Just Passing By
Lk. 10:25-37
(Ray Scott, SC.com) Can you name some famous neighbors? (Mr. Rogers)
•Dennis the Menace’s neighbor - “Helloooo Mr. Wilson!”
•Ricky & Lucy Ricardo’s neighbors - Fred & Ethel Mertz.
•Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor’s neighbor - Wilson.
•Ray & Debra Barone neighbors – his parents (Frank & Marie)
Can you name your own neighbors? Are they good neighbors or bad? Are you?
Please turn with me to Lk. 10:25-37. This is the story of the Good Samaritan.
•It’s a story of being a good neighbor.
In our Easter series, we looked at our own encounter with Christ and whether that encounter changed our lives.
•Today, we’re going to see a practical answer to that question.
•Today, we’re going to look at not just knowing our neighbors, but being a neighbor.
Prayer
25ON ONE OCCASION AN EXPERT IN THE LAW (lawyer) STOOD UP TO TEST JESUS. “TEACHER,” HE ASKED, “WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?”
Remember, this lawyer was there to test Jesus, not to ask a legitimate question.
26“WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW?” HE REPLIED. “HOW DO YOU READ IT?”
Jesus knows exactly what the lawyer is trying to do.
27HE ANSWERED: “‘LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND’; AND, ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”
It’s interesting that in Mt. 22:35-40, Jesus answered another lawyer the same way.
28“YOU HAVE ANSWERED CORRECTLY,” JESUS REPLIED. “DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”
Hold it. Is He saying we need to “do” something in order to have eternal life? Yes and no.
•Acts 16:31 says to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
•Eph. 2:8-9 says it is by grace thru faith, and not of works, that we are saved.
•But to truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means that we also love Him with all our being. It means we put our faith into action.
Jas. 2:17 says, IN THE SAME WAY, FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION, IS DEAD.
That’s exactly what Jesus’ point is here in this parable.
29BUT HE WANTED TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF, SO HE ASKED JESUS, “AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”
Remember, a lawyer’s job is to “interpret” the law in such a way as to benefit his client.
•In this case, the client is himself. And he was looking for a loophole.
Jesus, in response, tells him a parable that hits him square between the eyes.
•And it hits us the same way.
In this parable, I want to look at 5 different characters.
•As we look at them, think of which one best relates to you.
30IN REPLY JESUS SAID: “A MAN WAS GOING DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, WHEN HE FELL INTO THE HANDS OF ROBBERS. THEY STRIPPED HIM OF HIS CLOTHES, BEAT HIM AND WENT AWAY, LEAVING HIM HALF DEAD.
Even though this was a parable, it was a very believable and relatable story.
(BKC) “The road from Jerusalem to Jericho descends about 3,000 feet in about 17 miles.”
•It was very dangerous as robbers could easily hide along its steep, winding way.
•Apparently, this man, probably a Jew, became their next victim.
And then we come to our first character.
I. THE CALLOUS COUNTERFEIT
31A PRIEST HAPPENED TO BE GOING DOWN THE SAME ROAD, AND WHEN HE SAW THE MAN, HE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
A priest was the epitome of religion in Judea. He served at God’s altar.
He, of all people, should care for those in need, especially if it’s a Jew.
•But maybe stopping to help would cause him to become “unclean”.
•Maybe the robbers might come back and get him, too.
Whatever his excuse, this priest deliberately avoids him and walks by on the other side.
This counterfeit priest was holy on the outside, but corrupt on the inside.
He could care less about someone else in need. He was a callous counterfeit.
I wonder if we’ve ever been guilty of the same crime.
How many times have we heard/seen the plight of others and made up excuses why we couldn’t help?
•Maybe it was someone in need of food, money, shelter, comfort, encouragement.
•Maybe it was missionaries needing support.
•But we were too busy, too self-conscious, too tight with our own blessings.
Recent surveys have found that unbelievers in America actually give more to the needy than professing believers do!
•And yet, we’re the “priests”, the religious people, the first ones who should help.
How many times have we acted just like that callous counterfeit?
But Jesus doesn’t stop there.
II. THE CURIOUS CROWD
32SO TOO, A LEVITE, WHEN HE CAME TO THE PLACE AND SAW HIM, PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
Notice this Levite actually came up to the man and looked him over before moving on.
Illus. A term we medics would often use at the scene of an accident was “rubbernecker”.
•They would drive by, straining to see the action without any intention of helping out.
•Just curious, but without any compulsion or compassion.
Levites were also special people among the Jews, chosen to assist the priests.
It might be understandable (although not excusable) for a “holy, clean” priest to avoid the mess, but why would a Levite, a “special Jew” come just to look and walk away?
This curious Levite just wanted to see the action, but didn’t want to help.
He was curious, but not committed.
Again, I wonder if we’ve ever been guilty of the same crime.
How many times have we just been curious but without compassion?
•Maybe it was watching the social outcast walk down the street.
•Maybe it was the secret stare toward someone coming into our service.
Either way, we’re just as guilty as the curious crowd.
Before we get to the main character in this parable, I want to skip ahead to the next one.
III. THE COMPENSATED CAPITALIST
35THE NEXT DAY HE TOOK OUT TWO SILVER COINS AND GAVE THEM TO THE INNKEEPER. ‘LOOK AFTER HIM,’ HE SAID, ‘AND WHEN I RETURN, I WILL REIMBURSE YOU FOR ANY EXTRA EXPENSE YOU MAY HAVE.’
Now, there’s nothing wrong with being paid for a service. After all, it was his livelihood.
He was asked to go beyond his normal duties and care for this wounded man.
•In return, he would be reimbursed for his trouble.
This compensated innkeeper was willing to help if it helped him in return.
How many times do we help out only when there’s something in it for us?
•“I’ll help this person if I’m reimbursed for my trouble.”
•“I’ll teach Sunday School because my kids are in the class.”
•“I’ll watch your kids this week if you watch mine next week.”
•“I’ll help serve tables because there’s a free meal in it for me.”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with getting reimbursed for our trouble.
•But does it show true compassion when we only help out if we’re helped in return?
Mt. 6:3-4 BUT WHEN YOU GIVE TO THE NEEDY, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING, 4SO THAT YOUR GIVING MAY BE IN SECRET. THEN YOUR FATHER, WHO SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET, WILL REWARD YOU.
If we only serve/help out for our benefit, then we’re just like the compensated capitalist.
•There’s no eternal reward in that.
But now we come to the central, yet unexpected character.
IV. THE COMPASSIONATE COMRADE
33BUT A SAMARITAN, AS HE TRAVELED, CAME WHERE THE MAN WAS; AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE TOOK PITY ON HIM. 34HE WENT TO HIM AND BANDAGED HIS WOUNDS, POURING ON OIL AND WINE. THEN HE PUT THE MAN ON HIS OWN DONKEY, TOOK HIM TO AN INN AND TOOK CARE OF HIM.
The Samaritans were considered “half-breeds” who had intermarried with foreigners.
•As such, the Jews hated them. The feeling was mutual.
•It was kind of like the Sunni Arabs and the Shiites in Iraq.
In fact, the term “Good Samaritan” was considered an oxymoron by the Jews.
And yet, here is a Jew in need and no other Jew is willing to help.
•But a Samaritan, an “outcast,” stops and helps. And then he goes the extra mile.
Not only did he help this wounded Jew, he made arrangements, even at his own expense, to see the man was restored, and then followed up on his care.
This compassionate Samaritan was willing to help no matter the cost.
The irony and lesson here are unmistakable.
•The lawyer must have been sweating in his cloak about now.
36“WHICH OF THESE THREE DO YOU THINK WAS A NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN WHO FELL INTO THE HANDS OF ROBBERS?” 37THE EXPERT IN THE LAW REPLIED, “THE ONE WHO HAD MERCY ON HIM.”
•He couldn’t even say the word “Samaritan”, but he was forced to get Jesus’ point.
JESUS TOLD HIM, “GO AND DO LIKEWISE.”
How many of us can honestly say we resemble the compassionate comrade?
•How many times have we recognized needs around us and stepped up to help meet those needs in Jesus’ name, without any desire for recognition or reimbursement?
•How many times have we gone that extra mile just because we cared?
•How many times have we reached out to the social outcasts/down and out/the lost?
There’s one last character we need to look at, one which we often take for granted.
V. THE CRUSHED CASTAWAY He was the victim in all this.
This man, was ambushed, robbed, and cast away, left for dead by merciless criminals.
•It was obvious that he needed help to survive, but who would come.
Imagine his hope when he saw a religious priest coming by – only to see him pass by.
Imagine his hope again when the Levite came and looked – only to see him pass by, too.
Imagine his fear when the Samaritan came by. What was he going to do to him?
Imagine his relief to see this compassionate comrade go the extra mile just for him.
Maybe you can relate to this 5th character.
•Maybe you’ve been hurt, you’ve been thrown to the wolves, you’re facing a serious trial, you’re in need and you feel that there’s no one to help – even in the Church.
•Maybe other “Christians” have passed you by for whatever reason.
•Maybe you’ve been wounded by other believers and left for dead.
•Maybe you’re here today hoping for someone to notice and show compassion.
•Maybe you’re guilty of robbing and wounding or even shooting your wounded.
•Maybe you’re guilty of callously looking the other way and just passing by.
•Maybe you’re guilty of helping out only when there’s something in it for you.
•Maybe, just maybe, you’re guilty of true compassion, loving and caring for others no matter who they are and no matter what the cost.
Who is my neighbor? A neighbor (by Jesus’ definition) is simply anyone in need.
•Loving your neighbor means showing compassion and helping them in their need.
This lawyer learned a hard lesson about what it means to inherit eternal life.
He learned that loving God means loving others, no matter who they are.
•It means if we truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, it will show in our love to others.
Jas. 2:18 SUPPOSE A BROTHER OR SISTER IS WITHOUT CLOTHES AND DAILY FOOD. 16IF ONE OF YOU SAYS TO HIM, “GO, I WISH YOU WELL; KEEP WARM AND WELL FED,” BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT HIS PHYSICAL NEEDS, WHAT GOOD IS IT? 17IN THE SAME WAY, FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION, IS DEAD.
Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats (Mt. 25:31-46) boils down to who cares for the least of these.
Jesus doesn’t care about who professes to follow Him, He cares about those who truly love Him by loving others.
You can’t show compassion without a cost.
Who is my neighbor? That’s simple. It’s anyone in need. Who am I?
•A callous counterfeit ignoring the needs around me, a curious crowd just wanting to look without getting involved, a compensated capitalist willing to help if it benefits me, a crushed castaway looking desperately for someone to care, or a compassionate comrade, willing to help, no matter the cost?
There’s a world out there that’s going to hell, and most people don’t care. Do we?
Our Vision Statement says that we are to be a caring congregation. Are we?
Are we loving our neighbor as ourselves? Or are we just passing by?
Who do you know who could use a hand or a word of encouragement?
The Bottom Line: We can’t love God if we can’t love our neighbor.
Prayer/Reflection
Hymn 669 Make Me A Servant
Love Offering - Diaz
Sermon Outline and Power Point are available by emailing the author.
