Love Your Neighbor
Notes
Transcript
Love Your Neighbor
Love Your Neighbor
14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Confession of Faith
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name!
Who Is My Neighbor?
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.
34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
The Choices We Make
30 Jesus, taking him up, replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings and beat him and went their way, [unconcernedly] leaving him half dead, as it happened.
There was a traveller who was foolish and irresponsible. He was foolish because he travelled the road between Jerusalem and Jericho that was known for its danger. It was about twenty one miles in distance, in a wild country, a rugged, rocky pass much of the way. It was a favorite hang out gangs, thieves, so much so it was called the Way of Blood.
Sometimes we are foolish and reckless in life, exposing and destroying our bodies by going where we should not and by doing what we should not?
9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
The Religious Person
31 Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side.
Thought 1. How many of us put work, even religious works, and busyness before helping others?
Thought 2. How many put a church building , a denomination and its ritual’s before the needs of desperate people?
What if people were seen as half dead travellers who needed our compassion and help?
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Just Curious
32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
The Levite was touched with enough feeling to walk over and look upon the man.
But he step back from helping.
Perhaps He...
• feared being identified with the robbers.
• feared that the robbers might still be around
• felt that helping was just too much bother to deal with
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
33 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him.
34 He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable.
35 In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
The injured man was a Jew. The good Samaritan and the Jew were of different races—races who hated and despised each other.
Yet the good Samaritan had a sense of common humanity. He was a man who saw another man—not as a Jew and not as an enemy.
However, despite all the problems between the two races , the good Samaritan saw a fellow human being in desperate need, and he was moved with compassion for him.
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
36 “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
37 “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Who is my Neighbor?
Someone who needs my help!
Nest Steps
Old Testament
Jeremiah & Lamentations
New Testament:
Jude & Revelations