25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Luke 10:25-37
I. Arrogant Attitude
A. He came to test Jesus and justify himself.
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:29
II. Wrong attitude of the religious.
A. You can serve in the church and not care about people
B. They had the right habits but the wrong heart.
III. Sacrifice of the Samaritan
Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man he felt compassion for him.
Luke 10:33
- We see issues instead of individuals.
- The despised Samaritan was someone you wouldn’t expect to do this. They were mistreated and judged.
“Don’t burn a bridge baby because you never know when you will have to cross back over.”
Be careful who you talk about because the one you despise may be the one that has to deliver you.
a) PHILEO VS. AGAPE.
b) “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John 13:34
1) Compassion isn’t something you wait to feel. Compassion is something you force.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”
Jeremiah 17:9
2) Simon the zealot - love Mathew the tax collector
3) Loving & laidback John - Love rambunctious and rowdy Peter
4) Christian Democrat - Love the Christian republican…
“So, as those who have been chosen by God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12
Proof that you are CHOSEN is your ability to show compassion!
“Live in harmony with one another.”
Romans 12:16a
Harmony - Combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes that have a pleasing effect
NOTES is plural. It’s not just one note!
Conductor - to unify a large group of musicians and create harmony
When you are paying attention to the conductor, we can be different and still produce a pleasing sound.
How many Christians produce more noise than harmony:
1) They pay more attention to the news than the conductor.
2) They watch more news than they worship.
3) They pay more attention to culture and the crowd than they do the conductor.
When you pay attention to the conductor:
1) Hell turns into harmony.
2) Bickering transforms into blessing.
3) When submitted to God, noise becomes harmony.
“You can’t solve a problem on the level it was created” —Albert Einstein
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Disciples live on Paradoxical Principles.
1) We release to receive -> “reap what we sow”
2) We gain power by pleasing other people -> “greatest amongst you shall serve”
3) We don’t revenge by retaliation. Our revenge comes in the form of love.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Mathew 5:44
- Compassion is letting go of your life (time, talent, Money)
33 “…he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’”
Luke 10:33-35
- Compassion is looking like Christ!
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:29
Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
Luke 10:36
Don’t worry about who is your neighbor - be a neighbor!
Because when you don’t feel like being a neighbor you will use this definition to be nasty.
Be a neighbor Like Jesus.
But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them.
Psalm 103:8
God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.
I Corinthians 7:23
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8