37: How Good is Good Enough? (Luke 10:25-37)

The story is told of a woman died and God put her in charge of those entering the Pearly Gate of heaven. 

The way to get in heaven was to be able to spell one word. The word was “forgiven.” 

Shortly thereafter, she was surprised to see her husband approaching the gate. 

He told her that at her funeral he met this beautiful young woman and a week later took her out for dinner. On the way home he died in an accident. 

He then asked how he was to get in the gates. She said: All you have to do is spell one word: “Czechoslovakia.”

I’m glad getting into heaven isn’t based on spelling or pronunciation. Cause some of us fellers ain’t real good spellers.

So what DOES someone have to do to get into heaven?

I have talked with many people who are convinced they will be allowed into heaven,

because their good outweighs their bad.

Others think that a loving God won’t send them to hell, because they don’t deserve that.

Still others think they get into heaven - because of the GOOD they’ve done.

I had one of those conversations this week as I attempted to put my Feet2Faith. Everyday I prayed for 2, and looked for an opportunity to go to 1.

God graciously provided opportunities and one of those was with a young guy who seems to be convinced that his kindness toward others and his desire to provide for his family make him okay with God. He doesn’t attend a church, read the Bible or pray often.

But what if he did? Would THAT be enough to make him right with God? This is the way many people think. But if a person can make it to heaven based on their goodness, then…How Good is Good Enough?

Today we will find out, and it might just surprise you to find out the well-known story that we learn this from.

PRAY

Luke 10:25 (NIV)

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

This expert in Jewish law came to test Jesus. This shows his intentions. He wants to see if Jesus knows what He's talking about and is likely attempting to trick Jesus into saying something that would make Him fall.

But the question is a good one, one that others asked Jesus - one that we have all asked - What must I do to inherit eternal life? When I die, how can I be assured I go to heaven?

Jesus responds to his question…with a question.

Imagine having the professor hand you the test. You ask a question about the test, he takes a look, and starts answering the questions…to his own test. Watch how this plays out.

Luke 10:26-27 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 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.’”

“How do you read it?” This is interesting to me as Jesus invites the expert’s personal interpretation.

He, as Jesus had done before, boils the 613 OT laws down into 2

quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 (Love God) and Leviticus 19:18 (love your neighbor).

We say it this way at Fellowship: Love God. Love People.

After the professor answers his own test questions, Jesus responds with 2 statements.

Luke 10:28 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

You have answered correctly - This guy knew his stuff & said what was true.

Do this and you will LIVE Do this and you will LIVE?

So is THAT what it takes to have eternal life?

Love God & Love People? That’s it? That’s GOOD ENOUGH? That’s how a person can be assured he/she will inherit eternal life?

Yes.

Love God with every fiber of your being - keeping Him 1st place at all times

and love your neighbor…just like you love yourself - every time.

Do this and you will live. This short sentence is LOADED with WEIGHTY truth!

Do this and you will live.

Do this PERFECTLY…continually…and you have eternal life.

But has ANYONE ever done that? Has ANYONE ever has ever perfectly Loved God & Loved People? No…with ONE exception…the ONE who is schooling the professor.

In fact, it’s because the Jewish people broke these Laws, that they had to sacrifice animals year after year. No one, including this ‘EXPERT’ had loved God and loved people perfectly.

How Good is Good Enough? Good Enough is keeping the whole law…perfection. And if you haven’t done that…then you need God’s forgiveness.

Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church, wrote:

Salvation is a gift for the guilty not a reward for the righteous.

Salvation is NOT something you earn, it’s a GIFT.

Salvation is the GIFT that forgives your past & promises you a future.

But those who think they earn life have only earned DEATH.

But the professor seems to be deaf to the significance of what Jesus said in this short sentence. The ‘expert’ seems to think he is exempt from sin, and he continues to build a case for his own righteousness.

Luke 10:29 (NIV)

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

The meaning of Greek phrase justify himself is “to demonstrate that something is morally right—‘to show to be right, to prove to be right.’

This is an intriguing question as the Lev. 19:18 passage refers to a fellow Jew.

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Based on this passage, it would seem that my “neighbor” is the person who lives near me & lives like me. That doesn’t sound too hard, to love & show mercy to someone you like. But Jesus is about to demonstrate that that your neighbor might be one you DON’T KNOW, or maybe even one you DON’T LIKE.

To do this, Jesus tells a make-believe story with a real-life lesson, a story that will bust this guy’s self-righteous bubble & poke a stick in the eyes of Jews in the crowd.

Luke 10:30–32

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

A priest, as a descendant of Aaron, was involved in offering the sacrifices for the people of Israel. Priests were mediators, representing the people before God and representing God to the people. If anyone would respond with mercy & compassion for the person God created, this would be the guy...but instead, he moves to the other side of the road and goes about his business.

The Levite was a descendant of Levi. These guys assisted the priests in various sacrificial duties including taking care of the temple. These men took care of the Temple, God’s house! Certainly they would take care of the PEOPLE created in His image! But this man also bypasses the man in need.

These religious leaders wouldn’t help, but then Jesus introduces the most unlikely & unwelcome hero

Luke 10:33–34

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Allow me to theorize for a moment on what the ‘professor’ and the rest of the Jewish audience were likely thinking:

“A Samaritan? Really? HE’S gonna be the Hero of the Story? These religious half-breeds? Good & Samaritan should NEVER be put together in the same sentence.”

Jesus uses this Samaritan as an example that the God of Israel is the God of grace for the whole world. It’s NOT a person’s race (Jew or Samaritan) or prominent position (priest, Levite, or foreign traveler) that makes him/her right with God. Because God’s grace is NOT limited to boundaries, neither are neighbors to be limited to those live by us & like us.

Neither do our good works earn eternal life. This Samaritan wasn’t GOOD ENOUGH either. But his example is intended to show the ‘professor’ and us that…

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

The person who has received forgiveness, extends forgiveness. The person who God has provided for in times of need, extends provision to others in times of need. The one who has been LOVED by God, LOVES others for God.

Keep in mind, the Samaritan has never met the man, but he HAS met the man’s needs.

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

Jesus continues with the story…

Luke 10:35

35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Scholars mention that this would have been enough for anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. He gave of both his time and his resources…to help a man he never met.

Then Jesus asks the question that will have an obvious answer.

Luke 10:36-37 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

I bet the expert in the Law had to bite his lip as he said, the one who had mercy on him. If the ‘professor’ did that, he would have to change his current attitude. Instead of trying to justify himself, he would humble himself, realize he’s not GOOD ENOUGH, and seek God’s mercy. Then he could have mercy on others because…

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

So too, your good works will never make you GOOD ENOUGH. You NEED God’s mercy that’s found at the cross.

Just months from the moment we read about, Jesus would give His life as a ransom for us - the final sacrifice - the ONE who perfectly loved God & loved people - would give himself up for you and me.

When you experience His mercy, you will love God with every fiber of your being & you will want others to know Him as well. This will drive you to love you neighbor as you love yourself. Because…

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercyBIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

BIG TRUTH: The one who KNOWS mercy, SHOWS mercy

FEET2FAITH

Love God: Start your day in Scripture. Don’t check FB before you read THE BOOK. Give God the 1st part of your day and life all day with Him in mind.

Love People: Meet a need & share your faith.

Matthew West “Do Something”

PRAY