“Go thou and do likewise” is the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s easy to brush over, but let’s remind ourselves of the context.

Just then a religious scholar stood before Jesus in order to test his doctrines. He posed this question: “Teacher, what requirement must I fulfill if I want to live forever in heaven?” Jesus replied, “What do you read in the Law? How do you understand it?” The religious scholar answered, “It states, ‘You must love the Lord God with all your heart, all your passion, all your energy, and your every thought. And you must love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus said, “That is correct. Now go and do exactly that and you will live.” Wanting to justify himself, he questioned Jesus further, saying, “What do you mean by ‘my neighbor’?” (Luke 10.25 – 29, TPT emphasis mine)

The story of the Good Samaritan answers the question of the “religious scholar” – we might say Bible student – “Who is my neighbor?” and closes with:

So, now, tell me, which one of the three men who saw the wounded man proved to be the true neighbor?” The religious scholar responded, “The one who demonstrated kindness and mercy.” Jesus said, “You must go and do the same as he.” (Luke 10.36, 37, TPT)

It doesn’t matter that I am a “religious scholar.” What matters is that I’m loving my neighbor. Paul said the same thing:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, … but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13.1, 2, ESV)