Love All In All

Psalm 25:1-10 / Luke 10:25-37

The Right People

The Lawyer

An expert in the Law of Moses; thus Jesus’ method of response

Jesus illustrates that the answers to the biggest questions (questions about God), while not easy are simple because He has chosen to reveal Himself.

Romans 10:5–10 “For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Deuteronomy 30:11–14 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

So, seeing that the answers to the lawyer’s questions were already right in front of him, let us see how Jesus opens his eyes to what is already there, and what message is there for us today…

The Priest

A official religious leader (Ordained)

A visible representation of God & Righteousness

An example for everyone to follow

Leaving the temple, so not likely concerned with ritual cleansing

The Levite

Similar to the priest, though not “ordained”

Served in non-priestly roles at the temple (other than pastor/deacon)

A visible representation of God & Righteousness

An example for everyone to follow

Showed similar disregard as the priest

The Samaritan

John 4:7–9 “A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)”

Mixed lineage (Hebrew & Foreign)

Religious Differences (Used the Pentateuch, worshipped @ Mt Gerizim)

The general hatred was mutual

The Church Member

Considering the examples in Jesus’ Parable, where do you fit in? If not the priest, are you not the Levite? Is the church not supposed to be a visible representation of Righteousness? The very Kingdom of God? Ought you not be an example?

The Right Thing

Compassion / Love

SEEing the man

SEEing the man as a man

Loving the man

Annointed his wounds

Teking him for more care

Paid 2 denari ~ 2 months of stay and care

Purposed to come back and provide more

ALL OF THIS FOR SOMEONE HE SHOULD’VE JUST IGNORED (at no price to his reputation/standing)

The First Christians -

Acts 11:19 “Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.”

Acts 11:20–21 “But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.”

Acts 11:22 “The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.”

Acts 11:25–26 “So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

Note that the descriptor we all so commonly use today, ‘Christian’, was first applied to the people who ACTED like Christ in this way: He ignored the commonly draw lines in His society to love people.

The Right Reason

To gain Eternal Life?

Matthew 5:20 “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

Because people deserve it?

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.””

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Because God IS Love

1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Psalm 25:10 “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

Luke 10:27 “And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.””

For the believer, love should be the primary motivation and goal in everything we do; in every interaction we have; and toward everyone God places in our lives. Let love override every bit of social pride, anxiety, pressure, and messaging. Love all in all!