Lessons From An Outcast
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Introduction vv. 25-28
Introduction vv. 25-28
In ancient times there was a woman, tradition says her name was Photina, who had lived a hard life.
Her people were outcasts. They had married into families that weren’t approved by national leaders and so they were rejected.
In fact, travellers would go miles out of their way to avoid the city where she lived.
A common saying of the time was that if you were one of her people you had a demon in you.
You can image the hatred she faced at the hands of others.
In addition to the issues she faced because of her nationality, she had personal problems as well.
Her name, Photina, meant luminous one, or light, but it felt like a cruel joke.
Every relationship she had turned bad. After five marriages fell apart she had given up on marriage. Now she just lived with her latest man.
As you can imagine, her relationships had gotten attention, none of it positive.
Now Photina was an outcast even among outcasts!
Her own people didn’t want anything to do with her. It had gotten to the point where she couldn’t even use the public well with everyone else.
She basically had to wait until everyone was inside to get her water.
One day as she approached the well, she noticed a man sitting by it.
She thinks to herself, “Oh great, here we go again. Will I even be able to get water today?”
Cautiously she approaches the well.
It is when she gets too close to leave without causing a scene that she notices something very strange.
You see, she was a Samaritan, and the guy sitting by the well, he is a Jew.
Samaritan’s and Jews hate each other!
Then the guy talks to her! This is crazy! He’s a man, and a Jew!
But as their conversation goes on she starts to realize this is no ordinary Jew.
He speaks with wisdom, grace, and love. He knows things about her she hasn’t told him.
Then, as they are speaking about spiritual things, He drops the bomb.
He is the Messiah!
Photina believes in Jesus and runs to tell the rest of the city.
What changed this woman’s life was truth spoken with love and grace.
All through the Gospel’s we see Jesus interacting with people and as He ministers to the outcasts, the marginalized, and the hated, He speaks the truth with love and grace.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are called to speak the truth in love.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are called to love our neighbor.
Today we will examine the story of the good Samaritan.
We will be challenged to be good Samaritan’s in our world today.
Every follower of Jesus can be a good Samaritan by taking three actions.
When we live as good Samaritan’s we bless others, eliminate hatred, and point people to Jesus.
Before we get to the three actions we need to take, I want to introduce the passage.
Look at v. 25. READ
Jesus is being tested. The leaders of His day have been trying to trick and trap Jesus so they can get Him in trouble.
That’s what is taking place here.
READ v. 26
I love this answer. What does the Word of God say?
READ v. 27
This is a great summary of the Law. A summary that Jesus Himself uses on other occasions.
READ v. 28
So that’s the context. Jesus is dealing with a situation where they are trying to trap Him. And so, He is going to tell them a story and let them draw their own conclusions as we will see.
Our goal today is to learn how we can be good Samaritans by taking three actions.
Action #1. To be a good Samaritan…
1. Know Your Neighbor vv. 29-30
1. Know Your Neighbor vv. 29-30
Leviticus, Matthew, Mark, Romans, Galatians, and James all have the same phrase. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
There is a seemingly obvious first step that we are going to deal with here.
If I am going to love my neighbor I must first identify who my neighbor is.
Make sense?
Good.
Let me give you a little bit of a spoiler here.
The whole point of this story, that Jesus tells, is to show that your neighbor is anyone in need.
In order to love those in need I must be able to recognize them.
To recognize those in need we must make two changes.
#1…
a. Change your view v. 29
a. Change your view v. 29
READ v. 29
This is one of those times when Scripture is brutally honest.
This lawyer is not really interested in learning who his neighbor is.
His goal is stated very clearly.
He wants to justify himself.
He wants to make it appear that he is righteous.
He’s trying to excuse away his failure to love others by saying he doesn’t know who his neighbor is.
It is clear that he really isn’t concerned for his neighbor.
What is he concerned about?
Himself.
He is worried more about how others perceive him.
When it comes to loving our neighbor, to being those who care for others, the first thing we need is a new view.
What do I mean?
Get your eyes off of yourself.
This isn’t about you!
Stop trying to justify yourself and go love those in need!
Get out of your comfort zone!
The second thing he is trying to do is imply that there are some who wouldn’t be his neighbor.
Thomas Constable writes that “
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible The lawyer’s question and Jesus’ answer 10:25–29
The Jews interpreted the word in a limited sense to mean a fellow Jew or someone in the same religious community. They specifically excluded Samaritans and foreigners from this category.
This man only wants to be a neighbor to people like himself.
That’s not what it means to be a neighbor.
A neighbor is anyone in need.
1 John 3:17-18 says (S).
1 John 3:17-18
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?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
We are to care for the needs of others. Our love must be expressed through action.
A proper view focuses on others.
Is that the view we have?
If not, change it.
We are all born caring only for ourselves. It takes training and effort to begin thinking of others.
That’s the first change. Change your view.
#2…
b. Change your vision v. 30
b. Change your vision v. 30
READ v. 30
What does Jesus leave out?
Let me help you.
If we were reading a news report from our time it would most likely include the ethnicity of those involved.
Jesus doesn’t say say this Jewish man went to Jericho. Nor does he tell us the ethnicity of the men who attacked him!
Now we are safe to assume because of what comes later that the man who was attacked was a Jewish man.
But Jesus doesn’t state it, why not?
Because it doesn’t matter!
What matters is not this man’s ethnicity, origin or parentage! What matters is his need!
If we are going to be good Samaritan’s we have to change our vision.
What do I mean?
We need to train ourselves to first and foremost see people as people.
Not that we don’t notice differences, of course we do, it is ridiculous to think otherwise.
We notice differences, but we see needs.
James very explicitly addresses our tendency to show partiality. Go to James 2:1-4.
James 2:1-4
This specific illustration is about a rich man. But the application is obvious.
If we see two people and because of how one looks we treat them better than the other, we are sinning!
James says that treating people differently based on appearance is to expose our evil thoughts!
We must change our vision. We must learn to see people as people.
If we are going to recognize someone in need as our neighbor we must change our view and vision.
Action #1. Know Your Neighbor.
Action #2. To be a good Samaritan…
2. Love Your Neighbor vv. 31-33
2. Love Your Neighbor vv. 31-33
These verses get right to the heart of the issue.
This is the command we are given; to love our neighbor.
Yet as we look around us, we see happening much of what takes place here in these verses.
We walk by those in need, never wondering if God would have me be the one to help.
We are about to learn why it is the heart that is most important.
In order to love our neighbor we need to answer two questions.
Question #1…
a. Why does love fail? vv. 31-32
a. Why does love fail? vv. 31-32
READ vv. 31-32
These are the people who we would most expect to help.
A priest, and a Levite. Both called by God to serve people.
Both called by God to stand before Him and intercede on behalf of sinners.
The priest sees the wounded man and passes by without ever coming close.
The Levite goes over and looks at him, then goes back to the other side and passes by.
Both of these men fail to love the injured man.
Why?
Jesus doesn’t get into their motivation, but allow me to suggest that they were afraid of the possibility of ritual impurity.
I think that we can state with confidence that their refusal to help was motivated by selfishness brought on by fear.
Why can we say that? Look at 1 John 4:18 (S).
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Perfect love casts out fear.
If we reverse this statement we learn that fear is the enemy of love.
Love fails because of fear.
How does fear kill love? Love is others-centered. Fear is self-centered.
These two men care more about themselves than about an injured and bleeding man.
Their love has been snuffed out by fear.
What might this look like for us? Social pressure.
As I look back on my life there are some things, some behaviors that I am ashamed of.
One of those was in High School. There was a young man who was a little odd. He was socially awkward, and didn’t quite fit in.
To my shame, when others made fun of him behind his back, I join in.
The social pressure from the “cool kids” was to view him in a negative light. And so I did.
This same kind of peer pressure can happen in our society.
Wealth status. Skin tone. Housing status. Social awkwardness. All these things and more can bring social pressure to view someone as an outcast.
The question that we as believers must ask is this.
What does Scripture say?
Consider Paul’s words in Philippians 2:3-4 (S).
Philippians 2:3-4
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Esteem, consider, others better than yourself. Look out for the interests of others.
Bottom line? Put others first.
To love our neighbor the love of Christ must first drive out our fear.
For the love of Christ to do that, you must first know Him.
Do you?
Have you been transformed by the grace of God?
Have you trusted in Jesus?
Only then can His love drive our fear.
This brings us to the second question we need to answer in order to love our neighbor.
Question #2…
b. Why does love flourish? v. 33
b. Why does love flourish? v. 33
READ v. 33
What is different about this man?
He had compassion.
We’ve already mentioned that Jews and Samaritans wanted nothing to do with each other.
So why does this Samaritan help an injured Jew?
When he looked at this man, he didn’t see a Jew! He saw a person who was in need!
He had compassion on this men!
What eliminates hatred? Love.
Love flourishes when we see people for who they are.
I love the wording here.
First, the Samaritan sees him.
The priest looked and saw a problem.
The Levite looked and saw a delay.
The Samaritan looked and saw a wounded and hurting human being who needed care!
What do we see when we look at those in need?
Do we really see them?
First, the Samaritan sees him.
Second, he had compassion on him.
Everyone else saw him and walked by. The Samaritan, the man from the hated group, has compassion.
Compassion – σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai) have pity; have compassion. To be deeply moved. To be affected deeply in one’s inner being.
Compassion – σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai)
The Samaritan looks at this injured man and is deeply moved.
He is moved to the point that he has no choice but to take action as we will learn in a moment.
But first, our lesson.
See people in light of their need not in light of your discomfort.
This is connected to our earlier point of seeing those in need as people.
As a culture we have gotten very wrapped up in comfort.
If we are going to meet the needs of others, we have step out of our comfort zone.
We need to have compassion.
If we are going to love our neighbor we must know why love fails and what causes it to flourish.
Three actions we must take to be good Samaritans.
Action #1. Know your neighbor.
Action #2. Love your neighbor.
Action #3. To be a good Samaritan…
3. Serve Your Neighbor vv. 34-37
3. Serve Your Neighbor vv. 34-37
As the saying goes. This is where the rubber meets the road.
He has been moved with compassion. What will he do about it?
There is a dangerous idea that suggests that feelings or words are enough.
James once again addresses this. James 2:15-16 (S).
James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
It is not enough to simply say we love or feel bad for someone.
Action is required.
These last verses we will consider this morning teach us three lessons about service.
Lesson #1…
a. Caring service v. 34
a. Caring service v. 34
READ v. 34
Let’s look at the list of things the Samaritan does.
1 - Went to him.
This is the most basic thing we can do for those in need.
Be with them.
Hear their story.
Listen to their pain.
2 - Bandaged him.
He addressed the most immediate need.
There was an obvious need for his wounds to be attended to.
I saw a video the other day of a man on a subway shivering with cold and he was shirtless.
Another man approaches, takes off his own shirt and beanie and puts them on the man.
When we see people in obvious need, meet the need!
3 - Poured on oil and wine.
This is where the Samaritan begins to go above and beyond.
The purpose here is to soothe and disinfect.
Spiritually:
Hurting people need the soothing presence of Jesus.
Hurting people need the disinfectant of the Holy Spirit.
Physically:
People need relief from pain and something to help things from getting worse.
Are we prepared to provide that?
4 - Set him on his own animal.
Compassion has moved this man to sacrifice his own comfort for the sake of others!
What are we willing to give up to help those in need?
5 - Brought him to an inn.
This man would need time to rest and recover.
This is important.
Hurting people take time to heal.
Don’t expect to do a couple things for someone and have them be instantly better.
Invest the time necessary to see them heal.
6 - He took care of him.
He attended to this mans needs.
This is what Jesus does for us!
When we do this, we act like Jesus and we point others to Him.
There is a personal element to all of this.
He doesn’t just give money, he gives of himself.
This is an attitude we see in the apostle Paul. Look at what he says in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (S).
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
It wasn’t just the gospel that Paul, Silas, and Timothy gave to the Thessalonians. They gave of themselves.
They nourished, cherished, and cared for these people.
This is a challenge to all of us.
Don’t only give money don’t just post something on social media. Physically do something.
True caring involves personal sacrifice.
Are we giving anything up to care for others?
How can we meet practical needs today?
Lesson #1. We are to give caring service.
Lesson #2…
b. Controlled service v. 35
b. Controlled service v. 35
READ v. 35
There is actually a lot going on in this verse.
First: We cannot care for others alone.
The Samaritan enlists the aid of the innkeeper.
As believers we need para-church organizations as well as others in the body of Christ to meet needs.
We cannot do it alone.
This goes both for sharing the gospel as well as meeting practical needs.
We need strategic partnerships with likeminded people and ministries.
Second: There has to be trust.
The Samaritan is trusting the innkeeper not to rip him off.
The innkeeper is trusting the Samaritan to actually return and pay more if it is needed.
As we partner with others in meeting needs and sharing the gospel, there must be trust.
Third, There is an implication.
The implication here is to care for him until care is no longer required.
This is also seen in the fact the the Samaritan is leaving.
This is not perpetual servitude.
There is an endpoint, a definite goal to be accomplished.
In our care for others we must have a goal to accomplish.
We do not want to give people free handouts on a continual basis.
The goal is to get the person in need to the point where help is no longer needed.
When it comes to the gospel, we want people to get to where they are self feeding.
When church planting, we want the church to be self-supporting, if it’s in another country we want it under local control.
There is a goal, an endpoint.
Fourth, There is sacrifice.
The Samaritan is giving of his own resources to meet this need.
The innkeeper is giving of his time to care for the injured man.
In gospel partnerships where we meet needs and preach Jesus, all parties need to sacrifice.
Those who have resources give them and their time. Those who only have time give that.
The point is that we all must sacrifice if we are to meet the needs of others.
To sum it up: We need to partner with people we trust to achieve a defined goal as we give of ourselves to meet needs and advance the gospel.
Do you know what this sounds like?
This sounds like the Great Commission!
Matthew 28:19-20 (S).
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
To accomplish the Great Commission, we do the things we have just described.
Partnerships and personal commitment are required to advance the gospel.
Just as the Samaritan doesn’t care for this man alone, we cannot reach the world by ourselves.
The Samaritan sacrifices his own resources for this man. We must do the same.
Lesson #1. We are to give caring service.
Lesson #2. Our service must be controlled.
Lesson #3 we give…
c. Commanded service vv. 36-37
c. Commanded service vv. 36-37
READ vv. 36-37
This is very direct.
The answer to Jesus’ question is obvious.
But remember. The Jews of this time had twisted the law to say that they only had to be a neighbor to those who were like them.
The response of this lawyer defies the convention of the time.
So why does he break with tradition?
Because he has been confronted with the truth.
We are to show mercy to those in need.
Therefore, anyone in need is our neighbor.
This is made abundantly clear as Jesus tells the man to “go and do likewise.”
Here’s the reality. The command to love our neighbor was not only given to this man.
Every believer in Jesus Christ is commanded to love their neighbor.
What Jesus is commanding here is visible, physical expressions of love.
As we go about our daily lives, we are going to see people in need.
Jesus commands us to show them mercy.
As the body of Christ we are His hands and feet to minister to people.
In doing so we create opportunities for people to ask us a reason for the hope that is in us.
We then have a platform from which to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A helping hand leads to open ears.
Meet needs.
Serve others.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
And as their ears open, share the good news of Jesus.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let’s review.
Know your neighbor.
See people for who they are and put others first.
Love your neighbor.
Love flourishes when we have compassion and see the needs of others.
Serve your neighbor.
Partner with others to share the gospel as you meet practical needs.
We cannot walk by the wounded.
We cannot ignore the hurting.
We cannot say with our lips what we do not demonstrate with our actions.
To bless others, eliminate hatred, and point people to Jesus, love your neighbor as yourself.
Your neighbor is anyone in need.
Christians, followers of Jesus Christ must lead the way in loving those in need.
How will we love our neighbors today?