Key Scriptures: Luke 10:25-37
One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked. “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” He 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.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
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Lesson one: God is compassionate and calls his people to be compassionate.
• The primary strategy that God uses in our lives to draw the world to him—is our love for others.
• Loving and serving others is not about who your neighbor is—it’s about who we are. Having the holiness of God requires that we have the heart of God.
Exodus 34:6, Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness…
Jonah 4:2, He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
Isaiah 49:15-16, Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands, your walls are ever before me.
John 13:34-35, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Luke 10:36-37, Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
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General postures of Christians towards the world
Judge the world
Avoid the world
Serve the world
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Lesson Two: Our compassion should compel us to serve.
• splagchnizomai—to be moved with compassion
• Serving others is living out the command to love your neighbor as yourself
Luke 10:33-35, But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’
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Practical takeaways for serving others
Pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the needs of people
Ask how you can serve them
Count the cost