Who Is My Neighbor

“Who Is My Neighbor?

Or

Am I a Neighbor?”

Luke 10:25-37

Introduction

One of the scribes came and heard them (Jesus and the Sadducees) arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, ’Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall LOVE THE Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ "The second is this, ’You shall LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31

Matthews account adds another statement of Jesus regarding these two commandments.

"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:40

The whole Bible may be summarized in two basic focuses in life.

1.Love God supremely!

2.Love your neighbor as much as yourself!

This is the core of what it means to be Christian. These are the characteristics of truly regenerated people having been given eternal life. Everyone is interested in eternal life.

Everyone ponders the question of life after death at some time or another. In fact it is healthy to take some time to meditate on both death and life after death.

Solomon made a perceptive observation in Eccles. 7:2, 4.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,

Because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart.

The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

How differently would we life today if we were aware of the time of our death and the truth of our life after death? Death ends all chances of impacting our life after death. The Bible clearly indicates that life on earth not only affects where we will spend eternity but how we will spend it. What would you do differently today if you knew you would die tomorrow? Not to be morbid, but regular, even daily contemplation of the reality of death and eternity is a healthy.

•How might we use our time differently?

•How might we invest our resources differently?

•How differently might we cultivate our relationship with God?

•How differently would we relate to the people around us?

•How differently would the temporal things of this world appear in light of eternity?

•How different would our attitudes toward sin and temptation be?

•How different would our desire to share the Good News of eternal life with others be?

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col. 3:1-4

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 2 Peter 3:11-14

A change in behavior on the basis of a healthy understanding of death here and life hereafter must take into account the clear teaching of Jesus regarding what is really important in life.

1.Love God supremely!

2.Love your neighbor as much as yourself!

The rest of the summer we will take a break from our study in Corinthians and spent some time in the parables of Jesus. Jesus used parables to illustrate truth. They were everyday illustrations intended to apply Biblical principles to real life.

I.The perspective

There was a lawyer in Jesus day who wanted to see how Jesus would answer this vital question of the ages.

And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" And he answered, "You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself." And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." Luke 10:25-28