Social Distancing: What Jesus Has To Say About It! Series

Introduction

With the onset of the Covid 19, I learned a new term that wasn’t in my vocabulary until this virus outbreak occurred called “Social Distancing”. I looked up the definition, and it defines Social Distancing as the practice of keeping space between yourself and others to reduce the chance of contact, and in the present situation, with those who knowingly or unknowingly are carrying the virus. Listen to that definition again. The practice of keeping space between yourself and others to reduce the chance of contact.

Social Distancing may be a new term to me, and it may be a new term to you; but mankind did not need a virus to teach us how to Social Distance. We have been practicing Social Distancing for the longest time. In fact, I want to show you today an example of Social Distancing and see what Jesus has to say about it from the Scriptures found in the Gospel of Luke 10th chapter

So, if you have your Bible turn with me to Luke 10: 25-37.

Scripture

Luke 10:25-37 (NKJV)

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"

27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "

28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, 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.

34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'

36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"

37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Background Information

Let’s begin our study, by giving you some background information. An expert of the law comes to Jesus with the right question. “What must I do to inherit eternal life? If you are saved today, you have had to asked yourself that exact question. But this expert of the law did not come to find the answer to the right question but to test Jesus; to try to trick Jesus.

I love how Jesus answers him with a question. What is written in the Law, you expert of the Law? And the man replied to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus tells the man; you have answered correctly. Go and do those things and live. But the expert of the Law was more interested in testing Jesus than living out the answer. Sometimes you ask a question, but you are really not hearing the answer because you are coming up with the next question to ask.

So, the expert of the law shots back the next question to Jesus. Who is my neighbor? And by asking that exact question, he is asking Jesus who do I have to include in my neighbor list, but it also implies who can I exclude from my neighbor list? Who can I social distance my life from? Who is it that I do not have to have contact with?

And Jesus answers that question of social distancing by telling the expert of the Law you are to be a neighbor to everyone through the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Point #1

WE ARE NEVER TO USE SOCIAL DISTANCING AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR FELLOW MAN.

30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.