LOVING OTHERS WITH ACTION

Why do I have difficulty loving some people?

Luke 10:30-34 (NIV)

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. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 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.

The background

The people of the northern kingdom (Israel) were taken captive around 721B.C. and their captors (Assyrians) imported many Gentiles, who intermarried with the Jews, known as Samaritans. Judah, the southern kingdom, was defeated later but refused to give in to mixed marriages. Therefore, the Judah Jews thought higher of themselves and would have nothing to do with the Samaritans. This created a reciprocal feeling among the Samaritans.

Callous indifference

The road between Jerusalem and Jericho was in a Jewish area and was heavily traveled by Jews. The likelihood that the man who was beaten was a Jew is very high. Why wouldn’t the priest stop? Why would the Levite see a fellow Jew in desperate need and walk away?

Compassionate action

Assuming the man was a Jew, how difficult would it be for the Samaritan to offer to help?
Think of the Samaritan woman at the well John 4:9 “for the Jews have no dealings with
the Samaritans.”
What were the differences between the Samaritan and the priest and Levite? Actions
See James 2:24
Does our compassion spur us into action for those in need?
The second of the two great commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself
(Matthew 22:39). Let’s love one another accordingly with action.