Once upon a time three men came down the road...

Imagine listening to Jesus as he tells the parable.  

A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho is beaten, stripped naked, and left half dead by rebels. A priest coming down the same road sees him but passes by on the other side of the road.  Likewise, a Levite coming down the same road sees him but, like the priest, passes by on the other side.

Then a third man arrives on the scene.

You, the listener, expect him to be like you. An ordinary Israelite. From childhood you have known the Shema. Nothing is more important than love for God and neighbor. And loving neighbor is the best way to love God.

The priest knew this but he failed the most important test. So did the Levite. Surely, the third man representing the third group of people, the ordinary Israelite, that made up the Chosen People will not fail. A fellow Israelite was close to death. Surely the third man would stop and help.

The third man did stop and help and did what was required of each and every Israelite.

But he was not an Israelite. He was not a neighbor. He was not part of the Chosen People.

He was the Enemy.