Who is my Neighbor?

Love Beyond Boundaries: Who Is My Neighbor?

Background: the Seventy sent forth Lk 10:1-24. Indifference noted

1. Love Beyond Law - the Lawyers’ Question

Luke 10:25–28 “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 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.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.””

Different than “what must I do to do the work of God?” (John 6:28-29)

“What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30-31)

Lawyers were experts in the Law, sorta like theologians. Everyone has a system of belief. Jesus looks beyond theology to answer his heart questions.

Perhaps he was a believer already and was asking about rewards - probably not

Maybe he was promoting his theological position. Justification and Sanctification are different.

Was he sincere or challenging Jesus?

He gave a good answer according to the Law - but can anyone obey the Law to become 100% righteous?

Jesus just answered him according to his belief system and used it to lead him further into faith. (Luke is a book on discipleship not evangelism)

2. Look Beyond Indifference

Luke 10:29–32 “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.”

Now comes the reason for his question. Self-justification by the Law. who is my neighbor is about the self-righteous and sanctification. Divine love that should not be withheld from anyone based on outward appearance.

Jesus answers the question of self-justification and indifference by sharing a parable.

The man was a certain man. He went down. Became destitute by the world (Lk 15 Prodigal). Religion doesn’t help.

These men represent the Law and the Temple. They showed indifference and contempt for a man of lower station. Religion can’t help the one who can’t help himself.

Remember the finished work - Jesus did it all.

3. Live Beyond Prejudice (cross cultural critique)

Luke 10:33–35 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 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. 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.’”

The foreigner showed true godly compassion.

Samaria - belonged to Ephraim Manasseh and re-populated by Assyrians. These foreigners intermarried with the remaining Jews and became an enemy of Judah.

Samaritans - Part foreign / part Israel. despised and adversarial to Judah. only used Torah. Worshipped on Mt Gerizim. Practiced idolatry. Jews had no dealings with (see John 4 Samaritan woman at well)

2 Kings 17:24–28 “24 Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. 25 And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.” 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.” 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.”

Along with teaching compassion, Jesus is teaching cross-cultural outreach. Remember He is going to send His church into all the world.

4. Learn Beyond Comfort (second question)

Luke 10:36 “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?””

It goes beyond what does the Law say. Jesus makes it personal, “what do you say?”

You have the information to make an informed decision. Listen to what the Lord says and chew on it and then make it your own. Daily devotions, be in the Word, blogs, psalms and songs, prayer, apply it.

5. Lead Beyond Barriers

Luke 10:37 “And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.””

Proverbs 14:21 “He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

Matthew 9:13 “13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””

Matthew 12:7 “7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

Luke 6:31 “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

Cross culture missions means going outside your comfort zone and talking to someone you have nothing in common with. Jesus shows us true love by example.

Jon 3:16 > Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

It is interesting to Note that the word “disciple” is not found outside the Gospels and Acts.

It is interesting to note the word “disciple “ stops being used outside the Gospels and Acts. The epistles start using words like “imitate” in 1 Cor 11:1 and Ep 5:1-2; “follower” in Phil 3:17 and 2 Tim 3:10-11; an “example” to follow in 1 Peter 2:21; and be a “pattern” or type for others in Tit 2:7. Go beyond learning about love to loving.