“The Good Samaritan”
Luke 10:25-37
INTRODUCTION: Can you name some FAMOUS NEIGHBORS?
o Mr. Rogers Neighborhood … sweater, sneakers … “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood … won’t you be my neighbor?”
o Dennis the Menace … “Helloooo Mr. Wilson!”
o Ricky & Lucy Ricardo … Fred & Ethel Mertz.
o Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor … Wilson.
Have you ever had trouble with a neighbor?
The story this morning is about NEIGHBORS … AND … it has all the elements of a MOVIE. It has: violence … crime … racial discrimination … hatred … neglect … unconcern … love … mercy. Who says the Bible isn’t relevant to the modern world?
LUKE 10:30-37 – all turn.
I’m not really sure this is even a PARABLE … see 10:30 – “went”
There is a REASON for every story that Jesus told. See the REASON in 10:25. The Jews thought that they could INHERIT eternal life … by being a Jew … “God’s chosen people” … PHYSICAL inheritance. That’s like saying you’re a Christian because you are born in America … and born into a Christian home.
Jesus wants to show them that being saved is a SPIRITUAL inheritance. “inheritance” = ‘what somebody does for you by dying, and because they love you’. As an act of love, Jesus died for you, and gave you an eternal inheritance.
STORY – A rich lady had her $100,000 Rolls Royce up for sale. She was asking $100 for it. A prospective buyer asked her why it was so cheap. She explained: It was in her late husband’s will that the car be sold, and the money given to his beautiful secretary.
10:26-28 – Since Jesus is talking to a LAWYER, Jesus asked him what the LAW said about the GREAT COMMANDMENT. This is the SHEMA … the Jewish Confession of Faith … they read it twice a day (Numbers, Deuteronomy).
STORY – A Surgeon, Engineer and a Lawyer were asked which of their professions were the oldest. The Surgeon said it was his … because in Genesis Chapter 2 God took a rib from Adam to create Eve. The Engineer said it was his … because in Genesis Chapter 1 God made the world out of chaos. The Lawyer replied: “Who do you think caused the chaos?”
10:29 – The lawyer had no problem with God … he had studied God in the Old Testament. He thought he knew all about God … in his head. BUT … he hadn’t APPLIED this knowledge. He had trouble with the idea of “neighbor” – 10:27b. He answers in 10:29 rather flippantly.
He was trying to separate his relationship with God, from his relationship with his fellow man. He was so heavenly minded that he was of no earthly good. The IMPORTANT QUESTION is NOT “who is my neighbor” – 10:29b. He wanted to know who he HAD to love … AND … who he DIDN’T HAVE to love! The IMPORTANT QUESTION is: “To whom can I be a neighbor?” This is what Jesus is focusing on.
The lawyer failed to see this … maybe we do too! He tried to “justify” (10:29) not loving certain people. Maybe we do this too!
There are several characters I want us to look at this morning. When we do, we will see just who our neighbor is – 10:29b. What is a “neighbor”? The person next door … a close friend … other believers … people in Chiefland, Gainesville, Atlanta?
Someone (I don’t remember who) gave a good DEFINITION of a “neighbor” – “Anyone whose need you see, whose need you are in a position to meet.” ALL REPEAT.
I. THE MISERABLE MAN – 10:30
This man is in need of a “neighbor”. Let’s see OURSELVES in this parable. We have either been in this position, know someone who is, or will be in this position. There are WOUNDED people all around us. Perhaps there are some her this morning … wounded … miserable. They feel like life has thrown them on their back … and is kicking them while they are down.
There are people who are WOUNDED:
o In BODY … their health has turned to sickness.
o In SELF-RESPECT – they are defeated or humiliated.
o In AFFECTIONS – they are lonely, experiencing grief, or animosity.
o SPIRITUALLY – they have lost the joy of their salvation, or have fallen into sin.
o ECONOMICALLY – their world is falling apart financially.
BEFORE we can ever BE a neighbor to someone, we need to see WHO IS IN NEED OF a neighbor. DEFINITION of “neighbor” again … ALL REPEAT. There are many around every day, to whom you can be a “neighbor” … anyone in need … whose need you can meet.
II. THE TERRIBLE THIEVES – 10:30
These thieves were aggressive and violent. They are like the Devil, a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
“stripped him” – I’ve seen people “stripped” of their pride, self-respect, decency, morality … RESCUE MISSION MINISTRY. This “miserable man” is one who has been stripped of righteousness because of sin … AND … is in need of a Savior.
“wounded him” – This is why, as a CHRISTIAN, we need the SPIRITUAL ARMOR of Christ to protect us from the fiery darts of Satan. Ephes. 6:11 – “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The UNBELIEVER has been MORTALLY WOUNDED … “the wages of sin is death”. BUT, Jesus became the wounded man for us. Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
“departed from him” – maybe to attack someone else. BUT … Jesus said (Hebrews 13:5) – “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
“leaving him half dead” – all he could do is wait and pray. Wait for a man with a loving and willing heart to help him. He is helpless and hopeless within himself to do anything.
It’s EASY to point our finger at the Terrible Thieves … BUT … we need to look a little deeper … within ourselves. MAYBE … we haven’t violently attacked anybody … at least not PHYSICALLY. We usually attack people with our TONGUE … a “tongue lashing”. WHY do we call it that? BECAUSE … we use our tongue as a WHIP.
Our tongue is a deadly weapon. It can kill your testimony … OR … the reputation of another. Your tongue can strip a person of their joy, hope and love. “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Not true! When we let the Devil have control of our tongue, it becomes a deadly weapon, leaving people half-dead … unable to continue on their journey.
You’d think that because one end was attached to our body, we could control it. WHY don’t we? BECAUSE … we give the other end to the Devil … for him to wag!
SOMETIMES, we wound others PASSIVELY instead of ACTIVELY … by NEGLECT, the failure to speak. We REFUSE to listen … to witness … to encourage … to teach. In so doing, we wound our neighbors.
III. THE PASSING PRIEST – 10:31 (The Very Right Reverend Dr. Jonathan Smith)
He was a RELIGIOUS person, coming from Jericho (10:30). Jericho was a city of about 12,000 Priests, and they often traveled the 15 miles to Jerusalem over this rocky, mountainous, desolate area. He was probably on his way home from the temple service in Jerusalem.
Let’s see if we can identify with him. AFTER ALL, 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a “royal priesthood”. I’m sure this priest had many REASONS (excuses) for not stopping … RELIGIOUS reasons.
1.- “I’ve been in the Temple all day … I’ve already done my part.” He was on his way home … off-duty … on his own time. He could turn his religion “on and off”. Isn’t that what we do sometimes? Do you confine your “religion” to an hour on Sunday … and then consider yourself “off-duty” the rest of the week?
2.- “I’m in a hurry to get home.” Aren’t we ALWAYS in a hurry … in a hurry to get nowhere? Aren’t you glad GOD wasn’t so busy running the universe … that He couldn’t stop to save you? SOMETIMES … we are so busy with the IMPORTANT … that we neglect to do the NECESSARY.
3.- “Let somebody else do it. Other people are more qualified to help.” James 4:17 – “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” How many times do we PASS BY someone on the road to Jericho … or the road in front of our house … or on the road of life … without helping our neighbor. Why do you think God put this need in front of you … to pass it by? BUT … Who is your neighbor? ALL REPEAT THE DEFINITION.
IV. THE LOOKING LEVITE – 10:32
There’s a difference between a Priest and a Levite. The Priest was in the upper class. Not all Levites were Priests. BUT … the Priests were Levites belonging to the family tree of Aaron. That’s like the difference between “The Very Right Reverend Dr. Jonathan Smith” (Priest) and “Preacher John” (Levite).
Preacher John (Levite) gave a closer inspection (“looked”) … WHEREAS … the Priest didn’t even get close (“saw”). The Levite is curious … he wanted to know what was wrong. He was very WILLING. Sam Miller: “Preacher, we’ve got a lot of willing people in this church … willing to let somebody else do it!”. He was “willing” … BUT … he wasn’t WILLING to help. It’s easier to do nothing.
STORY – (a man who was willing to help). A speaker at a banquet was upset because he had accidentally forgotten his false teeth. The man sitting next to him said: “I just happen to have an extra pair, try these.” He tried them but they didn’t fit. “Well, try these”, he said as he took another pair out of his pocket. After trying several pairs, he finally found a pair that fit. The speaker said: “See how the Lord worked it all out … He sat me next o a dentist.” The man replied, “I’m not a dentist, I’m an undertaker!”
It’s EASIER to do NOTHING.
o If you want to change a garden into a wilderness … DO NOTHING … and the weeds will take over.
o If you want your children to grow into druggies, criminals & prostitutes … DO NOTHING … about training them up in the things of God … discipline … spending time with them.
o If you want to change your joy into misery … DO NOTHING … about prayer, Church, worship.
o If you want to kill your marriage … DO NOTHING … and take him/her for granted.
NOTHINGNESS is DEADLY … you can lose your testimony, life, joy, family, marriage.
The Passing Priest and the Looking Levite didn’t fail because they weren’t RELIGIOUS … they failed IN SPITE OF their religion. The had RELIGION … BUT … they didn’t have a RELATIONSHIP with the God of their faith.
V. SYMPATHETIC SAMARITAN – 10:33
“But” … NOW, we strike a happier note.
“Samaritan” - This man wasn’t his PHYSICAL neighbor. The Jews & the Samaritans hated each other. Generations earlier, when the Jews were in Babylonian captivity, the Samaritans had taken over the land … and mixed their religion with the Jewish religion.
o This would be like a Cuban refugee finding Castro beside the road.
o Like an Indian finding a cowboy beside the road.’
Like Rush Limbaugh finding Bill Clinton beside the road.
Like a Florida Gator finding an FSU Seminole beside the road.
BUT … here is a NEIGHBOR – Definition … ALL REPEAT.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A NEIGHBOR?
1.- COMPASSION – 10:33 – More than just pity … an inner stirring … a deeply motivated, unnatural love.
2.- CONTACT – 10:34 – He had more legitimate excuses than the Passing Priest or the Looking Levite. BUT … LOVE DOESN’T LOOK AT OBSTACLES … IT LOOKS AT OPPORTUNITIES.
3.- CARE – 10:34 – He did something. The Lawyer was willing to TALK about who his neighbor was (10:36-37a). One of the best ways to get nothing done … is to just TALK about doing it. Actions speak louder than words … SO … Jesus said: “Go and do” – 10:37b.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF CHRIST:
1.- He came where he was – 10:33 – We were in sin.
2.- He had compassion – 10:33 – We were utterly hopeless in our sin.
3.- He bound up his wounds – 10:34 – “oil” is the Holy Spirit … “wine” is the cup/blood.
4.- He set him on his own beast – 10:34 – Jesus put the burden of sin on Himself.
5.- He brought him to an inn – 10:34 – Where we find shelter & security.
6.- He took care of him – 10:34 – Jesus is always there for you.
4.- COST – 10:35 – It takes time and money to be a neighbor … “two pence” = 2 days wages, $200.
Are you willing to be inconvenienced … willing to sacrifice? “A ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.”
VI. THE HELPING HOST – 10:35
This is a picture of the CHURCH. The Samaritan had to TRUST the Helping Host … he paid him in advance. Jesus made His sacrifice for you 2000 years ago. Your salvation was paid for IN ADVANCE of your being saved. I accepted that payment on June 23, 1961. NOW … Jesus has to trust me … to live true to the price that was paid.
What a slap in the face of Jesus it is … if we abuse that salvation that He paid such a great price to redeem us! Jesus has entrusted YOU with the privilege of living worth of His sacrifice.
The Sympathetic Samaritan departed with a PROMISE – 10:35 … “I will come again.” Jesus said in John 14:1-3 – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
He also said, “I will repay.” – 10:35 … Pay-Day Someday.
LOST - Matthew 25:41 – “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
SAVED - Matthew 25:34 – “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”
CONCLUSION:
If I were to ask you, “Do you love God?” …. You would probably say “Yes!”. BUT … what if I asked you, “Do you love your neighbor?” I can ask God if you love Him, and He won’t tell me. BUT … If I ask your neighbor if you love them …
LISTEN to what God says about saying that you love Him. 1 John 4:20-21 – “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
A lack of love for your neighbor, reflects a lack of love for God. 10:36-37
Who was the “neighbor”? NOT the 2 who felt sorry for the man … BUT … the one who showed mercy. The one who saw the need … AND … was in a position to meet that need … and met it. Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” – 10:37.
STAND – PRAY
HYMN - #294 – “Let Others See Jesus In You”
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“The Good Samaritan”
Luke 10:25-37
INTRODUCTION – The REASON for the story – 10:25.
- 10:26-28 – The SHEMA – the confession of faith.
- 10:29 – He wanted to know who he HAD to love, and who he DIDN’T HAVE to love.
- “neighbor” – “Anyone whose need you see, whose need you are in a position to meet.”
I. THE MISERABLE MAN – 10:30
- The wounded are all around us … we need to see them.
II. THE TERRIBLE THIEVES – 10:30
- Jesus became the “wounded man” for us – Isaiah 53:5.
- Jesus will never leave nor forsake you – Hebrews 13:5.
- We attack others with our TONGUE … actively or passively.
III. THE PASSING PRIEST – 10:31
- He probably had many excuses for not stopping:
1.- “I’ve been in the temple all day … I’ve done my part.”
2.- “I’m in a hurry to get home.”
3.- “Let somebody else do it … who’s more qualified.”
IV. THE LOOKING LEVITE – 10:32
- It’s easier to do NOTHING, than to do SOMETHING.
- He had a RELIGION, but not a RELATIONSHIP.
V. THE SYMPATHETIC SAMARITAN – 10:33
- WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A NEIGHBOR?
1.- Compassion – 10:33 – An un-natural love.
2.- Contact – 10:34 – Love doesn’t look at obstacles, it looks at opportunities.
3.- Care – 10:34 – He did something … a picture of Christ.
He came where he was – 10:33 … when we were in sin.
He had compassion – 10:33 … we were hopeless in sin.
He bound up his wounds – 10:34 … oil and wine.
He set him on his own beast – 10:34 … our sin burden.
He brought him to the Inn – 10:34 … our refuge.
He took care of him – 10:34 – Jesus is always there.
4.- Cost – 10:35 – He was inconvenienced.
VI. THE HELPING HOST – 10:35
- The good Samaritan had to TRUST him … in advance.
- The PROMISE … “I will come again” – John 14:1-3
- “I will repay” – Matthew 25:41, 25:34
CONCLUSION: 1 John 4:20-21 – A lack of love for your “neighbor” reflects a lack of love for God – 10:36-37
- “Go and do likewise” – 10:37
