Loving Your Neighbor
(Luke 10: 30-37)
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Introduction:
In Luke 10, a lawyer who was one learned in the law of Moses, came to Jesus asking what he must do to receive eternal life. In return Jesus ask him, “what is written in the law? how readest thou?” (Luke 10: 27) And he answering said,” Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Luke 10 26-:27) “Do this (perfectly-forever) and you shall live,” (Luke 10:28b) Jesus said. But the lawyer desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus,” and who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) Jesus responds with the parable of the “Good Samaritan.”. In this text, Jesus makes some truth’s clear about this business of loving our neighbor as our self.
1. It’s an all-inclusive business.
The people of Samaria were a biracial mix of Israelites and foreigners, so the Jewish people did not accept them as part of the Jewish community This Samaritan was a neighbor to one who was really his enemy. The command is inclusive not exclusive.
It includes the down and out and the up and in. It includes people who have different lifestyles, different religions, and different color. It includes the lovely and unlovely. The truth is his neighbor - and our neighbor – isn’t limited to those who live nearby. Our neighbor is every other human being.
2. It’s a risky business
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho dropped roughly 3,500 feet over about 10 miles. It was a very dangerous road filled with robbers and thieves. This could have been a plot to get the Samaritan off his donkey to rob or even kill him.
Not only was it risky physically it was risky emotionally. There is nowhere in the Bible that tells us that the man ever returned to thank the Samaritan. An old friend told me that “people you help the most will be the first to disappoint you.” Don’t expect to be thanked and appreciated by those to whom you help.
3. It’s an expenses business.
It cost the Samaritan his oil, and wine, the wine to possibly to ease the man’s pain, and olive oil prevent infection. It cost the Samaritan the use of his beast putting him on his beast, meant he would need to walk. He used his own money, two denarii, which would be two days labor to put the man in lodging.
It cost the Samaritan his time. Perhaps, it may have meant he would miss an important appointment. In the rush most of us live in, our time is the most expensive thing for us to give but often our time is what people need the most.
In the Samaritan we see an attentive look, a compassionate heart, a helpful hand, a willing foot, and a open purse.
Conclusion.
With this story Jesus is teaching us to say: “The world is my neighborhood”. Theoretically, that road from Jerusalem to Jericho is a huge one and it’s filled to overflowing with human suffering. Can you see the spouse, the child, the friend, the relative, the coworker, the homeless man or woman, the Arab, the black person, the Mexican, the Puerto Rican, the stranger in pain? Folks let’s look extra hard to find a neighbor to love as ourselves this week. We may be able to love them to Jesus. We need in times like ours, to be a loving neighbor. Is the opportunity to do good being hindered by the need to serve ourselves? Should we be self-absorbed or should we take the risk in-order to help our fellow man? This text gives us some insight into that question.
(Some phrases and sentences were taken from sermons on Sermon Central.com and The Lawyer Who Wanted a Loophole: by Ray Pritchard)
