9.8.24 Sermon @ Lancaster CC - Loving Like Jesus…A Good Samaritan
Learning to love like Jesus in a world increasingly full of unlovable people…those who are different from us, those who treat us poorly, those who disagree with us.
Sermon Outline
Intro/Review:
Transition to Message:
Fallen Condition Focus (FCF):
Dominant Thought (DT):
Passage Focus & Teaching:
Closing/Call to Action:
Sermon Planning & Notes
DT Restatement:
Complements:
The first two people to pass his way were both clergymen. The primary job of priests was to officiate at the temple sacrifices. Levites, on the other hand, helped maintain the temple and its services. Both were obligated to remain ceremonially clean while on duty, about four weeks out of the year. The man appears to be dead. And touching a dead body would disqualify them from their sacred duties. Is that why they passed him by? It is, of course, questionable whether ceremonial defilement was a proper excuse for passing by a person in need. This is especially true in light of Jesus’ teachings on Sabbath observance (Mt 12:7; Mk 3:4–5). But even this excuse is not applicable to these two. The priest was going down, that is, away from Jerusalem, not toward it. In addition, when going up to Jerusalem for service, priests and Levites traveled in groups, not alone as these two. The bottom line: These guys have no excuse but selfish fear for passing him by.
He bound up his wounds, perhaps making bandages with his own clothes. He poured his own wine on his wounds as a disinfectant. He poured his own oil on his wounds to soothe the pain. He then put the man on his own donkey. He spent his own money for the man’s lodging and food. It was not that he liked the man, but that the man had a need. He loved in deed.
The phrase “was a neighbor” could be translated more literally “became a neighbor.” “Neighborness” is not a characteristic inherent in an individual or a location. It is a way of behaving toward any person with whom we come in contact.
Jesus’ final words are pragmatic and persistent. Persistent because he has already urged the lawyer to do what he knows is right (v. 28). As if driving the point home, he repeats it again here. His words are pragmatic, because he reminds the lawyer (and the reader) that correct theology is insufficient for inheriting eternal life. If we don’t do what we know is right, then all our correct answers to Bible questions won’t get us one step closer to the Kingdom of God.
Three Philosophies for Relating to Others
The parable of the Good Samaritan gives three philosophies of life. The robber’s philosophy was “What you have is mine, and I will take it.” The priest and Levite had the philosophy that “What is mine is mine, and I will keep it.” The Samaritan’s philosophy was “What is mine is yours, and I will share it.” Jesus endorsed the Samaritan’s philosophy and said, “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37).
Illustrations:
Ending the Battle between Neighbors
Matthew 5:9, 23–25, 44; Romans 12:18–21; Hebrews 12:14
Preaching Themes: Conflict, Neighbors, Peace, Reconciliation
William Ladd had a farm in one of the states of America, and his neighbor, Pulsifer, was a great trouble to him, for he kept a breed of gaunt, long-legged sheep, as active as spaniels, that would spring over almost any sort of fence. These sheep were very fond of a fine field of grain belonging to Mr. Ladd, and were in it continually. Complaints were of no use, for Pulsifer evidently cared nothing for his neighbor’s losses.
One morning Ladd said to his men, “Set the dogs on those sheep, and if that won’t keep them out, shoot them.” After he had said that, he thought to himself, “This will not do. I had better try the peace principle.” So he sent to his men and countermanded the order, and rode over to see his neighbor about those troublesome sheep. “Good morning,” said he, but he received no answer. So he tried again, and got nothing but a sort of grunt. “Neighbor,” he said, “I have come to see you about those sheep.”
“Yes,” Pulsifer replied, “I know. You are a pretty neighbor to tell your men to kill my sheep! You a rich man, too, and going to shoot a poor man’s sheep!” Then followed some very strong language.
But Ladd replied, “I was wrong, neighbor, and I am sorry for it. Think no more about it. But, neighbor, we may as well agree. It seems I have got to keep your sheep, and it won’t do to let them eat all that grain, so I came over to say that I will take them into my homestead pasture and I will keep them all the season; and if any one is missing you shall have the pick of mine.”
Pulsifer looked confounded, and then stammered out, “Now, Squire, are you in earnest?” When he found that Ladd really meant to stand to the offer, Pulsifer stood still a moment and then said, “The sheep won’t trouble you anymore. When you talk about shooting I can shoot as well as you; but when you speak in that kind and neighborly way I can be kind too.” The sheep never trespassed into Ladd’s lot any more.
That is the way to kill a bad spirit. This is overcoming evil with good. If one had begun shooting, and the other had followed suit, they certainly would have been both losers, and both been overcome. But when the offended one made kindness his only return the battle was over.
