Who Is Your Neighbor?

Rather, Who Is Your Father!?!

Luke 10:25–37 NIV

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “ ‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Questions for this passage:

How can one inherit (whether Jew, Priest or Levite) eternal life?

Jesus says nothing about inheritance of the physical kind, only of a spiritual kind.

Jesus asked about the expert’s interpretation of the Law. (The Spirit of the Law)

Living out the Law of Love and Life gives an eternal, spiritual inheritance.

The expert asked how he could get away with NOT helping everyone.

Whose approval is he seeking? God knows the intentions of his heart already.

How can someone be commanded to love?

There is NO life without love, there is only continual death.

There is no coercion, either do it or do not, but we cannot demand God’s blessings.

By obeying all that we are taught by Jesus.

By knowing God, what he has done for others and for us; defined as love.

If for nothing else, love that you might live.

How does I love as Christ?

By showing mercy, doing good to all around us asking for nothing in return (as God does), and loving God through knowing and obeying God.

A Few Things to NOTE:

Jesus never said that the man who was attacked was a Jew, neither did he identify who were the robbers. Race or religion were not an excuse.

There is a difference between idle talk (caution given the 72) and caring for others physically and spiritually along the way.

The expert of the Law did not identify the Samaritan directly, as if he still could not admit to his bias, even after the parable.

You can know the truth, but if you do not act on the truth, then you can hardly claim to be obedient to it.

Colossians 1:1–14 NIV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Questions for this Passage:

Do we thank God for each other in our prayers?

Especially those who are a blessing to us,

sharing the love of Jesus Christ to all,

and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ,

bearing fruit of the Gospel,

And for the missionary work of all believers throughout the world.

Do we love ALL of God’s people? Not just the ones we agree with.

Do we have faith and love that springs from hope? Do we have hope in the grace of God?

Because of what God has changed in me and others, I have hope that produces faith and love for the next person will be covered by God’s grace. By their testimony, I am given strength.

Do you know that this is the Gospel?

Knowing of God’s grace,

that rescued you from the dominion of darkness,

brought you into the Kingdom of Jesus the Son,

through redemption and forgiveness of our sins.

What is a life worthy of the Lord?

Bearing fruit in every good work

Growing in knowledge of God, in wisdom and understanding

Strengthened by the power of God for your endurance

Giving Joyful thanks to the Father for your adoption

How do I love?

By showing mercy, doing good to all, asking for nothing in return.

Why do I love?

Because God first love me.

Who do I love?

Everyone. Everyone is your neighbor.

Do you love your neighbor?

Show them.