Good News, Good Ground | The Parable of the Good Samaritan | Scott Silcox
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.” -Luke 10:25-28
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. - Luke 10:29-32
LAWYER
Who is my neighbor?
Who deserves my love?
Who qualifies, who doesn’t?
Is this really my problem?
JESUS
Will you become a neighbor?
Who needs my help?
What can I do?
If I see it, I’m invited into it.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said that the priest and Levite asked, ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But the Samaritan asked, ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’
“I've Been To The Mountaintop”
The issue isn’t who deserves love. The issue is what kind of person we are becoming.
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. - Luke 10:29-32
The Priest and Levite saw the need but chose distance.
They weren’t evil people. They were busy religious people.
Their faith was correct but their compassion was absent.
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? - JAMES 2:15-16
The kingdom moves forward every time faith moves toward someone in need.
It begins with how we see people. . . Not as interruptions, But as opportunities for the Kingdom of God. compassion moves you toward the wounded.
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.” - Luke 10:34-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
He stopped
He treated wounds
He transported him
He paid for care
MATTHEW 25 FINAL JUDGMENT
Feed the hungry
Welcome the stranger
Clothe the naked
Visit the sick
Blessing people is not separate from evangelism. It is part of evangelism.
For many people, kindness is the first sermon they ever hear.
