The text tonight we'll be considering is Luke 10, verses 25 to 37. So if you would rise as we read God's word. This is the infallible, inerrant word of God. Luke 10, starting at verse 25. 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 saw him, and 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. 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 when I come back. Which of these three do you think proved to be the neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? And he said, the one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, you go and do likewise. Let us pray. Almighty Heavenly Father, we come before you as we look in your word at this parable of your son. We ask, Lord, that you would work in us through the power of your Holy Spirit, applying this word to our hearts. We ask that in this exhortation of your word, you would be glorified and that your son would be proclaimed among the nations. Heavenly Father, all these things we ask in your son's name, amen. Please be seated. The text which is before us today could quite possibly be one of Christ's most famous parables. No doubt, I'm sure there's very few people today who have at least heard of the Good Samaritan or used that term, you're a good Samaritan. I know that in the region of New York where I grew up, we have whole hospitals named Good Samaritan Hospital. And so the name Good Samaritan is still known to us today, but I'm curious how many people understand not only the parable, but also the context and the conversation that revolves around this parable. And also, how many of us fit into this mindset of this lawyer who approaches Christ with a question, as we too have often, I'm sure, approached situations where we were 100% confident that we knew we were right about what we were talking about, for it only to turn out that we didn't grasp the picture at all. And so the lesson that Christ is teaching us tonight in this text is that we're not to give any qualifications to who our neighbor is, but we're to show mercy to all of those around us. And so we'll be looking at the passage in three sections. First, the opening debate, which is in 25 to 29, verses 25 to 29. Then the parable itself, which is in verses 30 to 35. And then the resolution or the charge of Christ in verses 36 to 37. So opening up with this debate, a lawyer approaches Christ with a question. Again, nothing new in Christ's ministry. Plenty of people have come to him with questions. It's also a question that he's received on multiple occasions. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Now to be clear, this isn't a bad question, this is a good question. We should all be concerned with this question and ponder not only the depths of our sin, but consider how it is that we have been saved and the depths that Christ went to just to save us. And so our minds are the same as the lawyer's mind in this situation. And in many ways, much of the way this lawyer behaves is the same way we behave. but take specific notice in the text about what the text reveals about the lawyer's motives. It's clear that the lawyer put the question to Christ to spark a debate. The text says, to put him to the test. And again, this is nothing new to Christ's ministry. Luke chapter 7 verse 30 states that the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves. And then again in John John 8 verse 6, this they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. And so the motivation of this lawyer was to try and trip up Christ, was to try and show those who may have been around him, this isn't the Son of God as he's been claiming to be. And look, he can't even answer this simple question, what does it mean to, what does it take to inherit eternal life? But, Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, sees through this motivation, and Jesus has him answer his own question. Christ says to the lawyer, what is written in the law? How do you read it? And notice at this point, Christ could have easily come up with a number of responses to this lawyer. Christ could have asked, what do you think it takes to inherit eternal life? Or what are the rabbis and the scholars in the temple and universities teaching? about what it means to inherit eternal life. But no, instead Christ reacts to this testing, this testing that the lawyer gives to him, in the same way that he reacted to the testing in the wilderness. He responds with scripture. The lawyer, who no doubt knows his Old Testament well, responds and answers this question clearly and boldly. And in this is the summary law. What we come to understand is the summary of the Old Testament law. The lawyer who answers the question rightly, he gives the correct answer. And it's in this summary that we see the whole duty of man required to us by the law, to love our God with all of our being, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. So this successfully answers Christ's question, or answers his question, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And the scriptures testify that the person who obeys the law shall live, which in turn leads Christ to affirm the lawyer in his answer as he says, you have answered correctly, do this and you will live. Now at this point, the text takes a different direction, but at this point the lawyer should have taking some time for self-reflection, much like we tonight should take some time for self-reflection by asking ourselves the question, have I loved God and my neighbor according to this standard? And upon personal reflection of this standard, we all, you and I both, must and I'm sure see in our hearts that we have not loved either God or our neighbor according to this standard. And we haven't done it properly at all. Well, why? Because we are fallen, sinful, broken beings. Our hearts are sin. Our hearts are idle factories, as Calvin says. And our love and our hearts are easily distracted by the things of this world and our selfish own personal ambitions. And so the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks if any man is able to perfectly keep the commandments of God. It states, no mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed. This is the position you and I and the lawyer find ourselves in when we put ourselves before God. No matter how hard we try, we're not able to keep this standard. And for this, we justly deserve the full wrath and punishment of God. And James Boyce helps us understand the motivation of this lawyer and his question when he summarizes that at this point, it is evident to the lawyer As it should be evident to anyone who thinks about it, that he has not done so. He has not followed the law as he should. The lawyer should have said, no, I haven't done that. I can't do that. No one can. So now what do I do? And the question is valid. So now what? We're not able to keep the law. We're not able to inherit eternal life. So now what? Is there no escape from the punishment to come, the just punishment to come? Because of our inability to keep this law, Again, the Shorter Catechism summarizes for us our escape from the just wrath of God due to us for our sins. It reads, to escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for our sins, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means which Christ communicates to us, the benefits or redemption. Christ saw and knew that we are wholly unable to fulfill the requirements of the law. And this is the very reason why Christ came. It was Christ, as Ephesians 2 reminds us, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, you and I are not left without hope, for Christ, the obedient one, was obedient for our sake. For the obedience of Christ is not limited by anything, as he brought himself even to the point of death on a cross. And this is where our true hope is. The standard put to us in the law is clear, but our ability is completely lacking. Therefore, it is only Christ who is able to give us eternal life. conversation between the Christ and the lawyer ended in this manner and the lawyer spent some time in personal reflection of his own inability to live up to the standard that he himself responded with, the conversation would have been over. But that's not the way the text unfolds. This moves us on to the second point with the parable which we'll re-read in verses 29-25. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, and who is my neighbor? And 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 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 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, I will repay you when I come back." Which of the, I will repay you when I come back. And so here we see in the opening verses in verse 29 of this section, the lawyer moves from testing Christ to arrogance, but he desiring to justify himself. What is it that the lawyer is seeking to justify? Well, he's trying to justify his own sin, just as we too in our arrogance try to justify our sins against God and our neighbor. There was common knowledge in Christ's day that the Pharisees and scribes and other people who held status picked and chose who they wanted to be their neighbor, who qualified to be their neighbor. the lawyer's continuation of the debate one commentator states that Jesus' answer concerned the lawyer, and He now tries to find a way out in order to still the voice of His conscience. He is looking for an excuse for not having treated all people alike with love. So he asks who is his neighbor, hoping to be able to prove that not all people, especially those that he does not like, are his neighbors. And that the law, therefore, does not demand love towards all men. As discussed earlier, the lawyer should have responded to Christ that he is wholly unable to keep that which is required by the law, and he should have admitted this to Christ. But instead, feeling the guilt which has been exposed by the law with the law he just quoted himself, he moves to justify his actions and the way he's been living his life. And this moves Christ to respond to this question, who is my neighbor, with a parable. And so Christ draws us in again with a common event. A man, presumably a Jew, is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. But along the way, he's beaten and robbed, and he's left half dead. And one interesting thing is this may have been something Christ overheard, an actual event. That's how common this event was, of men being robbed on the road. So Christ maybe have actual, like the other week I heard this situation where a man was on the road and he was robbed. But then Christ specifically highlights three types of men who walk past this beaten man. A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. On the surface, it no doubt has struck us as surprising that the priest and the Levite would merely pass by on the other side. You would think that men who know the law as well as these men would take the time to stop and help this beaten man. After all, it's the duty of the priests and the Levites to serve the people. Numbers 8-19 outlines, and I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel to do service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel. Therefore, it's not only fitting that the priest and the Levite would stop and help this man, but in reality, they're actually charged by God to do so. to help and serve the people of Israel. But Christ, who understands this lawyer's definition of who his neighbor is, that he's got qualifications for who his neighbor is, Christ factors this into his parable. And then Christ brings in someone who should strike us as surprising. He brings in the Samaritan. And the Samaritan, being of that ethnicity, that region which is just beyond Israel, of mixed blood, the Jews despised the Samaritans. And at times their hatred between each other was deadly. And it should surprise us that this man, a Samaritan, would take time out of his day to help a man of the very ethnicity that would seek to look down on him or even wish harm on him. One commentator outlines that the Samaritans were the, this is a little background on the Samaritans, that the Samaritans were the descendants of those Hebrews who intermarried with pagan peoples as a result of Assyria's capture of the northern kingdom of Israel. They were not looked upon favorably by first century Jews. In fact, Jews hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews. This is why it's surprising to us that a Samaritan would stop and help a Jew. Because if anyone in the world could have just cause to not stop and help a Jew, it would be these people. But so not only does this Samaritan take time out of his day, but he moves to treat his wounds, bring him to the nearest inn, give money to cover whatever cost it requires for him to recover, and promise to pay whatever else may be spent. So there are a number of lessons which can be drawn out of this parable, and J.C. Ryle helps us understand at least three. The first is that brotherly love is rare, or neighborly love is rare and uncommon in this world. Here is where we see that we have truly failed to love as neighbor. I can think of a specific account when Hope and I were on our way here from Philadelphia. We were just outside of Dallas, and a man asked me, hey, can I have $2 for gas? I didn't have any cash on me. So he asked, could you just fill up my car with $2 of gas? I accepted, or I agreed to this, but at the same time I agreed begrudgingly. I doubted the man. I did not help him out of joy, or I did not have my heart and mind geared towards God to help this man. And so begrudgingly, helping this man out, not only did I fail to joyously serve him, but I was also suspicious of him, and I assumed the worst. And maybe that's just the New Yorker in me, but we're all sinful. We all assume the worst of people. But thank goodness for Christ, who is our perfect neighbor. And his kindness and love are so unfailing that he never disappoints any of his friends. And secondly, were taught by the fact that it was a Samaritan who helped the man, we learn that the neighborly love which is offered does not come with qualifications. We are not to test the distress of our neighbor, but in our comings and goings, we should strive to extend grace and peace to all those who God will bring into our lives. But we must remember not to do so out of any self-righteous motives, as our lawyer friend may have done. but in a humble way in which Christ exemplifies for us as he humbled himself for our sake. Thirdly, we learn that the Samaritan gave more than just feelings. He gave more than just his emotions to this man. He gave resources and time and money. not begrudgingly, but willingly and openly, so that we too are called by this great standard of love to God with all our heart and with all our soul, with all our strength and with all our mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are to give all that we have to both God and neighbor. There is no holding back, just as Christ gave his all to serve us on the cross. And so in conclusion, this brings us to verses 36 and 37, which reads, 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. This question of Christ to the lawyer, who do you think acted more like a neighbor to this man, is one of the most geniusly crafted responses you could ever give to a lawyer. Calvin comments on this passage saying that Christ framed the question in such a way that the lawyer could not escape from preferring the Samaritan to the other two. There was no other option for the lawyer if he was to respond to the question properly. Had Christ sought to ask the question in any other way, the lawyer most likely would have tried to continue to argue with him, seeking to justify his own definition of who qualifies to be his neighbor. But Christ leaves him no choice but to make him see that there are no qualifications for who our neighbor is. And here we have the exposure of the law in our hearts. The law being so clear that we are to love God completely and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are led with deep conviction of our guilt and shame that we are unable to obey this law. We can't even argue our way out or try and justify our failures to uphold the law. And so here at the end of our text, we're not told the lasting result or lasting impact of this conversation on the lawyer, but what we are aware of is the authority that this word has on our lives. We are continually called by the word of God to love God and to love our neighbor. You can't have one without the other. However, society would flip that. Society would have us believe that the only thing we need to concern ourselves with is the love of neighbor. And I can't count the amount of times I've heard politicians start out speeches and base some foundation of religion on just love of neighbor and loving our neighbor. And yet God is nowhere to be found in the picture. And so what does it mean to love God with all of our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind? Well, Christ himself says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. And so we find that Christ is explaining to us that He is the one who enables us, the imperfect ones, to love God perfectly through His working power. Because of our union with Jesus, what is true of Him becomes true of us. God enables us to obey His command and love Him, albeit imperfectly. with all that we are so that God is delighted and that the love he receives is from his people. So what then though does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? The love which the law of God speaks of here is not a love that says I accept you for who you are or who am I to judge the choices that you make. No, the love of neighbor must be modeled after that love which we give to God. Just as we're called to obey the commandments of God, we are too in love for those around us, we are to encourage them to seek to love God and to love Him according to His standards. And we see the example that Christ gives, we see the command to love our neighbor as ourselves played out in what the Samaritan does for this beaten man. As he treats the man's wounds and brings him to shelter and safety and provides everything that the man may stand in need of. Therefore, Christ ends the text tonight. He ends with a command that is clear for us all. You go and do likewise. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you unable to fulfill the standard that you have put forth for us in your law. And we ask, Lord, that as we go about our week, you would enable us through the working of your Son and your Holy Spirit to love you with all of everything that we are, all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We also ask, Lord, that you would be with us in our comings and our goings as we interact with our neighbors, that you would help us to love them properly, not judging them for anything that they may claim to be, but loving them in your name and pointing them to your son and your word. Heavenly Father, all these things we ask in your son's name, amen.