The Call to Radical Love

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Luke 10:29–37 ESV

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Big Idea: Loving our neighbor means going beyond ourselves to show care and kindness, just like Jesus does for us.

Introduction

“Imagine you’re driving home and see someone stranded on the side of the road—tired, dirty, maybe even a little suspicious-looking. Do you stop, or do you keep driving?”

In Luke 10:29, a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” expecting a legalistic answer. Jesus responds with the Parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that challenges indifference and redefines love.

Today, as we explore how this parable calls us to radical love, we’ll see that the…

Big Idea is this: Loving our neighbor means going beyond ourselves to show care and kindness, just like Jesus does for us.

I. Overcome Obstacles of Indifference

Luke 10:31-32 – The priest and Levite pass by the wounded man.

A: Recognize the Temptation to Ignore

- We often avoid getting involved due to busyness, fear, or judgment.

- The priest and Levite had religious duties, yet they chose convenience over compassion.

James 2:15–16 ESV

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 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?

In 18th-century England, John Wesley rode past beggars but later felt convicted. He began preaching in fields and slums, overcoming his initial indifference to reach the overlooked.

B: Act Despite Discomfort

- Radical love requires us to push past our excuses and step into others’ pain.

- The wounded man was a stranger, yet his need trumped the priest’s and Levite’s comfort.

Proverbs 3:27 ESV

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

During the Civil Rights Movement, white pastor Clarence Jordan founded Koinonia Farm in Georgia (1942), welcoming Black and white families despite threats. He overcame indifference to live out neighborly love.

Ask yourself: What excuses keep me from helping others? How can I choose action over apathy this week?

II. Embrace Unexpected Compassion

Luke 10:33-34 – The Samaritan, an unlikely hero, stops to help.

A: Break Down Cultural Barriers

- Samaritans and Jews despised each other, yet this Samaritan showed love where it was least expected.

- Compassion doesn’t wait for familiarity or approval—it crosses divides.

Galatians 3:28 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In World War I, the Christmas Truce of 1914 saw British and German soldiers lay down arms, sing carols, and share food—enemies showing unexpected compassion.

B: See People, Not Labels

The Samaritan didn’t see “a Jew” but a hurting human being.

Radical love looks beyond stereotypes to the image of God in each person.

Matthew 25:40 ESV

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian, hid Jews during the Holocaust. After the war, she forgave a former Nazi guard who asked for her mercy—an act of unexpected compassion rooted in Christ’s love.

Who in your life is “unexpected” to you—someone different or difficult? How can you show them compassion this week?

III. Extend Relentless Mercy

Luke 10:34-35 – The Samaritan bandages wounds, takes the man to an inn, and pays for his care.

A: Give Generously of Your Resources

The Samaritan didn’t stop at first aid; he invested time, money, and effort.

Mercy isn’t a one-time act—it’s a commitment to see restoration through.

1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

St. Francis of Assisi gave up wealth in the 13th century to serve the poor, relentlessly caring for lepers and outcasts with what little he had.

B: Reflect Christ’s Limitless Love

The Samaritan’s mercy mirrors Jesus, who heals us fully and pays our debt (the innkeeper’s fee prefigures Christ’s sacrifice).

We’re called to love relentlessly because we’ve received relentless mercy.

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

In 1994, Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza forgave the man who killed her family, extending mercy despite unimaginable pain, reflecting Christ’s love.

Where can you go the extra mile for someone in need—beyond the minimum? How can your actions point them to Jesus?

Conclusion

Jesus answers “Who is my neighbor?” not with a definition but with a demonstration: Radical love overcomes indifference, embraces the unexpected, and extends relentless mercy. This week, identify one person—a stranger, an enemy, or someone overlooked—and show them Christ’s love in a tangible way.

Imagine the wounded man waking up at the inn, amazed that a Samaritan saved him. That’s the shock of grace we’re called to share.

“Lord, open our eyes to see our neighbors, soften our hearts to love them boldly, and strengthen our hands to serve them relentlessly. Amen.”