Sermon:
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
By:
Bro. Dale Leacock
Date:
January 14, 2001

Text: Luke10:25-37


-25-On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
-26- "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
-27- 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.'D"
-28- "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
-29- But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
-30- In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
-31- A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
-32- So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
-33- But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
-35- The next day he took out two silver coins 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.'
-36- "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
-37- The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

INTRODUCTION

  • Question - What must I do to inherit eternal life
  • Jesus pointed him to the law
  • His answer was the Jewish shema - love God and love neighbor
  • Jesus commended him and told him to demonstrate it himself
  • He wanted to justify himself and hence asked "who is my neighbour?"

CENTRAL THESIS - like this Jewish expert we also need to be clear on who constitutes our neighbour

  1. THE SCENE:

    1. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a notoriously dangerous road
    2. Jerusalem 2300 ft above sea level
    3. The Dead Sea near to Jericho is 1300 feet below sea level.
    4. In 20 miles a drop of 3600 ft
    5. Road narrow and rocky with sudden turnings and was a happy hunting ground for thieves.
    6. In 1930's H.V. Martin tells that he was warned to get home before dark, if he intended to use the road, because a certain Abu Jildah was an adept at holding up cars and robbing travelers and tourists, and escaping into the hills before the police could arrive.
    7. When Jesus spoke here the dangers of this road was well known

  2. THE CHARACTERS:

    1. The traveler
      1. Obviously reckless and foolhardy
      2. Few people took this trip alone if carrying goods or valuables
      3. Most people traveled in convoys
      4. This man had no one to blame but himself for his plight
    2. The priest
      1. Opportunity and knowledge, but indifference
      2. May not have been actually unfeeling but too proud
      3. Maybe he remembered that anyone who touched a dead man was unclean for 7 days
      4. He could not be sure but he feared that the man was dead
      5. If he touched him he would lose his turn of duty in the temple
      6. That was too great a risk
      7. He set the claims of ceremonial above those charity
    3. The levite
      1. Opportunity and knowledge also, but curiously preceded indifference
      2. Has been suggested that priest left case to Levite, and Levite thought it not one for him because ignored by priest.
      3. Sometimes bandits used decoys - one would pretend to be wounded, when traveler stopped others would rush and overpower him.
      4. His motto was "safety first"
    4. The Samaritan
      1. Those who listened would have expected that the Samaritan meant the villain had arrived
      2. Even though the Jews had no dealing with the Samaritans yet this man seemed to be a regular visitor to the inn
      3. His credit was good
      4. He alone was prepared to help
      5. He was truly humane
        1. By sight - different to looks of priest and levite
        2. By sympathy -"Compassion" or suffering with victim
        3. By service
          1. He was unselfish because he also was in peril from thieves
          2. Thorough - thinking of everything
          3. Continued - even to the next day
      6. He showed true humanity
        1. He brushed aside nationalities and any other distinctions
        2. By giving first himself, and then lesser but necessary gifts

  3. THE MESSAGE:

    1. We must help a man even when he has brought trouble on himself, as the traveler by his recklessness had done
    2. Any man of any nation who is in need is our neighbour. Our help must be as wide as the love of God
    3. The help must be practical and must not consist merely in feeling sorry.
      1. No doubt the priest and the levite felt a pang of pity for the wounded man
      2. However, they did nothing
      3. Compassion to be real compassion, must issue in deeds.

CONCLUSION

  • Jesus now asks the lawyer his opinion
  • He was forced to admit that the third - the Samaritan was the true neighbour
  • Jesus challenges him to do likewise
  • If the spirit is right, not need to ask who is your neighbour.
  • It is not defining of neighbours that makes us love, but experience of love makes all neighbours
  • The world defines neighbour as "someone who dwells near"
  • Nearness of residence
  • Habitation of the same country
  • Blood relationship
  • Friendship or acquaintance
  • Do you really care?

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