was typical of his exchanges with the legalistic types — the Scribes and the Pharisees who were hung up on the law without regard for the Spirit behind it. They were so protective of their territory; they weren’t interested in hearing something that may threaten their status. They were the religious gurus, after all, and no one could stand before their guile, cunning, and knowledge of the law. No one, that is, until Jesus came along.

Jesus was really good at turning their questions back on them. He was aske…