A Good Samaritan, Revelation of God's Mercy and Compassion

Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

INTRODUCTIONS

Who were the Samaritans?

After the Kingdom was split in two, Judah with its Capital in Jerusalem had the Davidic kingdom dynasty. The Northern part consisting of the ten tribes of Israel had its Capital in Samaria and its own kings.

Most Kings of Israel did wicked things. They were influenced by nations around them. Human influence is very dangerous, be on the watch against wrong influence.

Samaria became a hub for church ministry or New Testament Christian movement and later Rome.

You cannot argue with Gods plan.

At first Samaria was a region that Jesus could not go to preach.

Later it became the centre of God’s agenda to send missionaries to the nations.

You are and live where you are for a purpose. The place people reject and don’t expect anything to happen may be the very place heaven is focusing on. Be ready and available for God’s purposes. How? Keep a repentant heart, humble yourself and live a consecrated life for Christ alone.

Matthew 10:5

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.

John 4:4–11

4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 8:1–6

1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Acts 8:9

But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,

A. REFLECTION ON LOVE

Refer to Luke 10:27

Luke 10:27 (ESV) 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.”

There is no greater power in Heaven and earth than this:

LOVE:

Love of/towards God

Love towards Everyone

To love is very demanding.

It takes your heart,

your soul,

your strength and

your mind.

In additional - practising Love reciprocates/comes from Loving yourself.

Love is who God is,

it is His attribute,

God’s Love is and has always been revealed to man through Jesus.

Therefore, to Love neighbour is an expression of who God is to another.

To Love God is receiving this special Grace shown by His kindness, His Mercy towards the sin of man, the disobedience of man, the inhuman nature of man.

B. THE TRAP OF SELF JUSTIFICATION

Reading Luke 10:29 show that the man felt like he had a need to justify himself. Instead of looking for Jesus to justify Him he wanted to portray himself as a good man.

Luke 10:29 (ESV) 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

The Lord knew already that the man was not applying the whole law, but he was indeed showing the Love of God, Yet he did not have love for neighbor. The man if living by law is disqualified, but because of the grace of God he could be a candidate of eternal life. The law demands that those who live by the law should keep the whole law. However, grace offers redemption and sanctification that qualifies the unqualified.

Note that Jesus never condemned him, it is himself who condemned self because he realized he was missing in loving neighbor.

Self condemnation leads to self justification.

The scripture say that there is therefore no condemnation when we are in Christ if we do not walk according to the flesh (law), Romans 8:1

C. THIEVES / ROBBERS ARE ENEMIES OF PROGRESS

Progress in Life is affected by robbers

read Luke 10:30

Luke 10:30 (ESV) 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

The thief comes to still, kill and destroy. John 10:10

Many people lack progress because, after gathering the thief comes and steal or the robbers come and plunder your goods even your life.

The duty of the robber or thief is to cause lack of progress, causes setback, a rise and fall experience

TODAY: Let us stop the robbers from plundering our goods, blessing, etc

D. A LIFE OF COMPASSION SETS YOU UP FOR SUCCESS

Jesus was a man full of compassion

To be a true disciple of Jesus mean to have compassion on others who need your help.

Luke 10:33 (ESV) 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

Luke 15:20 (ESV) 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Romans 9:14–18 (ESV) 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

E. WOMAN AT THE WELL

Jesus compassion led Him to meet a woman at the well in need of salvation.

John 4.1-26

She encountered her saviour when she was list expecting it to happen

She was empty, living a confused life and needed a saviour

she was broken from the inside

Jesus used prophesy to show her that she was lacking from inside out. She needed a better life and to have comfort but things were falling apart

she had a potential to make people listen to her that only Jesus could unlock and as soon as she received her new living water she went to work in her village to bring many to salvation.

what is your position? Don’t wait until until it is too late to discover a reason for your calling. I mean a reason for your life. You are so valuable.

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