How Can I Love My Neighbor During this Crisis! - Luke 10

As we continue to journey this coronavirus pandemic, it has radically altered the way we meet with each other.  Those who are not going to work, restaurants, sporting event, or even church are needing to redefine what community looks like.  In some ways we are going back fifty years where a lot of connecting with others happened right in our neighborhood especially on our own blocks. If you are like me, here in Irvine my neighborhood is very diverse.  We have neighbors that have been here for many years and those who moved to our block recently.  Young couples with young kids, couples like us with teenagers, older couples whose kids have grown up and either stayed at home or moved out of state.  One of the things we are all learning is "who is my neighbor?".  This is exactly what Jesus is teaching in the parable he teaches today.  

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have. 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

A couple of important comments on the context of this parable.  First, Jesus is equipping his disciples more and more each day.  The chapter before Jesus sent out 12 disciples to heal the sick, cast out demons and preach that the kingdom of God was near.  Today in this chapter, he sends out 72 disciples to do the same thing among the surrounding towns and cities. 

Second, as you probably know Samaritans were not well liked by most Jewish people.  They were seen as only half Jewish, as many men intermarried with Samaritan women when they were exiled.  Since Gentiles were considered unclean, so were the so called "Samaritans".  

Finally, the religious leaders were increasingly vehemently opposing Jesus.  They were trying to trap him into making a mistake in regard to interpretation of the Old Testament law.  If he made a mistake they could discredit his ministry as a rabbi.  So it is in this context that Jesus tells the story. 

In the story a man is trying to "justify" himself.  He wanted to show that he was doing enough good things to inherit eternal life. Jesus sums up what it means to inherit eternal life. Love God fully and your neighbor as yourself.  He was not doing this to say you can earn eternal life, but to expose the error in the man's assumptions.  And he does this when the man asks who is his neighbor.  

The basic jist of the story is a man is stripped of his goods, beaten horriby, and left for dead in the streets.  Two religious leaders see the man and instead of helping him, go out of their way to not help the man. They made excuses so they would not have to offer help to the outsider. 

I"m sure their rationalization was based on typical excuses like:

1. The road is too dangerous for me to go and help.

2. Samaritans are unclean I don't want to get contaminated.

3. He brought it on himself. 

4. I can pray for him.  

Charles Spurgeon the great Scottish preacher said this, 

"But all of these are simply excuses. “I never knew a man refuse to help the poor who failed to give at least one admirable excuse.” 

So what does this mean for us today?  First, we obviously need to follow the guidelines we have been given to not contaminate others in our neighborhood.  Yet, there are many ways we can care for our neighbors and not walk to the other side to avoid the hurting, sick and lonely.  Groceries can be dropped at door steps, cards can be sent, phone calls/texts/emails can be sent, and we can pray. These are a few ways in which we can love our neighbors as ourselves during this crisis.  

I am sure God will lead you in many other creative and spirit led ways to be like the Good Samaritan today.  Jesus sent the disciples to go out to show God's love and power to all people.  Let's Go and Do Likewise not to earn eternal life but to show we have been given it. 

May God grant you His perfect peace during this challenging time!