LUKE 10:25-27 – CHANGE: JESUS BRINGS KINDNESS
Most of us know the story of the good Samaritan.
Vs. 25 – A lawyer or scribe stood up to ask a question. He was an expert in the Mosaic law and Rabbinical traditions. He was testing Jesus, either because he sensed his own spiritual need, or because he wanted to entangle Jesus in his own words.
The question was works oriented, “What must I do?”
Vs. 26 – Jesus’ answer took the lawyer back to the law. “What does it say?”
Vs. 27 – His answer was quoting familiar passages and ones Jesus quoted elsewhere. The first part, from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 was called the Shema. It was to be quoted twice daily. The second part of the quote comes from Leviticus 19:18.
Vs. 28 – He’s saying, “Good answer! Do this and you’ll have eternal life!” How could Jesus say this? If anyone ever did this perfectly, he or she would be qualified to go to Heaven. Nobody other than Jesus has ever done this (Romans 3:23). Why would Jesus say this? The purpose of the law is to convict of sin. The man should have realized that he needed help! If anyone says or thinks, “I am keeping the Ten Commandments or The Sermon on the Mount to earn Heaven.” He is sadly mistaken.
Vs. 29 – I believe the lawyer was squirming a little. He asks the question to “justify himself”.
Vss. 30-35 – Review story verse by verse.
Vs. 36-37 – Jesus asks which one was the neighbor? The scribe gave the correct answer. Basically, Jesus says, “You’re right! Go and do likewise!”
So, what does all this mean? Nobody has fulfilled the law perfectly! We need help! That’s where Jesus comes in. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Ephesians 2:8-9
If you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, you must!
That’s the meaning. How do we as Christians apply this to our lives?
As Christians who have been changed by Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17), we must live out these verses, because we love Him. We are to manifest or show the “fruit” of the Spirit. Part of that fruit is kindness. Galatians 5:22-23
Let’s review the story again and see how the Samaritan showed kindness, how Jesus showed kindness, and we how can practice kindness. I see four challenges:
BE ALERT – Luke 10:30-33
BE COMPASSIONATE – Luke 10:33
BE ENGAGED – Luke 10:34
BE INVESTED – Luke 10:35
BE ALERT – Luke 10:30-33
- Although the priest and Levite saw the need they were not alert as to the seriousness of the need. The Samaritan was!
- Jesus was always alert to people’s needs. That’s one of the reasons why He was ready to help. He was alert to our greatest need for a Savior. That’s why He came. Philippians 2:5-8
- As Christ-followers. We need to be alert to the physical and Spiritual needs of others, ready for the Holy Spirit to put us into action. We need to be most alert to is the need for salvation and discipleship. 1 Peter 3:15, Matthew 28:19-20
BE COMPASSIONATE – Luke 10:33
- It was not enough for the Good Samaritan to be alert, he had to care. He needed compassion that would motivate him to act.
- We are told often that Jesus had compassion on the sick, the hungry, His followers, and on the lost. John 12:47, Matthew 9:36-38
- As Christ-followers we should have compassion on the sick, the hungry, fellow believers and the lost. Unless we have compassion, we will not be motivated to help! John 3:16-18
BE ENGAGED – Luke 10:34
- The Samaritan was engaged, doing what He could do to help.
- Jesus was engaged role modeling, teaching, performing miracles, and going to the cross for our sins.
- We must be engaged in good works, helping the unsaved and the saved as much as we can. We can’t do everything, but surely, we can do something. Ephesians 2:10
- We must be engaged in making and training disciples. If we refrain from sharing the Gospel, we will not be kind.
- We must be engaged in Prayer for the Saints and the lost. Ephesians 6:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-8
BE INVESTED – Luke 10:35
- The Samaritan financially invested in follow up.
- Jesus invests in his followers, abiding in and interceding for them.
- We invest in unsaved people when we follow up on their needs and do what we can for them.
- We invest in other Christians when we do what we can to help them Spiritually.
- The best investment we can make is in prayer. Colossians 4:2
BE ALERT – Luke 10:30-33
BE COMPASSIONATE – Luke 10:33
BE ENGAGED – Luke 10:34
BE INVESTED – Luke 10:35
To hear this message preached by Pastor Jack, visit:
First Baptist Church New Holland – Sermons (fbcnhremembers.com)
