The Questions Jesus Asked About Compassion

The religious leader/ lawyer stood up and tested Jesus. His motive was to justify himself. He was arrogant enough to think that he was loving God fully, and tried to find a loophole when it came to loving his neighbor.

Watch the full Sunday service and message by Pastor Dennis Jacobson below.

SERMON TEXT

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 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.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 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. 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.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

SERMON NOTES

Jesus uses the story of the Good Samaritan to show us to what lengths we are to go to show love to those in need.

It may require that we

• • Take the risk
  • Be personally involved
  • Give of our time
  • Spend some money

Our spiritual journey calls us beyond our religious routines and beyond managing our to-do lists, into a lifestyle of Faith-in-Action that welcomes divine detours. These are opportunities to demonstrate God’s love in simple ways to people who need us.

• • Who is it that you need to show compassion towards?
  • Who is it that you need to show grace to?
  • Who is it that you need to help up out of the pit?
  • Who is it that you need to love?
  • Who will you be a neighbor to?