Core Values pt2

I never thought I would live in a day when it would be a question whether or not mercy is in line with Christianity. But we live in strange times.

Mercy became one of our values before it was considered controversial. It was baked in early, probably because many of us were involved in some sort of mercy ministry, sometimes even before coming to West Metro.

My introduction to what mercy really looked like in practice came at the feet of Jim O’Neil who Steve Bullard introduced me to down in San Antonio. He was the mission pastor at a church where the central focus was showing mercy. They bought a defunct shopping mall and turned it into a center for services that at 26-27 years of age I had scarcely heard of- much less seen as connected to the mission of the church.

And yet, the mercy was compelling, it was catching. (Story of my visit there and subsequent trips)

And I think, back then, part of that was because I had not really understood the depths of the mercy of God. I had heard about it, for sure, but I had not fully grasped it.

So the stories of Jesus, like the one we will look at this morning in Luke 10:25-37 had not fully come alive for me.

I think that is the way it is with mercy. It sneaks up on you, because it seems too good to be true, too easy, too clean. And if we do not fully understand what that mercy cost Jesus, it becomes something we are stingy with, but when we fully grasp what kind of mercy we have been given, we can’t help ourselves. We have to extend it to others- and to not be merciful, well that becomes incomprehensible.

That’s where I am today. I do not understand how some people who call themselves followers of Jesus, suddenly think mercy is incompatible with following Jesus. And why I am so glad it is part of our DNA- because as the world around us abandons it, mercy is more essential than ever.

So let’s look at this passage in Luke 10.

Those who oppose mercy always start off with wanting to justify themselves. This guy does that same- he starts with a question to Jesus about eternal life, and Jesus flips it on him. And the guy gives the right answer.

Luke Comments

The answer given in

But in verse 29 he gives himself away- who is this “neighbor” you speak of?

Luke Comments

This is not the same question as the one asked by Jesus in 10:36. Luke almost certainly was aware of this. It is quite possible that he saw Jesus in the parable twisting this improper question, “Who is my neighbor?” (i.e., what must a person do to qualify that I should love him as a neighbor?) into a proper one (“What must I do to be a loving neighbor?”)

At the heart of opposing mercy is a desire to have an enemy, an opponent, someone to hate or fear.

I have no clue who this guy had in mind- maybe it was the guy next door- but if I a honest I have a list of people who it is hard for me to have any feelings of mercy for. And I got REASONS!

We all have people on that list. And when we talk about mercy, we are all somewhere like this guy.

That person, group, etc is NOT my neighbor.

And that’s why Jesus goes where He goes to strip away all of this guy’s unstated excuses.

Look at verses 30-35.

Many of you know this story. Maybe you know some of the significance.

A guy going down from Jerusalem is a member of the nation of Israel. He is one of the chosen ones- in the tribe of the guy who is asking all the questions.

And the 2 people who ignore his state are fellow Jews- and not just fellow Jews but people who KNOW better.

Luke Comments

he was emphasizing that neither the wise and understanding (10:21) nor the proud and ruling (1:51–52) practice being loving neighbors

They know what this guy just quoted- “love you neighbor as yourself.”

Hey Self, if you are lying naked and half dead, what would you want to happen?

Me too.

But these guys not only don’t help- they step over to the other side. The go out of their way to avoid the situation.

Mercy does not ignore need.

Mercy intervenes.

And these people- despite knowing better- do not show mercy.

I can hear the murmurs in that crowd. Some of y’all are probably thinking the same thing.

We can’t help EVERYONE!

No one called you to help everyone. Just your neighbor. The ones you come across.

This is one of the pushbacks against mercy we have today- if we have to help everyone won’t be anything left for us!

My God has all the cattle on a thousand hills. That’s worldly thinking. My God took 5 loaves and 2 fish and made me feast. That’s poverty thinking. My God said ask and it will be given to you. That’s fearful thinking.

Our God delivers.

If He brings the need to our eyes, He has provided the way for us to meet the need.

And the need is there. So God sends a Samaritan.

(Samaritan-Jewish background)

Luke Comments

The term “Samaritan” is in an emphatic position in the sentence. Jesus deliberately chose an outsider, and a hated one at that, for his hero in order to indicate that being a neighbor is not a matter of nationality or race. The mutual hatred of the Jews and the Samaritans is evident

Luke Comments

After the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, the Samaritans sought at first to participate in the rebuilding of the temple. When their offer of assistance was rejected, they sought to impede its building (

Verse 33-35

This “enemy” saw a neighbor and he was extravagant in his mercy. He gave all he had to meet the man’s need.

That sound familiar?

Keep Luke 10 marked and turn with me to Ephesians 2:4-10.

Jesus saw us as neighbors. He tells this story knowing what He was going to do for us. We had been left dead on the side of the road. Passed by and neglected. Of our own doing!

This is the other objection to mercy- they got their on their own accord. Why should I be merciful. Let em learn a lesson. Bootstraps!

Jesus didn’t do that to us!

He said- I am intervening! I am RICH in mercy I got more than enough! It does not run out.

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary a. New Life from the Dead (2:1–10)

having mentioned the name of God, speaks in glowing terms of his goodness and grace. He is not only merciful, showing his pity to those who are totally unworthy and undeserving; he is rich in mercy (see on 1:7). That mercy proceeds from love, the great love with which he loved us. There is longing in the heart of God for humanity—the us now means Jews and Gentiles alike—to be restored to the highest and best that he had planned for them (cf.

And He raised us UP! He put us back together. He showed off when He saved every one of us! And made us into His workmanship! He remade us in His image. And set us on a new path- one where His story is all we have to tell.

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary a. New Life from the Dead (2:1–10)

The work of God in Christ has been described as the gift of new life, and as the gift of salvation. Now it is shown further that people of themselves could not accomplish it by its being described as God’s new creation. We, in this new life, this new nature that we have received, are his workmanship

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary a. New Life from the Dead (2:1–10)

The new life in fellowship with God must be God’s creation and cannot be our work. But nevertheless the essential quality of the new life is good works

Now go back to Luke 10. Verses 36-37.

One last question- which one?

Can you imagine this guy’s face? He has to say the Samaritan! And then he is told- go be like that guy!

Luke Comments

Note the lawyer’s avoidance of the term “Samaritan,” which would have been the more natural way of answering the question

Church when we have understood what Jesus has done for us- we cannot help but show mercy. Because we know- every time we think someone is not worthy of mercy- that neither were we.

Luke Comments

Jesus indicated that one should worry less about who a neighbor is than about being a good neighbor

And Jesus chose to save His enemies and make them His friends.

That’s the calling. Show mercy. Turn enemies into friends one act of mercy at a time.

Just like Jesus.

(Gospel presentation here)

What is hard about this today?

Do you doubt the mercy of God for you?

Do you struggle with showing mercy because you think someone does not deserve it?

Ask the Lord this morning to give you the heart of the Samaritan for your neighbor. A heart of mercy.