With your Bibles this morning, I invite you to turn to Luke 10:25.
As we continue our study of the parable of Luke’s Gospel, we come this morning to a favorite of many: The story of the Good Samaritan.
We hear about Good Samaritan’s everyday—those people who go out of their way to help someone that they do not know, many times saving their lives. Just this week, throughout the country there have been several stories of Good Samaritans.
On Tuesday, (Jan 6, 2015), a Good Samaritan smelled fire in a home in New Hampshire and help the elderly occupant escape the fire and called the fire department to put it out.
On Wednesday, (Jan 7, 2015), a Good Samaritan saved a woman from Illinois after being hit and pinned under a car while riding her bike.
On Thursday, (Jan 8, 2015), a Good Samaritan at a Chick-Fil-A store in Alabama gave a homeless man a pair of gloves.
What is a Good Samaritan? What does a Good Samaritan do?
As we turn to Luke 10:30, we see that Jesus tells a story of a man walking down a dangerous road. One commentary called it the “highway of blood”. He gets robbed and beaten and left for dead.
Verse 31:
[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.
And this is where the story takes shape: this is where the hero emerges:
Verse 33:
“But a Samaritan”—the hated group in the region. A group so hated by the Jews that they would go out of their way to avoid going near the towns in which the Samaritans live. A group, if you take a quick look at Luke 9:54, a group that the disciples asked Jesus if they could call fire from heaven and burn them all up.
Verse 33:
[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.”(Luke 10:25-37 ESV)
What are you doing to be a Good Samaritan? If Jesus says, “You go, and do likewise.” What are do doing about it?
This parable—although spoken as a defense against a legal attack on Jesus and his teaching, gives us a clear direction for how to do ministry and how to be a “Good Samaritan” to our world.
The first step to being a Good Samaritan is to have a “Compassionate Heart”
Look with me a verse 33:
[33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. (Luke 10:33 ESV)
The Samaritan came to the man lying on the road, assessed the situation, and had compassion. It is as simple as that. There is no ulterior motive, there is no cinematic soundtrack playing in the background, and there is no experience required.
There is simply a compassionate heart.
Do you have a compassionate heart this morning? Does your heart go out to those who are hurting? Are you motivated to do good by something more than simply the values to “do the right thing”?
How many news stories have you watched where the hero says; “I didn’t do anything special I was just in the right place at the right time”?
One’s compassionate heart is an outgrowth of their gratefulness for what they have. When we compare what we have to the many that can’t even compare; that builds gratefulness and compassion for others. (Col 3:15)
How do you first build compassion?
I believe that the Bible teaches us that we can have true compassion, when we know Jesus.
It makes sense to me: if compassion is an outgrowth of gratefulness it is Christians that have the most to be grateful for.
You see, all of us are sinners. We are all sinners by our nature and by our choices (Romans 3:23). And the payment for that sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
Frankly, we deserve death and hell for our sin.
But, God loved us and sent his son, Jesus, to die on a cross—to pay the penalty of sin for us and we can accept this payment as we accept him.
This morning, if you have never accepted him and believed in him I invite you to do that. When we come face to face with the fact that we owe our eternity to Christ—that is when we truly become compassionate; because we want to show the world God’s love for them.
Ephesians 4:32 says:
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (EPH 4:32, ESV)
But, I want to make this very clear. This is not about religion.
Notice that the two people before this Samaritan were religious men—a priest and a levite. These were two men, as Adrian Rogers used to say could “cross every “T” and dot every “I”, but could not spell love.” It is not about religion, here it was about compassion.
Do you have compassion this morning? Do you have compassion for those who are beaten and bruised in our world?
I have a Retired Senior Chaplain friend who would pray through his Facebook newsfeed, first thing in the morning. What a great way to have compassion for those around you than to get in the habit of prayer!
Begin a habit of prayer for those who are hurting. Facebook is a great prayer list! You could also open the newspaper and pray through the headlines. The surest way to grow your compassion is to first recognize how much Christ has given you and second begin to pray for those who are less fortunate.
The Good Samaritan began with a Compassionate heart.
The Good Samaritan then provided “Immediate Care”.
Reading from verse 34:
[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. (Luke 10:34 ESV)
After the Good Samaritan assessed the situation, he first began providing first aid. He used his “Combat Lifesaver Skills” and bound up the other man’s wounds. His care was direct and it was immediate.
There are many times, when this is the critical place of ministry; those first minutes where hearts and lives may hang in the balance.
Many times we think of these people as heroes. These are the people that save lives. But, we also need to consider that Jesus tell us to “go and do likewise.” He commands us to be the people who are ready to give “immediate care” when we see that it is needed.
There are many ways to be involved in immediate care.
In 2014, The American Red Cross assisted families in over 200,000 Home fires, that is more than any of the other natural disasters, combined.
Also, last year The Salvation Army served nearly 60 million meals to people in need or in disaster in 2014.
There are many other agencies and ministries that provide for people following a disaster. You can volunteer to take part in these opportunities—and would encourage you to; or you can give money to help support these efforts.
You could take time to be trained in first aid to be ready if you are in a situation to give direct care to the hurting.
But, you can also be ready and willing to provide a witness to a friend who is hurting. Many of our emergencies and crisis that we deal with are unseen. The crisis may be a divorce, or a death of a loved one. It may be a job loss or an accident that has taken a toll financially. It may be a sick child or simply a heart ache of disappointment. Many times the Good Samaritan provides immediate care that is much less seen, but all the while important.
How are you going to provide “Immediate Care” to your world? The options are endless, the example is clear, and the need is always present.
While the Good Samaritan provided “Immediate Care”, he also provided a “Forward Commitment.”
Finally, look with me at verse 35:
[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.’ (Luke 10:35 ESV)
The Good Samaritan didn’t just drop the man off at the hospital or the hotel—which in many people’s minds would have been more than enough.
This Good Samaritan made a “Forward Commitment”, committed for the long hall.
Many times when disaster strikes, we think that as long as the television coverage has moved on, the crisis has ended.
I think about the Haitian Earthquake of 2010, where a 7.0 earthquake destroyed much of the essential services, general infrastructure, and killing 230,000. Even this past year, the Haitian people continue to rebuild. Many agencies and ministries are still involved as the people return to their communities and restore their lives. This takes a long term commitment.
In South Sudan, a failed cease-fire is driving tens of thousands to refugee camps in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. These camps lack access to clean water and food supplies continue to be low.(Baptist Global Response) Here there is a long term need because the food supplies will continue to be low due to the farmers being unable to plant their crops. Another long term commitment.
In West Africa, we are all aware of the Ebola crisis. Christians throughout the region are conducting trainings to teach the people in rural area how stay away from contracting the disease. There they are distributing buckets, bleach and soap—among other items to help them if these areas are infected. (Baptist Global Response) This is truly a long term commitment.
We must involve ourselves in these long term forward commitments. There are needs around the world.
Every day there are earthquakes, storms, or other disaster that need immediate and long term commitments. It is easy to get overwhelmed to look at it all. But, we must act if we are going to fulfill what it means to be a Good Samaritan.
It is interesting to see, that the Good Samaritan only helped one man. This was a very dangerous road—people may have been dying there daily. We don’t have to solve all of the world’s problems—but we can help solve one of them.
How are you going to have a forward commitment? What steps are you going to take to impact our world for the long term? How are you going to be a Good Samaritan with a forward commitment?
Jesus told a story of a man who fell upon robbers, he was beaten and bruised. A priest and a Levite went to the other side of the road to pass him by. But, a Samaritan saw him and had he had a compassionate heart, provided immediate care, and made a forward commitment.
In verse 36, Jesus asks:
[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.”(Luke 10:36-37 ESV)
What are you going to do with today’s message? Are you going to step up to the plate to go and do likewise? Are you going to make a resolution to investigate agencies to support financially, or may be go on a mission trip?
How is the story of the Good Samaritan going to impact your life?
The one who showed the man mercy proved to be a neighbor to the man in the street.
Go and do likewise.
Let us pray.
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This sermon was preached at Sage Hall at Fort Bliss, TX on 11 January 2015.
All Scriptures marked ESV: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.