, beginning with verse 30. According to the context, this passage came immediately after Jesus’ discussion with the scribe. It came after a follow up question from the scribe. The question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with a parable. He said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, then departed, leaving him half dead.
“Now by chance, a priest was going down that road. When he saw the injured man, he passed by on the other side.”
By the way, passing by seems to have been the logical thing to do, that being the case for at least two reasons.
First of all, maybe the man only appeared to be injured. Maybe he was a decoy who maybe had accomplices who maybe would have attacked the priest.
On the other hand, maybe the man who appeared to be injured was actually dead. Anyone who touched a dead body was considered ceremonially unclean for a time, which means if the priest touched the man and he was dead, he would not be able to do his priestly duties for a time. Those duties were important. The priest did not want to take a chance of having to step aside for a while.
The priest did not stop to help the man who was attacked. “So likewise a Levite [another kind of Jewish religious leader], when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” His reasons would have been the same as they had been for the priest.
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where the injured man was. When the Samaritan saw the man, he had compassion and went to the injured man and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. The Samaritan then set the man on his - on beast. The Samaritan took the man to an inn and took care of him.
“The next day, the Samaritan took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, instructing him to take care of the man. He added, ‘Whatever more you spend, keep track of it. I will repay you that amount when I come back.’”
Jesus asked, “Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” The scribe said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” Jesus said to him - since this is in the Bible, He says to us, too - Go and do likewise.”
Say it with me, please. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
And love your neighbor as yourself. Those are the two key commandments given by God. Commandments we are to follow. Which is evident in this verse in John 14 which quotes Jesus saying, “If you love Me [if you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength], you will keep My commandments.” Including the commandment to treat others with compassion.
The point, putting the two commandments together, is that our love for God is to be put into effect by loving others.
That makes sense, does it not? Please listen to this that I came across in my study for today’s message.
First, we who are Christians have been shown a great deal of love. Love displayed in offering us salvation. Love displayed in forgiveness of our sins, which happened when we repented of them. Love displayed in being given the strength to live above sin.
The love we have been shown - the great amount of love we have been shown by God - is to be shown by us to others. That is the love we are to have for others.
Second, since we who are Christians have been forgiven so much, we are to avoid holding grudges against others.
And hey, some people have treated me mighty poorly over the years. Actually, not very often, for which I am very thankful But sometimes. However, none of that has ever come even close to the extent of anyone torturing me or killing me, which happened to Jesus.
If God can forgive, cannot I forgive? I better. That is one very important way to show love for others, which is a way to show love to God.
Third, Jesus accepts us and looks beyond our faults. I am not speaking of you so much as of myself, but the Lord is willing to look beyond my weaknesses and still use me.
So why would I judge people and cast them out? In fact, I should not do that. I hope I do not do that, but I should not. I should, instead, love others as I want to be loved. As I am loved by God.
Fourth, everyone who has ever come to Jesus has been poor and powerless, at least spiritually, that happening before they arrived to Him. Yet Jesus accepted us who are Christians.
To show our love for others - for our neighbors - and for God - may we be willing to help those who are right now struggling spiritually.
I know that can be difficult. I know it can be so easy to lose patience with people who do not see things spiritually like we do. In fact, think about this. The implication is that the man attacked on the road to Jericho was by himself at the time, even though everyone at that time of history knew how dangerous that road was. Everyone knew you better travel in a crowd so you did not become an easy target, the point being that the man had no one to blame but himself when he got into trouble.
It is so easy to say - what did mama say? - “You made your bed, lie in it.” In other words, I was not to go crying to her if I my suffering was my own fault.
It is so easy to get frustrated with those who are struggling spiritually. Or those who have no spirituality to begin with.
But let’s not ignore such people. Let’s instead help them. For us, that may come through confrontation or correction, which are in some cases necessary. Let’s help them. May we do that as proof we love God.
* * * * *
God is I AM.
As I AM, He had the power to embolden Old Testament heroes like Elijah.
As I AM in the form of Jesus, He had the dedication to take on a ministry during which He taught people the best ways of living. A ministry that began with Jesus’ baptism.
A ministry that ended with two wonderful things. His crucifixion, which was wonderful because it was the blood sacrifice needed to take care of our sins. And His resurrection, which proved not even death could stop Him.
How good it is to know that all who accept Jesus’ sacrifice - that all who accept Him as the Savior He is - are saved.
Which can be displayed - which needs to be displayed - by obeying the two main commandments.
Say the first one with me one more time, please. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Obey that one by - say this one with me as well, please - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
For today, let’s obey I AM by obeying His two most important commandments.
Today’s closing song is the hymn Help Us, O God, to Learn.
Help us, o God, to learn
The truths Thy word imparts;
To study that Thy laws may be
Inscribed upon our hearts.
Help us, o God, to live
The faith which we proclaim,
That all our thoughts and words and deeds
May glorify Thy name.
Help us, o God, to teach
The beauty of Thy ways,
That yearning souls may fine the Christ
And sing aloud His praise.
At the beginning of this message we considered some responses to the question asked of a group of 4- to 8-year-olds. The question, “What does love mean?”
Here is one more of the answers given. “You really shouldn't say I love you unless you mean it. But if you do mean it, you should say it a lot. Otherwise, people forget.”
In the context of today’s message, may we not only say the words, “I love you.” May we show love to others. Even if the best way to show it comes quietly.
There was, a while back, a contest to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. One day, upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard. He went onto the porch where the man was. He climbed into the man’s lap. And sat there.
When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy answered, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.”
May we, in whatever ways are appropriate - in whatever ways are needed - love our neighbors as ourselves. May we do that, not only to help others, but also as a way to follow the first commandment.
Yes, one more time, please say it with me. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Amen.
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