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The 70 disciples came back very happy. They said, "Lord, even demons obey us when we use the power and authority of your name!"
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Jesus said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
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I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy's power. Nothing will hurt you.
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However, don't be happy that evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven."
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In that hour the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy. Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.
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"My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows who the Son is. And no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him."
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He turned to his disciples in private and said to them, "How blessed you are to see what you've seen.
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I can guarantee that many prophets and kings wanted to see and hear what you've seen and heard, but they didn't."
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Then an expert in Moses' Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
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Jesus answered him, "What is written in Moses' Teachings? What do you read there?"
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He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.' And 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'"
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Jesus told him, "You're right! Do this, and life will be yours."
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But the man wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
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Jesus replied, "A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead.
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"By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way.
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Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way.
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"But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man,
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went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
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The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll pay you on my return trip.'
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"Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?"
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The expert said, "The one who was kind enough to help him." Jesus told him, "Go and imitate his example!"