WHILE WE WAIT
By Craig Manners
14th July 2023
Luke 10:25-37:
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’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
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[c] 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.”
I have been reading a book by Timothy Keller recently called “Ministries of Mercy – The Call of the Jericho Road” and, having, in April 2023, started a new job as the CEO of a 55-year-old mercy ministry organization called Temcare, I have not surprisingly found the book thoroughly interesting and helpful.
The book focusses on this confronting passage of Scripture which we are going to look at briefly, Luke 10:25-37.
This is a passage which Tim Keller, who went heaven recently, says changed his life. And was a big part of what drew him to move to NYC to begin the ministry with Redeemer Presbyterian Church, the fruit of which continues to impact that city in many ways.
Very briefly, to give us a very basic context of Luke, we see in chapters 1-9 that Luke is helping us understand who Jesus is. Then to around chapter 18 he is helping us understand what it means to follow Jesus.
We learn throughout these chapters that as followers of Christ we are to be Gospel messengers, to go forth and tell the world this amazing news of God’s gift of new life, of salvation through Jesus.
But here we also learn that there is a practical aspect to this. We are to demonstrate this Gospel through what we do, how we live. Through practically loving our neighbours.
The point in Luke here is that preaching the Gospel and demonstrating the fruit of the Gospel through acts of mercy go together. Every follower of Jesus is to go and do both, they are both fruits of what has been done in our lives by Christ.
We love, through sharing the Gospel message and doing acts of mercy, and we do so because Christ first loved us, and performed an amazing act of mercy for us when we were dying on our Jericho Rd.
In V25 I think the expert in the law probably refers more to a religious scholar rather than a lawyer. He was trying to test or trap Jesus, “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” But Jesus, instead of answering the scholar’s question asks him a question back.
V26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
V27 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’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
V28: “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
The answer given is correct, but it is not so much a formula for salvation as a fruit of salvation Jesus is referring to. If you do this, even imperfectly in this life, it is because you are saved and therefore you have eternal life and will truly live.
The purpose of the law is to convict us of our need for salvation. It shows us that we cannot love this way, or fulfil the law perfectly, in our fallen state. It is impossible. But with God’s help we can go some way toward fulfilling some of it in this life, on our way to perfectly fulfilling it on the day of glorification, when we are in heaven.
V29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Now, was he genuinely interested in knowing the answer to this question? No, he wanted to justify himself. He wasn’t really interested in the answer. He wanted to cross off a few categories of people who he didn’t want to help.
V30 Jesus answered this question by telling a story, or a parable, about a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers.
Jerusalem, only 27 kms from Jericho, similar to suburbs such as Eltham, Springvale or Mitcham to Melbourne CBD. But Jerusalem is 914 m above sea level while Jericho is 304 metres below sea level. The road descends dramatically through steep, rocky settings, which provided hiding places and easy escape routes for thieves along the way. In fact, it was called “the Bloody Way” due to the prevalence of such attacks.
The man in this parable was one such man, who came under attack at the hands of robbers, was stripped of his clothes, beaten, and left lying there half dead.
V31, 32 Two people passed by a priest and then a Levite. Interestingly these two religious leaders were bound by duty to help people in need and yet they did not.
Keller says they were smart men, as they would have realized that if the man was still alive, the robbers were probably not far away, and their lives could therefore be at risk. They may well have justified their decision to pass by, maybe even on religious grounds.
However, Jesus, in mentioning these religious leaders was making a statement that we need to be on guard not to be like them. They had lots of religious knowledge but found ways to justify getting out of helping. Our problem is certainly not a lack of knowledge either.
Our main problem is more a lack of compassion.
However, trying to do good deeds out of a sense of duty only leads to more self-righteousness. The compassion must come from what God does in our hearts. From the new heart and new spirit God gives His people (Ezek. 36:26).
It has to come from Christ in us as a result of what He has done for us. It can be a conscious cooperation though, as we try to be proactive in deed ministry. While we play no part in our salvation, we do play a part in our sanctification as we cooperate with God as He makes us holy over time. Doing good is a part of that.
We can quite boldly go about seeking to and doing good in the name of Jesus, knowing that we are doing so only because of what Christ first did in our lives, and we openly acknowledge that, and all glory therefore belongs to and flows to Jesus.
V33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. The man from Samaria took a big risk in stopping, as he may also have known the robbers were most likely still nearby.
The man on the road was the Samaritan’s sworn enemy, a Jew. But he wasn’t operating as if there were certain categories of people who he wouldn’t help. He saw a human being.
V34 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. This was comprehensive help, meeting a variety of needs: emergency medical attention, transportation, shelter, advocacy, financial assistance, and a follow-up visit.
It was confronting help, cleaning up and bandaging open wounds.
It was personally sacrificial help. The man from Samaria interrupted his schedule, he put the man on his transport, and he walked himself instead of riding.
V35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] 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.’
It was costly and generous help. Apart from the bandages, oil and wine, he spent two denarii as a down payment. A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer. probably equating to approx. A$200 a day for us, so maybe 2 denarii would be like us helping someone out at a cost of around A$400. He additionally offers to reimburse the innkeeper for any other expenses.
V36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
V37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
V37 Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
“Go and do likewise.” Is a command from Jesus for His people, individually and as a church.
Jesus wants us to do acts of mercy. Therefore, if we do them in obedience to Christ there is no glory in it for us, it all goes to Jesus. This is important, as we are so prone to becoming self-righteous. Jesus is why we do them. Jesus is the one in charge of the fruit of it all. We can’t bring good out of anything, we can’t save souls, or change lives. Only Jesus can. But we can act out of obedience and trust Him, knowing we are not wasting our time, resources or efforts if it is what He wants us to do.
So a few interesting things we could dwell on from all this could include:
Who do we help and how do we do it?
Who do we help, or who is my neighbor? That is not really the issue is it. Jesus is clearly telling us it is anyone in need. There are no limits. Not just the so called “deserving” poor, as none of us are deserving, but anyone in need.
And there are lots of needs.
I am sure you have wondered why that is. Why are there so many needs, so much brokenness in this life?
That’s right, you know the answer. The Fall. Sin. The consequences of sin.
Since the Fall, human alienation from God has resulted in countless social problems. All the bad stuff is as a result of the Fall.
Natural disasters, famines, disease, disabilities, economic hardship, corruption, abortion, adultery, family breakdown, relationship problems, and all the consequences of these things.
Divorce levels for example have reached new highs, resulting in increased social, mental, and physical health issues, poverty, and trauma rates for single fathers, mothers and children.
Society deceives people into thinking that separation and divorce is the answer and will lead to a better life. It most often doesn’t. That is usually a lie. God says, in Malachi 2, that He basically hates divorce and for good reason. It hurts everyone involved, especially the children. We see it all around us today.
The work that Temcare does with the families that we are helping and seeking to help is evidence this. Most of the families Temcare minister to are fatherless homes for example.
Many social problems in our society are due to the misuse of God’s good gift of sex. Sex in marriage is good and good for us. Sex outside of marriage, and unfaithfulness and adultery in marriage, leads to many troubles.
Most often, again, it is the children who suffer the most, and not just those children free to live out their lives, but the unborn, who increasingly fill the Jericho Roads throughout our own city. Although we can’t see them on the road, we know they exist and need our help.
The Jericho Rd is everywhere, our neighbours are everywhere. The soon to be aborted baby, the mother about to do something she will never recover from, the homeless, asylum seekers, children of prisoners, effectively orphaned, neglected by society, and left with limited assistance.
The elderly in our neigbourhood who need some help to mow their lawn, or need a meal or need transport to a medical appointment. The struggling single mother around the corner who needs someone to talk to and a food shop or hamper to help ends meet. The divorced father who struggles, often alone. Wherever there is a need there is a neighbour for us to help.
How Do We Help?
Wisdom and Discernment Needed:
The wrong type of and delivery of welfare has destroyed vast numbers of lives, so obviously, we need to be wise in our efforts to help. And we do not want to be naïve and foolish. But we also do not want caution to hold us back, nor should we put conditions on our help, at least initially, as God did not put conditions on us prior to His saving us. As Keller says, Christian aid is called mercy. It is not a reward!
Motivation:
The motivation behind acts of mercy is important as we have seen. So, what is that motivates us to want to do acts of mercy? We don’t have to do these things to receive salvation, otherwise it would be salvation by works, but “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64)
Also, the motivation can’t come from secular or religious “morality,” which works through guilt tripping people into doing good deeds. There are nice feelings people get out of it, probably because we are made in the image of God, and that can motivate people to do good, but that can become corrupt and is not the motivation Jesus is here referring to.
Good Works are a Fruit of the Gospel:
This parable is more a principle rather than a rule from Jesus. It is what is behind it that motivates us, not something done out of obligation to a set of rules rather as Titus 2:14 tells us, when Jesus saved us He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:14).
A Picture of Salvation:
Jesus in this parable is giving us the dynamic of what it is that motivates Christian mercy ministry. It is a picture of salvation, a solution to the Fall and the chaos of this fallen life.
With this in mind, it is helpful to picture ourselves as the one in need on the Jericho Road. We were Jesus’ enemies. He came, He saw us, He looked at us, saw that we were enemies, He helped us in our desperate situation, doomed to perish, He saved us. His grace and mercy toward us was so costly that He gave up His life to save us. We did not deserve it. His grace was freely given to us. Therefore, we too are motivated to love others.
Jesus came to us on that road. He had compassion on us. He is our Good Samaritan. This is describing radical love, love that can only come from Jesus, not in any way naturally from fallen people. This is big. You can see why it changed Tim Keller’s life and direction.
Our doing good is a response to Jesus doing good to us. It is also Jesus giving us a mandate, permission, encouragement to focus our attention, energy, resources, and time on ministries of mercy, on doing good deeds.
It is the practical fruit of salvation.
This is a call from Jesus to individual Christians, families, businesses, and whole congregations to look outward, to seek opportunities to help, be creative, be generous, and lavish in doing good. To not hold back.
We are living on the Jericho Road, our church meets on the Jericho Road, we work on the Jericho Road.
Jesus is our model. Like Jesus, we too care deeply for all human suffering, but especially eternal suffering, so our deeds need to be accompanied with the Gospel message.
We need to proactively and consciously seek to do good though. As John Piper helpfully says, we too are easily anesthetized by the comforts of the world.
We need to not let things like social media, TV, Netflix, laziness, idleness dominates and rule over us. We need to aim to be formed by Scripture, not culture. Seek to be of use to people and our world. Aim to keep God supreme in our lives. This is where true peace, joy and satisfaction will come from, not from Netflix or Disney+ or other mind-numbing media.
In these culturally dark and lost times, maybe Christians in the West could wholeheartedly double-down and intentionally ramp up mercy ministry. While we wait for Heaven, lets aim to be as active as we can.
Combining deeds of mercy with evangelism and discipleship allows us to reach into our community, break down barriers and plant seeds of good in people’s lives. Healing a broken heart, a community, a nation.
With prayer and faith, advancing this cause, this movement of mercy started by Jesus two thousand years ago, could cause a groundswell of change in our community, advancing the Gospel and God’s Kingdom.
In A.D. 361 Roman Emperor Julian noticed the Christians doing lots of mercy ministry in the community to friends and enemies alike, and it confounded him.
Throughout many other periods of history, it has often been the Christians stepping up to help people. During plagues, famines, natural disasters, pandemics, and often putting themselves at risk to help people. It confounds a selfish world and can be used by God to convict and change people. We can’t all be active in all areas though, but of course we can pray for others. Prayer is such a vital part of all of this. So, through prayer and action, let us seek to confound the world with an overflow of mercy and love in the name of Jesus, as in obedience to our Lord Jesus we, “Go and do likewise.”
We are foreigners and strangers. Our days on earth are like a shadow and without hope. (1 Chronicles 29:15) There is only one name under heaven by which mankind can find any hope, purpose, fulfilment and salvation: Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12) While we need to live out our days in this fallen world, there is much meaning to be found in purposeful activity along the lines of that outlined by Jesus in the Bible.
So, let’s carry on Jesus’ movement of mercy in response to the movement of death and chaos being spread around Australia and the West. Let’s take God seriously, and let’s love God and our fellow man. Be a true friend to others by speaking the truth and doing good to all.
“This is love for God: to obey his commands” (1 John 5:3) … such as: “to love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 19:19), “look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27), “do good to all people” (Gal. 6:10), be a Good Samaritan (Luke 10:37), feed the hungry, provide for the needy, care for the sick, visit the prisoner (Matt. 25:35-36).
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” Psalm 146:7-9
Prayer: Father, please help us to be a neighbour to our neighbours in need. We know we need to change. I need to change. Please give us a greater measure of your Holy Spirit and fill your people with a greater measure of compassion for others. Bring people in need across our paths and show us how to be like you. May this bring glory to you and advance your Church in Australia and beyond. We know you have used small groups of people to do amazing things in the past. If it be your will please use us, as a small family of believers likewise.
(Article taken from a message on Luke 10:25-37 titled “Confound the World with an Overflow of Mercy and Love” first delivered by Craig Manners at Belgrave Height Presbyterian Church on 18 June 2023)
Note from Craig: If you or anyone you know is in need please contact www.Temcare.org.au and we will try our best to assist you or refer you to other professional agencies.