Who is My Neighbor?

Who Is My Neighbor?

2006008

Topic # 0196 (brotherly love)

Introduction:

A. John 13:34-35 – a new commandment.

1. What exactly is new here? Mosaic principles told Jews to love their neighbor. (Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5)

2. Newness is implicit in the words, even as I have loved you.

3. In the kind of love Jesus is talking about, we see:

a) A deeper intensity.

b) A love that self-abandoning & self sacrificing.

B. R. W. Frank:

1. In Christian thought, “God is love.” An everlasting, all-comprehensive, benevolent, and sacrificial love is held to be the very essence of God.

2. Think of the early church for a moment.

3. How did they do in carrying out this command?

a) The “new commandment” of sacrificial love has marvelous power over the church.

b) What about today?

c) How strong is the brotherly love in the church as a whole?

d) w/in our congregation?

C. A goal we need to have is to increase love and godly behavior.

1. I believe our group does a great job in this now.

2. But. How can we increase?

D. Sometimes we ask:

1. Do I commit myself to more good deeds to prove that I care?

2. Do I have to love more people? It can be hard to love people I do not know.

3. I believe we increase love when we realize that good deeds & good will are tangible evidence of God’s saving power at working w/in us.

4. Love & good deeds will spring forth from a heart that is growing toward God.

I. Do This and You Will Live – Lk. 10:25-29.

A. Here Jesus makes the connection between behavior, eternal life, and love.

1. 10:25 – lawyer/expert in Jewish law/history asks…

2. 10:26 – Jesus refers it back to the expert….what do you think?

3. 10:27 – Answer: quotes Lev. 19:18 and Deut. 6:5.

B. Note that this love is not regarded by Jesus as just a warm feeling or a compassionate tear in the eye.

1. These OT Principles were a directive for action and a principle for behavior.

a) This had been missed by the Jews for many generations.

2. Do that and you will live.

3. In 2 verses and 6 words – Jesus gives the answer to eternal life.

C. But…can it really be that simple?

1. How do we love our neighbor?

2. What neighbors are we talking about here?

3. What exactly are our obligations to other people?

a) Is it really as simple as it sounds?

II. Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:30-37

A. 10:30 – man traveling Jerusalem to Jericho. Treacherous road. Bandits.

1. Ambushed, beaten, stabbed, robbed, and stripped of all belongings, left for dead.

2. He will die if someone does not arrive to help him.

B. 10:31 – priest comes by. Notices victim, but passes by on the other side. Why did he not act?

1. Maybe the person was a Gentile. Person’s disregard for God got him in this position.

2. A trick? A setup? Maybe robbers hiding – waiting to ambush him?

3. Meanwhile…the man is still there. He will die if someone does not arrive to help him.

C. 10:32 – Levite comes by. Does nothing. Why?

1. Maybe he thought the person dead. Dead bodies were unclean.

2. If he defiled – who will perform the services in the temple?

3. He goes on. Meanwhile…the man is still there. He will die if someone does not arrive to help him.

D. 10:33-35 – A Samaritan…

1. Wonder if Jesus offended his audience by making next traveler a Samaritan?

a) Samaritans had no respect for God or the temple.

b) Had committed acts of terror and destruction against Jews in decades before this.

c) No good people….

2. 10:33-35 – this person’s actions are recorded for us.

E. 10:36 – Jesus now has a neighbor question of his own for the lawyer…

1. 10:37 – expert of the law no doubt offended by Jesus’ usage of Samaritan in story…can’t even use word…

III. Two Responses:

A. 10:37 – Expert’s response to Jesus question is: The one who did mercy.

1. Jesus then says, Go and do the same.

2. This response addresses both the question “who is my neighbor,” and “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

B. In effect, Jesus invalidates the question “who is my neighbor?”

1. If one has love, one does not choose his neighbor; he chooses to be a neighbor!

2. Christ like love does not ask “who is my neighbor.” Rather it is active…Go and do the same!

C. Doing mercy, love, and good deeds aren’t so we will get saved.

1. We do what we are. Love and good deeds spring out of a changed heart. A heart that grows closer and closer to God.

2. If we do not love as we should – it is because we are not being transformed into the person of Christ like we should.

D. If we have to ask “who is my neighbor?” then we do not understand love!

1. We need to grow to the point to where we understand the love for neighbor flows out of love for God.

2. Shouldn’t we be willing to increase – to grow in love/share that love w/others?

Conclusion:

A. Who do you identify with today?

1. Can you identify with the priest and Levite?

a) We can never justify our inheritance f eternal life by obeying a long list of laws or limiting our obligations with a short list of neighbors. Both attempts are contrary to love. (The love of God.)

2. Can you identify with the victim of the robbers, or every broken person you encounter?

a) Their only hope is that others will be merciful neighbors who come with the grace to heal and restore. Isn’t that what Jesus did?

3. Can you identify with the Samaritan?

a) It isn’t one’s class, nationality, training, or theological affiliation that justifies. What justifies us is love acting in mercy – doing mercy. Being a neighbor.

B. Didn’t the Samaritan do just what Jesus would do?

1. Jesus did love and godly behavior. It caused Him to be nailed to the cross.

2. But…it also allowed Him to be resurrected – exhibiting power over death.

3. It is through our response to Him that we can be baptized into His death and live with the hope of being resurrected.

C. God’s love and His behavior live in you.

D. John 13:34-35

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Who Is My Neighbor? 2006008 Topic # 0196 (brotherly love) Introduction: A. John 13:34-35 – a new commandment. 1. What exactly is new here? Mosaic principles told Jews to love their neighbor. (Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5) 2. Newness is implicit in the words, even as I have loved you. 3. In the kind of love Jesus is talking about, we see: a) A deeper intensity. b) A love that self-abandoning & self sacrificing. B. R. W. Frank: 1. In Christian thought, “God is love.” An everlasting, all-comprehensive, benevolent, and sacrificial love is held to be the very essence of God. 2. Think of the early church for a moment. 3. How did they do in carrying out this command? a) The “new commandment” of sacrificial love has marvelous power over the church. b) What about today? c) How strong is the brotherly love in the church as a whole? d) w/in our congregation? C. A goal we need to have is to increase love and godly behavior. 1. I believe our group does a great job in this now. 2. But. How can we increase? D. Sometimes we ask: 1. Do I commit myself to more good deeds to prove that I care? 2. Do I have to love more people? It can be hard to love people I do not know. 3. I believe we increase love when we realize that good deeds & good will are tangible evidence of God’s saving power at working w/in us. 4. Love & good deeds will spring forth from a heart that is growing toward God. I. Do This and You Will Live – Lk. 10:25-29. A. Here Jesus makes the connection between behavior, eternal life, and love. 1. 10:25 – lawyer/expert in Jewish law/history asks… 2. 10:26 – Jesus refers it back to the expert….what do you think? 3. 10:27 – Answer: quotes Lev. 19:18 and Deut. 6:5. B. Note that this love is not regarded by Jesus as just a warm feeling or a compassionate tear in the eye. 1. These OT Principles were a directive for action and a principle for behavior. a) This had been missed by the Jews for many generations. 2. Do that and you will live. 3. In 2 verses and 6 words – Jesus gives the answer to eternal life. C. But…can it really be that simple? 1. How do we love our neighbor? 2. What neighbors are we talking about here? 3. What exactly are our obligations to other people? a) Is it really as simple as it sounds? II. Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:30-37 A. 10:30 – man traveling Jerusalem to Jericho. Treacherous road. Bandits. 1. Ambushed, beaten, stabbed, robbed, and stripped of all belongings, left for dead. 2. He will die if someone does not arrive to help him. B. 10:31 – priest comes by. Notices victim, but passes by on the other side. Why did he not act? 1. Maybe the person was a Gentile. Person’s disregard for God got him in this position. 2. A trick? A setup? Maybe robbers hiding – waiting to ambush him? 3. Meanwhile…the man is still there. He will die if someone does not arrive to help him. C. 10:32 – Levite comes by. Does nothing. Why? 1. Maybe he thought the person dead. Dead bodies were unclean. 2. If he defiled – who will perform the services in the temple? 3. He goes on. Meanwhile…the man is still there. He will die if someone does not arrive to help him. D. 10:33-35 – A Samaritan… 1. Wonder if Jesus offended his audience by making next traveler a Samaritan? a) Samaritans had no respect for God or the temple. b) Had committed acts of terror and destruction against Jews in decades before this. c) No good people…. 2. 10:33-35 – this person’s actions are recorded for us. E. 10:36 – Jesus now has a neighbor question of his own for the lawyer… 1. 10:37 – expert of the law no doubt offended by Jesus’ usage of Samaritan in story…can’t even use word… III. Two Responses: A. 10:37 – Expert’s response to Jesus question is: The one who did* mercy.* 1. Jesus then says, Go and do the same. 2. This response addresses both the question “who is my neighbor,” and “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” B. In effect, Jesus invalidates the question “who is my neighbor?” 1. *If one has love, one does not choose* his neighbor; he chooses to be a neighbor!** 2. Christ like love does not ask “who is my neighbor.” Rather it is active…Go and do the same! C. Doing mercy, love, and good deeds aren’t so we will get saved. 1. We do what we are. Love and good deeds spring out of a changed heart. A heart that grows closer and closer to God. 2. If we do not love as we should – it is because we are not being transformed into the person of Christ like we should. D. If we have to ask “who is my neighbor?” then we do not understand love! 1. We need to grow to the point to where we understand the love for neighbor flows out of love for God. 2. Shouldn’t we be willing to increase – to grow in love/share that love w/others? Conclusion: A. Who do you identify with today? 1. Can you identify with the priest and Levite? a) We can never justify our inheritance f eternal life by obeying a long list of laws or limiting our obligations with a short list of neighbors. Both attempts are contrary to love. (The love of God.) 2. Can you identify with the victim of the robbers, or every broken person you encounter? a) Their only hope is that others will be merciful neighbors who come with the grace to heal and restore. Isn’t that what Jesus did? 3. Can you identify with the Samaritan? a) It isn’t one’s class, nationality, training, or theological affiliation that justifies. What justifies us is love acting in mercy – doing mercy. Being a neighbor. B. Didn’t the Samaritan do just what Jesus would do? 1. Jesus did love and godly behavior. It caused Him to be nailed to the cross. 2. But…it also allowed Him to be resurrected – exhibiting power over death. 3. It is through our response to Him that we can be baptized into His death and live with the hope of being resurrected. C. God’s love and His behavior live in you. D. John 13:34-35 E. I N V I T A T I O N