When to Offer Help

Luke 10:30-37 - Celebrate Life: When to Offer Help

Jesus prepared and sent His disciples

At the end of last week’s study, we recalled how Jesus and His disciples left Samaria, where many Samaritans were responding to the gospel, to head up to Galilee, where many Jews were responding to the gospel. The news of Jesus was spreading, and not just by word of mouth, but because Jesus had intentionally sent His disciples out to proclaim it.

His directions to these disciples is not the sort of advice that we might give today to someone eager to share the gospel message. They were to take no money, and greet no one on the way. On arrival, stay with the first person who invites you to do so. And don’t go off after a better offer, even if one is made to you. Instead, eat and drink whatever is shared share with you, for the laborer is worth of his wages. Heal their sick, tell them that the kingdom of God has come near. But if no one welcomes you when you arrive, go into their streets, shake off the dust of that city from your sandals, and tell them that the kingdom of God had come near but they rejected it. And that the people who live in Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago if the same miracles had been performed in their city.

The disciples returned with stories

It wasn’t just the 12 disciples that went out, but about 70 of them. And these “missionaries” had just returned from working the harvest in the fields of Galilee. The harvest of souls had been good, and they were overflowing with joyful stories of how the power of the gospel was breaking Satan’s hold over people. And how even demons were subject to Jesus’ name. And as each story was told, Jesus affirmed that they were blessed to see these people set free.

What about me?

Hearing these stories, a man stood up from among the gathered disciples and asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” It seems, based on this question, that he was not one of the 70 who had just returned, but had only gathered with them.

Since he was a lawyer, Jesus asked him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”

He responded by quoting what Moses told the Israelites they were to do if they wanted to prosper in the land to which God was leading them. It is known as the Shema, which is the Hebrew word for “hear” and “obey.” (Deut. 6:4-5). Jesus affirmed his answer, saying that if he were to do this, he would live. To which the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

Who is my neighbor?

It is in response to this question that Jesus told the parable that has become known as the “Good Samaritan.” It is a well-known story.

A man was headed from Jerusalem to Jericho and was ambushed, stripped, beaten, and left lying on the ground half-dead. A priest traveling that way, saw him, but passed by on the other side; then came a Levite who did the same. Then came a Samaritan who, when seeing the man, was moved by compassion to help. He treated his wounds, put him on his pack animal, took him to an inn, and paid for his care.

What did I learn?

After sharing this story, Jesus asked the lawyer, “Of these three, who do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man ambushed by robbers?” The lawyer, once again, answered well. He said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

Entering into the story

The disciples gathered around Jesus, in their preaching of the gospel in Galilee, had been in the role of the Good Samaritan. And those they met in the cities of Galilee who were under Satan’s dominion were like the man ambushed and left for dead.

It was not that the religious leaders couldn’t have done something to help them, it was that they had no desire to do so. No compassion for them at all. But Jesus’ disciples had both power and compassion.

When and what kind of help to offer

While this parable is most often employed to enlist help for those with physical needs, Jesus’ focus was on their spiritual need. His compassion extended to physical needs, but He came to seek and save the lost. He came to offer eternal life.

Before we can identify with the Good Samaritan, we have to first recognize that we are like the man who was ambushed and in need of help. It is only after we have been set free by the healing power of Jesus that we can embrace the full intent of the Shema and enter into the harvest by compassionately extending Jesus’ help to our neighbors.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for those who served as the Good Samaritan to us, extending Your love and grace. Use us as You used them, to share the power of Your name. Amen.