Wednesday, February 29, 2012

26.2.2012 Forgiveness

Ephesians 4: 21- 32 and Eph 5:1

Today we have the great joy of Sharing communion together….. sharing in the remembrance of His death on the cross for us……

We are studying the life of Jesus……. Jesus often taught in parables….. word pictures to help us see ourselves and to help us see the LORD…….. 2 weeks ago……. we studied one of Jesus most powerful pictures…… a picture of God´s unfailing love and mercy……. Shown to us in the picture of the Good Samaritan……. A very simple story…… but full of power…….. full of spiritual meaning…….. It is one of many occasions when Jesus warned us about Hypocrisy……. He reminds us of our tendency to pretend to be Super Christians………. Looking good….. But really not loving and helping others……. Especially if we decide that they don´t deserve our mercy……

Today we will continue to look at what the Bible teaches…..

focusing on our internal attitudes……. Our hearts and motives…… Mercy is a very important part of our Christian life …..We have received mercy that we didn´t deserve….. and we need to show mercy……. Even to those who don´t deserve it…..

This morning….. I want us to look at another component……. another internal attitude that is absolutely necessary in the life of the church….. One that we must exercise at all times …….. it is none other than the attitude of forgiveness......

You can add to your list……. We must show mercy…….. We must be a gracious and forgiving people……. Covering people with love….. The same love that the LORD has shown us…….

The church is no place for grudges……. The Christian life is not to be characterized by grudges or revenge……. or bitterness or pride……. All of these are destructive and must be dissolved in a forgiving attitude……. it is very important for the church to examine itself…….. and to deal with sin……. So that we maintain purity……. As a fellowship of believers….. and as individuals…. We are not perfect…….. But that is our goal….. We want to confess and repent as often as is necessary…….. We want to let the LORD wash the garbage out of our lives……

In the life of the church there will be imperfections…… there will be wrong attitudes……… there will be sin…… and they will occur at every level of the church……. These things will even occur in the lives of those in leadership……. they will occur in my life and in the lives of other pastors and elders……. and they will occur in the lives of everyone in this church…… and in any church…… The Apostle Paul looking at himself at the very end of his life……. identified himself as the chief of sinners……. There will always be imperfections and always be errors…….. and we will always be saying to ourselves, "O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?"

In fact……… the more we mature in Christ…… the more our sin becomes obvious to us……. because the greater our sensitivity to it becomes……… the more likely to see our failures…….. And so because there will always be imperfections and sins and transgressions and misjudgments……. there will always be a great need for the exercise of forgiveness in the life of the church…….. And wherever there is an unforgiving attitude…….. there will be a damaging of the fellowship and there will be a limiting of the usefulness……. and there will be a stealing of the joy that we should experience……… There will be a robbing of the peace that the Lord has given us through His Spirit……

In today's culture bent on exercising and glorifying the sin of self-esteem…….. forgiveness is mocked and vengeance is exalted……. This is just the opposite of what the Scripture teaches us……. We must express an attitude of forgiveness in our personal lives….……

I want to talk about forgiveness this morning before we celebrate communion………… I have a few things for us to think about ……. First of all, forgiveness is the most godlike act a person can do....... Nothing is more godlike than forgiving someone…… And never are you more like God than when you forgive…….

If it is your heart's prayer to be like Christ……. to be as God's beloved children who manifest His character……. then you must necessarily be characterized by forgiveness……… Forgiveness is a marvelous thing……. Forgiveness is a promise…… Forgiveness is a statement of undeserved……. unearned love that says no matter what you've done there is no anger……. no matter what you've done there is no hatred…… no matter what you've done there is no desire for vengeance……. no matter what you've done there will never be any retaliation…… I pass by that transgression completely……. I do not hold you guilty…… I do not blame you…… I feel no self-pity for myself because I've been offended…… rather I pass by that transgression completely and extend my love to you fully……. That's forgiveness and that's Godlike…….

In Exodus 34 God revealed Himself to Moses saying…..

I am the LORD GOD……. compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness........

Loving kindness…..CHeSED in the Hebrew……that's another word for grace......... and truth who keeps loving kindness for thousands…… who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin."

God is by nature a forgiving God…….

David knew this about God very well……

Psalm 32: 1- 6 NLT Neues Leben

1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!

1 Ein Psalm Davids. Glücklich ist der, dessen Sünde vergeben ist und dessen Schuld zugedeckt ist.

Again and again in the Psalms the theme of forgiveness is brought up……… Another one that is worth noting is in Psalm 130….

Psalm 130: 3-4 NLT

3 LORD, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.

Psalm 130: 3-4 Neues Leben

3 Herr, wenn du unsere Sünde anrechnen würdest, wer könnte da bestehen?

4 Doch du schenkst uns Vergebung, damit wir lernen, dich zu fürchten.

Feared meaning worshiped……. treated with awe…… and respect and honor……

We see that God is worshipped by those whom He so graciously forgives…… God forgives us for His own sake….It is His nature to forgive….…….

In Isaiah….. Isaiah speaks about God's forgiveness in the forty-third chapter of his prophecy……… You remember that much of his prophecy has to do with judgment……. and then it turns to the promise of God to send the Messiah…..the redeemer……… to purchase our forgiveness with his own death…….. Jesus came…… exactly where and when he was prophesied……….. He was born to die……..offering forgiveness and a glorious future to all who were willing to repent of their sins……. In Isaiah 43:25 we read…....

Isaiah 43:25 NLT Neues Leben

25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake
and will never think of them again.

25 Ich - ich allein - bin es, der deine Übertretungen um meiner selbst willen tilgt und nicht mehr an deine Sünden denkt.

What a great statement……

"I will blot out your sins for my own sake
and will never think of them again.

What does that mean? GOD puts His character on display as a forgiving God…….

And then that great text in Isaiah 55 verses 6 and 7……

Isaiah 55: 6-7 NLT

6 Seek the LORD while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Isaiah 55: 6-7 Neues Leben

6 Sucht den Herrn, solange er sich finden lässt. Ruft zu ihm, solange er nahe ist.

7 Der Gottlose soll seinen Weg verlassen und der Übeltäter von seinen Plänen absehen! Stattdessen soll er zum Herrn umkehren, damit er sich seiner erbarmt. Ja, bekehrt euch zu unserem Gott, denn bei ihm ist viel Vergebung.

If we repent of our sins we run into God Himself…… He generously forgives and as we read earlier in Isaiah 43…..……"I will blot out your sins for my own sake
and will never think of them again.

Jesus taught many parables…….. they dominate much of His teaching…..

Perhaps the most famous one is the parable of the prodigal son……. It is actually not the parable of the prodigal son, it is the parable of the forgiving father……..

It is recorded in Luke 15 ……. God is seen like a father who totally forgives an unworthy and undeserving son…….. The son in that parable was not unlike many sons…… greedy……. self-centered……. In a hurry to get his hands on the wealth he had not earned…….. foolish……. wasteful in the way he spent it on fast living with those who……… took advantage of him and left him in misery when his money ran out……..

Slowly coming to his senses…. eating pig slop…… he looked at his life and said to himself, "My father's servants live far better than I, I'm going to go home."

He didn't really expect forgiveness…… in fact that was the last thing he expected…….. He said I'll just go home and be a slave……… what a terrible son I've been…….. I don't expect to be accepted as a son……… I will go back and ask if I can just be a slave……. And he started on the road back.

When he arrives near the house of his father…… Jesus teaches us what it means to forgive…….. Because what does the father do? The father doesn't wait for the sinner to arrive…… As soon as he sees him coming he runs to meet him, while he's still far away the father runs……… When he starts to open his mouth and speak, before he can even say…… sorry…….. before he can say anything…….. the father runs to him and throws his arms around him…….. and starts to kiss him….. and immediately calls for a celebration….. notice he hasn´t said anything…….. He is already forgiven……..because he came back to his Father……His father tells the servants to cook up the best meal that anybody could ever imagine….. start the music, call my friends to rejoice with me…… My son is home………. That's the lavish character of forgiveness…….

When God sees the sinner moving in His direction….. God throws His arms around the sinner and hastily lavishes His forgiving love on that sinner....... that's forgiveness the way God forgives…….

I'll tell you something as a pastor…… I grieve deeply over people who carry bitternesses……. It is so ungodlike….. It is so unlike the character of Jesus Christ…… I grieve over people who think they have to retaliate for every wrong that was rendered against them…… Somehow they've got to get their pound of flesh……… Somehow they have to react preserve their ego and their pride…….. they become divisive……causing division and strife in the Church……

I grieve over those people who want to undermine the church of Christ…… and undermine the work of God….. undermine the life and ministry of faithful servants……

The forgiving father can only say that he loves the unworthy son…….. He can only say that he will always love that son who has committed such gross sins…... And those sins were committed directly against that father……. And he will do nothing but rejoice over that son and lavish him with the expressions of forgiveness……. Our Father forgives for the sheer joy of reconciliation…….

It's very hard to divide a church full of forgiving people because you can't get anything started……. No matter what failures your pastor may make…… or your leaders may make….. or you might make……. or somebody around you might make…….. when there's a rush to forgive it's very hard to cause those divisions that so dishonor the Lord…….

Jesus hanging on the cross looked out over the people who were taking His life……. the sinless Son of God….. and lifting His eyes to heaven…… He said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

And Stephen as he was being stoned to death…… looked up to heaven……. saw Jesus Christ in a glorious vision and said…… "Lay not this sin to their charge……. O God, don't hold them responsible for what they're doing."

It was Sir Thomas More, the lord chancellor of England, after having been tried at Westminster and condemned to death….. prayed for the salvation of his executioners...... that's forgiveness.......

God has been unjustly offended and blasphemed and dishonored by all of us……… and yet joyfully showers us with the expressions of His forgiving love…… Which we do not deserve…….which we could never earn……. We talk often about earning forgiveness……. We could never earn God´s forgiveness……….. So He showers us with forgiveness because of His mercy and unfailing love…… AND

We are expected to forgive others…..

Turn if you will to Ephesians 4: 30…….

Ephesians 4: 30-32 and Eph 5: 1 and 2 NLT

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Ephesians 4: 30-32 and Eph 5: 1 and 2 Neues Leben

30 Achtet darauf, den Heiligen Geist nicht durch euer Verhalten zu betrüben. Denkt vielmehr daran, dass ihr sein Siegel tragt und dadurch die Gewissheit habt, dass der Tag der Erlösung kommen wird.

31 Befreit euch von Bitterkeit und Wut, von Ärger, harten Worten und übler Nachrede sowie jeder Art von Bosheit.

32 Seid stattdessen freundlich und mitfühlend zueinander und vergebt euch gegenseitig, wie auch Gott euch durch Christus vergeben hat.

1 Folgt in allem Gottes Beispiel, denn ihr seid seine geliebten Kinder.

2 Euer Leben soll von Liebe geprägt sein, wie auch Christus uns geliebt hat, denn er hat sich selbst als Gabe und Opfer für unsere Sünden gegeben. Und Gott hatte Gefallen an diesem Opfer, das wie ein wohlriechender Duft zu ihm aufstieg.

Look at verse31…….

v31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Instead…….32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Be kind and forgive…… because……God has forgiven us thru The LORD Jesus Christ……

And that kindness includes being tenderhearted…… That's a simple phrase to understand, tenderheartedness........ treating people tenderly……… And here is one way to do it, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you……..

You are never more like God than when you forgive….. when you express kindness…… when you are tenderhearted and forgive just as God has forgiven you…… And it's not a shallow forgiveness, it's a deep forgiveness, it's a generous….overflowing forgiveness………

In Colossians 3:13….. Paul unfolds the same great truth,

Colossians 3: 13-14 NLT

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3: 13-14 Neues Leben

13 Seid nachsichtig mit den Fehlern der anderen und vergebt denen, die euch gekränkt haben. Vergesst nicht, dass der Herr euch vergeben hat und dass ihr deshalb auch anderen vergeben müsst.

14 Das Wichtigste aber ist die Liebe. Sie ist das Band, das uns alle in vollkommener Einheit verbindet.

Forgiving anyone……that includes ….my wife my friend my enemy…… everyone who offends me…… with same kind of generosity with which the Lord forgave you from the heart…… Forgiving each other is the key to Christian unity and the key to our testimony in this unloving and unforgiving world….. How far does this go…… We are commanded to forgive our enemies…..

Luke 6: 35-36 NLT

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Luke 6: 35-36 Neues Leben

35 Liebt eure Feinde! Erweist ihnen Gutes! Leiht ihnen Geld! Und macht euch keine Sorgen, weil sie es euch vielleicht nicht wiedergeben werden. Dann wird euer Lohn im Himmel groß sein und ihr handelt wirklich wie Kinder des Allerhöchsten, denn er erweist auch den Undankbaren und den Bösen Gutes.

36 Ihr sollt gütig sein, wie euer Vater gütig ist.

Turn back to that text of Ephesians 5 for just a moment……

Eph 5:1-2 NLT

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Eph 5:1-2 Neues Leben

1 Folgt in allem Gottes Beispiel, denn ihr seid seine geliebten Kinder.

2 Euer Leben soll von Liebe geprägt sein, wie auch Christus uns geliebt hat, denn er hat sich selbst als Gabe und Opfer für unsere Sünden gegeben. Und Gott hatte Gefallen an diesem Opfer, das wie ein wohlriechender Duft zu ihm aufstieg.

We imitate God when we forgive……..

By the way, Paul wrote Ephesians and Colossians, those two letters that call for forgiveness from a jail where he was unjustly and hatefully imprisoned…… He was practicing the very thing he was exhorting the believers to do…..

A second thought as we think about forgiveness is this…… whoever has offended you has offended God more.......

You say, "What's the point? The point is…. if God can forgive when He has been so sinned against…….. Why can't you forgive?

You say, "What do you mean by that?" I mean by that what is clearly indicated in Psalm 51…… Psalm 51 was written by David at the time when David was convicted of his sin with Bathsheba…… and the murder of her husband Uriah……. And in the midst of his repentance…… he wrote Psalm 32 and 51…...

In Psalm 51 and verse 4 he makes this very important point about his sin…….

Remember now, he had violated Bathsheba by engaging himself in sexual relationship with her……. He had violated Uriah by making sure that Uriah was put in a compromising position on the battlefield so that he lost his life…… So he was guilty of adultery and he was guilty of murder…… He certainly sinned against those people……. But notice what he says in verse 4….. It´s verse 6 in German….. ……

Psalm 51: 4 NLT Neues Leben

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.

6 Gegen dich allein habe ich gesündigt und getan, was in deinen Augen böse ist. Darum wirst du Recht behalten mit dem, was du sagst, und dein Urteil über mich ist gerecht.

All sin is primarily against God…… Although it would seem to us a major sin against Bathsheba and a major sin against Uriah…… it is really a major infraction against God Himself…….

Listen, God is perfectly holy……

He is of purer eyes than to behold evil, cannot look upon iniquity……. He cannot tolerate sin…… He despises sin….. He hates sin…..

He calls on all people everywhere to repent……. And while He is forgiving there will be an end to His patience…… and He will not endure sin forever……. There will come a time of judgment and justice……

At the same time that God is forgiving……. there is an end to His forgiveness…… because ultimately His holiness will take over where there is refused to repent….…… He is perfectly holy…… ultimately does require a just punishment for sin........ either from the sinner……. or from a substitute for the sinner…… The lamb of God ……. His Son the Lord Jesus Christ…… To say that is to say that God is holy and sets a holy standard……. unforgiven sinners will be damned to an eternal hell of punishment……. There's no question about the extent of God's holiness…… And that in itself makes His forgiveness all the more astonishing…… God then who is most holy…… God who is most supremely offended……. forgives…….

We who are unholy shall we not forgive?

What is it, some kind of God complex people have who won't forgive?

Indeed it is…….. We think that we are better than whoever sins against us……WE have an elevated opinion of ourselves when we refuse to forgive……. We have exalted yourself to a standard higher than God…….

I believe that from the heart we are to forgive all offenses all the time…….. My enemies and those who persecute and hate me are unlikely to ask for my forgiveness, and yet Jesus said, "Love your enemies and do good to them." And that manifests an attitude of forgiveness……. And there are going to be Christians who offend you and me……. There are going to be Christians who are bitter and full of vengeance and want retaliation and want their pound of flesh and are going to do things that hurt us……. because they've been hurt by us or imagined they have…….

And I really believe that from the heart it is essential that we extend to them a kindness…… a tenderheartedness and a forgiving love…….. That forgiveness should be mutual……. I should forgive you and you should forgive me…….. We should ask each other for forgiveness…

But let me tell you something……. You can't wait for thatI mean, look at it in your own home, look at it in your own marriage…… look at it in your own family…….. Are you just going to accumulate a whole long list of sins that someone may have committed……. or offenses that someone may have committed…. until they ask……?

No……. love covers a multitude of sins…….

from the heart…… forgiveness has to be given you will accumulate bitterness in your own heart…...

He who is most offended forgives freely, shall not we?

Remember the story that Jesus told in Matthew 18?

…….. that story about the man who came before the king……. He could not repay his debt…….. and he was forgiven and then went out and strangled another man who owed him just a small debt…… And the point Jesus is making is how can you accept the forgiveness of God for all your sins…….. and not forgive someone else…….

God who was most offended and God who is of the highest and holiest standard has given you complete forgiveness…… How can we refuse to forgive others?

Matthew 18 is a very important text, I wish we had time to look at it…….. It´s a great study for your own queit times this week……

But one final point…… and it takes us into the place of preparation for the Lord's table…… We must repent of our sins…. And we must forgive everyone around us……

We're talking about that which has to do with your joy, your peace, your usefulness, your fellowship…….

Remember what Jesus talked with Peter about when Peter said……. "I want a bath," and the Lord said, "You already had a bath, you just need your feet washed."

For those of us who are believers……. It's not a question of you being clean….. you're clean…… you just got some dirt on your feet that makes you a foul fellow for sitting at the table with us…… Bitterness and unforgiveness does not belong at the Lords Communion Table……

In Matthew 6……. In part of the Lord´s Prayer……. We will study that next week…. The Lord willing…… Jesus said this, "Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors." And then down in verse 14, "For if you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive men then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

That makes the point about as clearly as it could ever be made……… God will forgive you if you forgive others…….

Eternal forgiveness....... that's a settled issue……… We have that in our justification and that settles the issue of future blessing……. But practical day to day forgiveness…… is something that we need in our sanctification…… and that is the issue of present blessing……..

DoYou understand the difference…… Eternal forgiveness which we have in our justification……. settles the issue of future blessing……. Practical day to day forgiveness is what we must give now…… We need it in our sanctification process…… as God purifies the garbage in our hearts……

The point is……. if you're not forgiving others regularly and consistently and completely…… You will forfeit blessing and you will come under chastening…….

God chastens those who do not forgive others……

I have found the emptiness…… the dryness….. the lack of joy, the lack of power…… the lack of usefulness in the lives of people is often related to an unforgiving heart……. It's due to God's blessing being withheld…… because of an unwillingness to forgive…….

Today is a heart check for all of us……. Have you looked at your heart?

What is coming out of your heart…… anger…. bitterness…….?

Maybe it is the lack of forgiveness that is causing all of these trials in your life…….

We are to forgive because it is like God…… whose children we are……

We are to forgive because we have been forgiven the greater sins against God……. and should be able to forgive lesser ones against us…….

We are to forgive because not to forgive is to forfeit fellowship…….. and the love of the brethren……. and it is to be chastened…….

if we don't forgive we're really not fit to come to the Lord's table……. we're not fit to worship………

Now this is very basic…… If you have an unsettled grudge with somebody else, settle it…… Right now …..from your heart……. Reconciliation needs to precede communion and worship……. Where there is bitterness and anger and unforgiveness……

Forgiveness brings heaven to earth and restores peace in our sinful hearts…….

Forgiveness is the image of God…… the forgiving Father……. Mercy forgiveness and God´s love are the Keys that set us free….. to worship and love and serveThe Lord and each other……

Never are you more like God than when you forgive……

Before we take communion this morning….. Iwant us to take some time to pray…… to confess and repent and forgive……

Maggie will lead in worship….. while she does………. Let´s settle our issues with the Lord…… I will pas out the elements…..let´s wait land take them together

Monday, February 20, 2012

12.2.2012 The Good Samaritan

Luke 10: 30-37

Let's open our Bibles to Luke chapter 10……..

This is the story of the Good Samaritan…….. This is one of the most well-known parables…….. Jesus ever told…….. Jesus was the master of all story tellers.......

Luke 10: 30- 37 NLT

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Luke 10: 30- 37 Neues Leben

30 Jesus antwortete: »Ein Mann befand sich auf der Straße von Jerusalem nach Jericho, als er von Räubern überfallen wurde. Sie raubten ihm seine Kleider und sein Geld, verprügelten ihn und ließen ihn halb tot am Straßenrand liegen.

31 Zufällig kam ein jüdischer Priester vorbei. Doch als er den Mann dort liegen sah, wechselte er auf die andere Straßenseite und ging vorüber.

32 Dann kam ein Tempeldiener4 und sah ihn ebenfalls dort liegen; doch auch er ging auf der anderen Straßenseite vorüber.

33 Schließlich näherte sich ein Samariter. Als er den Mann sah, empfand er tiefes Mitleid mit ihm.

34 Er kniete sich neben ihn, behandelte seine Wunden mit Öl und Wein und verband sie. Dann hob er den Mann auf seinen eigenen Esel und brachte ihn zu einem Gasthaus, wo er ihn versorgte.

35 Am nächsten Tag gab er dem Wirt zwei Denare5 und bat ihn, gut für den Mann zu sorgen. `Sollte das Geld nicht ausreichen´, sagte er, `dann werde ich dir den Rest bezahlen, wenn ich das nächste Mal herkomme.´

36 Wer von den dreien war nun deiner Meinung nach der Nächste für den Mann, der von Räubern überfallen wurde?«, fragte Jesus.

37 Der Mann erwiderte: »Der, der Mitleid hatte und ihm half.« Jesus antwortete: »Ja. Nun geh und mach es genauso.«

This particular tale of the Good Samaritan is so well known that it has actually become an example of unusual sacrificial kindness……… We call people good Samaritans who find people in need and help them…….. To call someone a good Samaritan is to grant to them a great compliment……. It´s a great story……. But I think we may have missed the point of this story…….. I want us look at the reason Jesus told it……

It is a story about helping someone in need……. It is a powerful story of sacrificial love to an enemy…….. There is lots to learn here…… BUT That's not really the point…… This is really a story about how one inherits eternal life……. It´s about salvation……… that is the question that started the conversation with the LORD Jesus…….

Go back with me to verse 25……. Jesus is teaching……

Luke 10: 25-29 NLT

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[c]

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10: 25-29 Neues Leben

25 Ein Mann, der sich im Gesetz Moses besonders gut auskannte, stand eines Tages auf, um Jesus mit folgender Frage auf die Probe zu stellen: »Meister, was muss ich tun, um das ewige Leben zu bekommen?«

26 Jesus erwiderte: »Was steht darüber im Gesetz Moses? Was liest du dort?«

27 Der Mann antwortete: »`Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, von ganzem Herzen, von ganzer Seele, mit deiner ganzen Kraft und all deinen Gedanken lieben.´ Und: `Liebe deinen Nächsten wie dich selbst.´

28 »Richtig!«, bestätigte Jesus. »Tu das, und du wirst leben!«

29 Der Mann wollte sich rechtfertigen; deshalb fragte er Jesus: »Und wer ist mein Nächster?«

In the middle of His teaching, a certain lawyer, scribe, expert in the Law of Moses and the Jewish Law, stood up and put Him to the test saying…. “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

This is the greatest question ever asked…… and it was on the minds and the hearts of the Jews all the time……. They knew the Old Testament promised eternal life…… a resurrection unto life…… an eternal Kingdom…….. they desired to the long promised eternal kingdom…….. to live in the presence of God.......

They wanted to inherit eternal life………. That's why that question was posed so frequently to Jesus and appears so many places in the gospels…….

Jesus Himself spoke about eternal life often because that was the issue…….. They were much more concerned about the next life than this life……. They were much more concerned about heavenly life than earthly life…….. they didn't want to miss it……. And even though they counted on their circumcision…….. the law and their traditions to qualify them for the Kingdom……. there was still a nagging sense in their own hearts……. a nagging realization of their own sin……. Their conscience that made them fear……… in spite of what it looked like on the surface……… in spite of outwardly keeping the Law……..

They knew that they were not worthy to be a part of that Kingdom….. it was a very personal question……., "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

The answer Jesus gave is in verse 26 and it's a question….

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

Jesus said……. how do you recite it? What does the Law say? What does God require? Jesus is referring to the recitation that the Jews made two times a day……. very familiar to all of them which was essentially a recitation of the summation of the whole Law…….. You can take all the Law of God and divide it into two categories…….. The law can be looked at in 2 categories…… the first….. our relation to God….. the second…. our relations to our fellow man…….

You can squeeze it down even tighter into two commandments…….. the first one…… loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength……. the second, loving your neighbor as yourself....... and if you do these 2 things perfectly……. you don't need any rules…….. Perfect love eliminates…. does away with rules……

This lawyer knew that……. So he answered Jesus' question by saying what they knew to be the summation of the Law……. they recited it twice every day……. Verse 27…….

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[c]

This is from Deuteronomy 6:4- 5 and Leviticus 19:18

The verb here in verse 27…….."love" is in the present continuous tense……. you are to constantly……. continually in an uninterrupted way…….. love God like this…..perfectly and constantly……… and love your neighbor as yourself…… perfectly….constantly……. without ever a mistake…..

Verse 28…… Jesus said to him….

"You've answered correctly, that is the summation of the Law." Jesus quotes Leviticus 18:5, "Do this and you will live."

Live means to have eternal life……. Do this and you will have eternal life. You want eternal life? You know the rule, love God perfectly, love your neighbor as yourself, do that and you'll have eternal life.

Now at this point the lawyer should have been honest…… He should have said, " I can't love God like that…….. I can't love God all the time perfectly with all my heart……. and I can't love every person around me with a perfect love……. Love others like I love myself….

I haven't done that……. I am unable to love like that......

I am sinful…… I am headed for punishment….. I will miss the Kingdom unless I receive mercy and forgiveness……. And he should have cried out for mercy and forgiveness like the publican did in Luke 18………Remember?

beating his breast he cried out to God……. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." He should have been ashamed…... He should have felt deep conviction…… He should have confessed his sin….. and cried out for mercy….. Jesus had showed him the sin and failure in his heart…….. Jesus goal was his repentance…… But rather he drowned out the fire of his conscience……. with the water of self-righteous pride….. He suppressed what was going on in his conscience with his own self-righteousness ….. look at verse 29,

"But wishing to justify himself..."

That is a sad, sad purpose…….. It is easier to point the finger at someone else…..than to admit my sin and repent…..

He wanted to convince people that he was righteous…… he knew he wasn't…….. He wanted to maintain the front, the facade…….. And so he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Notice…… He jumped over the loving God part….. "I'm okay with God, he was saying in effect…… I'm okay with God….. That a man would think that he loved God perfectly….. and loved others the same way he loved himself….. that he would try to convince people that that was true…… that he would try to convince Jesus that that was true…… that he would even try to convince himself that that was true……. shows you the profound depth of human depravity…….. We lie to ourselves and everyone around us when we pretend to be perfect……. Proud and self righteous….he says….. I'm certainly fine with God, I love Him perfectly……. And I love my neighbors as myself."

Jesus at that point could have just dismissed him…… He could have said, "Well, I can see that you are shut out from the Kingdom of God," and turned back to His teaching….. He could have left him standing there in His self-righteous pride……. But we see the compassion of Jesus here…….. even though this lawyer has pretended to be perfect……resisting our Lord's attempt to bring conviction to his heart…… Jesus is going to give him one more opportunity….. He's going to give him one more very gracious insight into his own deep sinfulness……. to bring him to a true sense of his position before God……. as a sinner and one who neither loves God or his neighbor…….

How will the Lord do that? How could He penetrate the hard heart of this man?

The story our Lord now tells is enough to shatter the pride of a sensitive person……. To shatter the pride of a spiritually minded person…… to destroy the pride of a true seeking heart…… It is a crushing story……. It is an unforgettable story…… It is designed as an evangelistic effort to this proud stubborn man…….

The story is told to a non-believer…….. a self-righteous man who will not enter the Kingdom of God…….. The story is told to him to bring him to the true sense of his sinfulness……… to make him cry out for mercy………

On the surface the story seems like a simple story about being kind…….. But there´s more here……

Let's look at the story, verse 30…….

Luke 10: 30- 37 NLT

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Luke 10: 30- 37 Neues Leben

30 Jesus antwortete: »Ein Mann befand sich auf der Straße von Jerusalem nach Jericho, als er von Räubern überfallen wurde. Sie raubten ihm seine Kleider und sein Geld, verprügelten ihn und ließen ihn halb tot am Straßenrand liegen.

31 Zufällig kam ein jüdischer Priester vorbei. Doch als er den Mann dort liegen sah, wechselte er auf die andere Straßenseite und ging vorüber.

32 Dann kam ein Tempeldiener4 und sah ihn ebenfalls dort liegen; doch auch er ging auf der anderen Straßenseite vorüber.

33 Schließlich näherte sich ein Samariter. Als er den Mann sah, empfand er tiefes Mitleid mit ihm.

34 Er kniete sich neben ihn, behandelte seine Wunden mit Öl und Wein und verband sie. Dann hob er den Mann auf seinen eigenen Esel und brachte ihn zu einem Gasthaus, wo er ihn versorgte.

35 Am nächsten Tag gab er dem Wirt zwei Denare5 und bat ihn, gut für den Mann zu sorgen. `Sollte das Geld nicht ausreichen´, sagte er, `dann werde ich dir den Rest bezahlen, wenn ich das nächste Mal herkomme.´

36 Wer von den dreien war nun deiner Meinung nach der Nächste für den Mann, der von Räubern überfallen wurde?«, fragte Jesus.

37 Der Mann erwiderte: »Der, der Mitleid hatte und ihm half.« Jesus antwortete: »Ja. Nun geh und mach es genauso.«

It's a fascinating story, isn't it?

This is an illustration He made up to dramatize in an unforgettable way the point He wanted to drive into the man's heart and our's as well……. It's a story about a journey on a very dangerous road…… verse 30

"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho." You do go down……. Jerusalem is about three-thousand feet above sea level……. Jericho approximates nine hundred to a thousand feet below sea level……. It's a 4,000 foot drop in 17 miles, so it's a difficult road…… The are is filled with caves and rocks…… It is famous for being a dangerous road…. you could fall off the cliff…… it is dangerous because of all the caves and rocks…… great for hideouts for robbers….. Evenfour centuries after Christ…… it was a favorite place for Arab highwaymen to rob people and kill…… The pass was known as the pass of Adummim…….. it is so called in Joshua 18:17 and that's related to the Hebrew word for blood…… it's bloody pass………

A group of robbers pounced on the man……..

They didn't just rob him….. they stripped him…… I mean, they didn't just take his money….. they took everything…… His Nikes……his cool guy shirt…….everything….. They stripped him and left him virtually naked….. And then they beat him…… And the term for "beat" here has the idea of repeated blows….. they left him half dead…. We would say today he was in critical condition….. he was in the process of dying and he was already half-way there…… Obviously this man in the story is in desperate need......

Jesus then in the story immediately introduces a little bit of hope……. He says in verse 31, "And by chance, a certain priest was going down on that road." This appears on the surface to be the best of news…… This is good news, here comes a priest…… a servant of God…… one who lifted the people up before God….. one who was to be the godliest, the righteous….. a true man of God……That´s the way he looked….. that´s the way he acted……

this is Perfect……. because a priest would know the Old Testament Law…… he would know that Leviticus 19:34 says that if you see a stranger in need, you do whatever it takes to meet his need…….. Why he would even know

Exodus 23 : 4 - 5 It says if you even find your enemy's donkey in a ditch…… you make sure you rescue the man's donkey….. let alone the man…… He would have also known Psalm 37:21 that the righteous is gracious and gives…….

A priest would even know the wonderful words of the prophet Micah……. And what did the prophet Micah say?

Micah 6:8

8 "He has told you, O man," "what is good. What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God."

8 Es wurde dir, Mensch, doch schon längst gesagt, was gut ist und wie Gott möchte, dass du leben sollst. Er fordert von euch nichts anderes, als dass ihr euch an das Recht haltet, liebevoll und barmherzig miteinander umgeht und demütig vor Gott euer Leben führt.

He would have known what God expected of him……. He would have known that judgment would be merciless to the one who didn't give mercy.

And so, with just that opening little remark and by chance a certain priest was going down on that road, we might have reason for hope……. But immediately Jesus said, "And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side."

And he uses a verb only used here in that verse and the next verse that has in it the word "anti"to strengthen it, he literally went the opposite direction…… He saw him and went the opposite direction…….

Now, this is about loving your neighbor…… What can we see? The priest had no love for the man…… Immediately Jesus has turned the question on its head…… The scribe asked, "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus says…… It's not about who qualifies……. it's about the character of your love…… So Jesus has already turned this upside down…… now He's talking about love toward someone in need…… not whether the person in need qualifies to be loved…….

This is very practical…… We have no business deciding whether someone deserves our love ……..whether someone deserves mercy……

You're to love God with all your faculties, heart-soul-mind and strength……. and you're to love your neighbor as yourself…….. And it's not who your neighbor is…… it's who you are that determines your love…….

Now at this point the priest went the other way

The point is simple….. you expect the priest who knew the Law…….. knew That it was required to go help the man…… Was this an indictment of the priesthood in general?

I think it would be safe to say that the priests in Israel lacked compassion……. In Matthew 23 Jesus says they bind heavy burdens on people and don't so much as lift a finger to relieve the burden……

I think it would be safe to say that the priests were externally legalistic…… but lacked compassion….. They certainly lacked compassion toward Jesus and the apostles…... But I don't think this is an indictment of the priesthood…… this is just a story about a man you would expect to help because he knew the Law but he didn't help.......

And then Jesus goes on in verse 32, "Likewise a Levite also," They were assistants to the priests….. they were the temple police….. They saw to the issues of the liturgy and they aided the priests..... Same verb…. He went the other direction, opposite direction….. And you have again an illustration of a man who had no love……

Now neither of these men….. would be qualified for eternal life….. They didn't love God……. first of all, because if you loved God you keep His commandments….. So they didn't love God….. and they didn't love their neighbor….. because there's one right there……. And they walked the other way….. Being religious……. isn't going to get you into the Kingdom of God……. And when you look at the character of these men, they don't pass the test……. The test is to love your neighbor as yourself…… They went the other direction, wanted nothing to do with it ……

And then the twist…… Verse 33, "But a certain Samaritan who was on a journey….. came upon him and when he saw him, he felt compassion…….

there lies this Jewish man….. Here comes this Samaritan…… We would assume that this man is not going to be any help at all because the Samaritans and the Jews despised each other….. Samaritans were the offspring of Jews who after the Northern Kingdom was taken captive….. some remained in the land….. they intermarried with the Gentiles….. for which they were despised and hated cause they sold their birthright…… They were hated by the Jews……

They built their own temple…… And the Jews who hated them and hated their temple, in 128 B.C., a hundred and twenty-eight years before Jesus' birth, went and destroyed the temple and killed some of the Samaritans…..

The animosity was profound.... Whenever a Jew traveled from north to south, or south to north, the easy way would be to go through Samaria……. They never did, they went around Samaria…… Remember When Jesus went on that journey and met the woman at the well……. He said, "He must needs go through Samaria." Nobody went through Samaria, they wouldn't put the dirt of Samaria on their shoes the hatred ran so deep……

So here is a man who by the definition of the lawyer would be the blood enemy of this Jew lying there near death……

"The Jews...according to John 8:48...said to Jesus, 'Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?'" The worst thing you could say to somebody is you're a demon-possessed Samaritan…….

And so here comes a Samaritan….. What is going to be the Samaritan's attitude toward this guy? Not only is he a stranger, but he's an enemy….

Well, when the Samaritan comes along…… surprise…… "He came upon him and instead of going the other direction, when he saw him he felt compassion."

What is Jesus trying to say? Here's the simple point…… Two men had no love…… one man did…..

Two men were religious but had no love…… therefore their religion did nothing to qualify them for the Kingdom…….. One man….. was a heretic….. an outcast and yet he loved……. So this issue of loving is not a matter of one's religion…… It's something else…..

The Samaritan then takes center stage in the story and here comes the main point. ….. Notice how this man loves… First of all, he saw him, verse 33, and then he felt compassion……. This is where it all begins, something in his heart just goes out to the man……. a sympathy…… a driving need to rescue and recover the man…… And so verse 34 says, "He came to him." It simply means he went up to where he was…… This is the first thing he does….. He comes to see what is wrong …. to try to help…… And he discovered that the man had some wounds….. the Greek word is trauma…… perhaps bleeding……. perhaps with some broken bones…… We don't know because Jesus doesn't put that in the story…… he had been beaten and wounded…….and left for dead…… And so it says that after he came to him he bandaged up his wounds…… the man is naked, he stripped down to virtually nothing……. so whatever this man used for bandages came out of his own bag….. came out of his own clothing….. Then he's binding up the wounds with bandages so that they don't get dirt in them and become worse……. he also was pouring oil and wine on them…… Wine was used as an antiseptic. ….. to cleanse whatever might have come in there that could create infection…… and oil was used to soothe and to soften the tissue……. This was part of the healing……..

the man now is using his own clothing and his own provisions……. The word "pouring" here is generous……. literally he washes over the man with this wine and oil……. He's not dabbing it in there…… It's the generosity of this that is being emphasized with the use of this verb……. He literally pours out the antiseptic…… to cleasne and then he pours out the oil to protect……… What you're seeing here is Godly generosity…… abundant and self sacrificing…….

And then it says, "He put him on his own beast."

so that he can get him somewhere where he can get some food and some water and some care and some rest……

This is amazing…….

Compassion led him to come and help this stranger………. And then he brought him to an inn…….. a pandocheionin the Greek, starting with the word pon, all, a place for everybody. Inns were rough places at best…… nothing fancy…… They were corrupt places normally…… They were places of prostitution, graft, robbery…… You really didn't want to be in one of those places unless you had no choice….. Innkeepers were unscrupulous, evil, without compassion.….. But there was no choice here…… The man was perhaps even now unable to talk or go home…….. He needed a mat to lie on and some water and some food and some rest……..

And then it says wonderfully, "And took care of him." He took the man in…….and continued to care for him all night……..

You say, "Well how do you know that? …. Look at verse 35….

Luke 10: 34-35 NLT

34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

Luke 10: 34-35 Neues Leben

34 Er kniete sich neben ihn, behandelte seine Wunden mit Öl und Wein und verband sie. Dann hob er den Mann auf seinen eigenen Esel und brachte ihn zu einem Gasthaus, wo er ihn versorgte.

35 Am nächsten Tag gab er dem Wirt zwei Denare5 und bat ihn, gut für den Mann zu sorgen. `Sollte das Geld nicht ausreichen´, sagte er, `dann werde ich dir den Rest bezahlen, wenn ich das nächste Mal herkomme.´

"And on the next day..." He stayed with him all night…… He put his own life on hold…..…. He gave up his own clothes, his own supplies, his own time……. This is an amazing way to treat a stranger who was his worst enemy……..

Continuing in verse 35, "On the next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him.'"

Wanting to go on his journey he now put him in the care of an innkeeper……… and gives him two silver coins……. 2 denarrii…….

Remember…… these were not fancy places…….The lowest would be that an inn would cost one thirty-second of a denarii…….. So he gave him enough for 64 days room and board…… Now as I said, it's not a fancy place, but it's a place of shelter and food and rest…….. Probably the other side of the spectrum, some would say that an inn would cost one-twelfth of a denarii which would be 24 days worth…… So somewhere between a month and two months room and board……. That's pretty amazing, pretty generous…… This Samaritan Never met the man…….. he was a total stranger…….He ask how he got into that condition…… and Jesus doesn't put that part into the story…… it doesn't matter….. All that matters was here was a man whose heart was so full of love that when somebody came across his path…… It didn't matter who he was…… It doesn´t matter whose fault it was…….. there was never the question, "Is he my neighbor or is he not?"

The only issue was……. How can I love that man…… how can I rescue this man….. He needs help…. or he will die…… It was a matter of life and death……..

There´s more…….. He said

‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

He did not say….. if it doesn’t cost me too much I´ll help with his expenses….. He says whatever it costs…. I´ll pay……

Only God loves like this……. Did you ever see a stranger in need….. better yet somebody who was your enemy and you went and gave him everything he needed……. stayed with him……. took him somewhere…… put him to bed……. fed him, stayed all night to make sure that he was recovering appropriately……. then paid for his care for up to two months and said if it's more than this…… when I come back I'll give you all the rest? Have you ever done that for anybody?

There is somebody you've done that for…….. it's you!

That's how we care for ourselves, isn't it? Give me whatever I need…… get me to the best doctor……. get me to the best hospital…… help me…..now!

We do whatever we need for ourselves……

We love ourselves…….

You say, "Well, are you saying nobody's ever done it?" No, it could be done and some have done it…… and perhaps you've done something very generous like this……

The question is……. have you……. your whole life loved strangers like this?

Answer: Of course not……

There is basically no limit when taking care of ourselves……. But who else do you love like that? Nobody.

This story is about limitless love…….. This is about a man who said I will care for this man with no limit…… I will love this man though he is my enemy……. whatever it is that this man needs…… I will give to this man and there are no limits…… When I come back, you just tell me what it took and I'll take care of it……..

That's what it takes to earn your way into God's Kingdom…….. Anybody qualify? No……… That's the point…... It's the point about eternal life…… Sometimes we teach children to be a good Samaritan…….. To share and be kind..... That´s good…… but don't confuse that with the good Samaritan……… The good Samaritan didn't just share……. he basically expressed limitless love to a man he never knew…….. A man who was a stranger and an enemy…….Verse 36

Luke 10:36- 37 NLT

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Luke 10:36- 37 Neues Leben

36 Wer von den dreien war nun deiner Meinung nach der Nächste für den Mann, der von Räubern überfallen wurde?«, fragte Jesus.

37 Der Mann erwiderte: »Der, der Mitleid hatte und ihm half.« Jesus antwortete: »Ja. Nun geh und mach es genauso.«

Jesus then says to the lawyer, "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor?

"And he said, 'The one who showed him mercy……. He was right, wasn't he? Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same.'"

Jesus is saying……. "And you, if you do that, will earn eternal life." But you have to always do that……. Even to strangers and enemies……. Go and do the same……

What's this supposed to do? It´s supposed to produce Conviction……. Anybody in your path…… any stranger in your path…… even your worst enemy…… love him sacrificially……. Limitlessly……… the way you love yourself……

You must love your neighbor as yourself…….. That´s what the law says…….

And so this proud stubborn man says, "Well, the one who showed mercy," Jesus says……. Now you understand what the Bible means when it says you have to love your neighbor as yourself…….

You want eternal life? How you going to get it? Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength….. and Your neighbor as yourself…….

You say you love God like that……. You think you love your neighbor? He said he loved his neighbors….remember?

Jesus says….. Is this how you love your enemy, the stranger?

Well the man knew it wasn't true…….. He knew that he was a hypocrite……..pretending to love God……. Pretending to love others…….. but as always…..when Jesus speaks he shows us our hearts…….. he is showing us mercy when he shows us what´s in our hearts…… he is giving this man a chance to repent and to cry out to God for forgiveness…..

"Go and do the same," He says…… This isn't a command to a Christian……

This isn't a command to a believer to love like this……. This is an indictment of the whole of fallen humanity……. You can't and you don't……. and you never will love like this…….

There may be a rare occasion when such love is expressed here and there……. But what He's calling for here is a kind of limitless…….unfailing love (chesed) toward anybody and everybody…….. that is beyond our capability……. Of course….. We love ourselves like this……. We don't love others like this…….. H giving this lawyer one more opportunity to say, "Jesus, I don't love like that……. I can't love like that…… I never will love like that……. I'll never get in the Kingdom, if that's what's required……

To tell you the truth……. if I don't love him like that…… if I don't love my neighbor like that……. then obviously I don't love God with all my heart either……. Why don't I quit the game and just admit it."

That would have been wonderful…… If he had just said, "I can't love like that……. I can't love God perfectly…… I certainly can't love my neighbor….. If that's what it means to love your neighbor and there's nothing about qualification…… it's anybody who has a need…… even if it's your worst enemy…….. if that's what it means…….. I am so far from that limitless kind of love……. I am hopeless….. I will never get to heaven……

If this is what it requires for me to get in heaven…… I'm not getting there……. I not only couldn't earn my salvation by loving like that…… even as Christians…… in whom the love of Christ has been shed abroad…… We have a capacity to love like an unconverted person can´t…….. I still don't love like this…….

Look out there……… They are all our neighbors……

A powerful reminder for us……. We´re saved by grace….. and we are kept by grace……. oder?

The Lord not only forgave me for my lack of love toward God……. when He saved me…… He continues to forgive me for my lack of perfect love toward HIM……. and others even now…….

I'll never be able to love God perfectly until I'm in His presence……. and I'll never be able to love others perfectly until I'm in His presence either…… and then they won't have any needs……..

What Jesus was doing here with this man…….. was driving the same sword right back into his heart to convict him of his total inability to deserve the Kingdom of God and eternal life on his own…… If he thought his his law-keeping……. his sacrificing and all of that was enough….. Jesus ended that by his own admission that it was loving God and loving others…… If he thought he qualified there…… then he's going to have to say that I've always loved everyone in my path the way the Good Samaritan loved that man…….. with that same kind of limitless…… generous, sacrificial care and he knew as we all know…… we don't love like that……..

By the way, that's how God loves us……. This is not an allegory about that……. But that is how God loves us……. And there stood Jesus before him….. ready to offer him mercy…… ready to offer him grace……. ready to offer him forgiveness……. if he only would repent……. and admit what he knew was true……

When we admit the truth about ourselves……. we are moving in the right direction……. As long as we pretend to be perfect……… we are denying the very thing we need….. we need forgiveness…… and mercy……… We would rather pretend to be Super Christians…….. hiding our sin and judging and condemning our brothers because of their imperfections…… pointing at their short comings and refusing to love our neighbors….. our brothers and sisters…… our family……. they don´t deserve to be forgiven….. they don´t deserve to be forgiven….. We want to justify ourselves and our lack of love….. just like the scribe in this story……

We sit here in judgment of other believers and sinners…….. all the while refusing to reach out…… to help and heal and show mercy………

We show our sin and pride when we refuse to forgive and show mercy to others…… Our great enemy is our pride and rebellion…….

The end of the story, the end of the encounter is Jesus saying, "Go and do the same." Did he? No….. Could he? No….. Would he repent? Apparently not…… Will he inherit the Kingdom of God? Of course not….. Who will? Those who repent of their lack of love toward God and others…… cry out for mercy and forgiveness from the LORD JESUS……He has paid the penalty for our forgiveness through His death on the cross….. He is faithful……. He calls us to the foot of the cross……. there we will find help…… and mercy…….

2 Cor 5: 13-21 NLT

13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[c] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[d] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Cor 5: 13-21 Neues Leben

13 Wenn es scheint, als wären wir außer uns, so ist das zur Ehre Gottes. Und wenn wir besonnen sind, geschieht es zu eurem Besten.

14 Was immer wir tun, tun wir, weil die Liebe Christi uns bewegt. Weil wir glauben, dass Christus für alle gestorben ist, glauben wir auch, dass unser altes Leben vorüber ist, das wir früher führten.2

15 Er starb für alle, damit diejenigen, die sein neues Leben erhalten, nicht länger für sich selbst leben. Sie sollen vielmehr für Christus leben, der für sie starb und auferstanden ist.

16 Deshalb haben wir aufgehört, andere nach dem zu beurteilen, was die Welt von ihnen hält. Früher habe ich irrtümlich auch Christus so beurteilt - als sei er nur ein Mensch gewesen. Wie anders sehe ich ihn jetzt!

17 Das bedeutet aber, wer mit Christus lebt, wird ein neuer Mensch. Er ist nicht mehr derselbe, denn sein altes Leben ist vorbei. Ein neues Leben hat begonnen!

18 Dieses neue Leben kommt allein von Gott, der uns durch das, was Christus getan hat, zu sich zurückgeholt hat. Und Gott hat uns zur Aufgabe gemacht, Menschen mit ihm zu versöhnen.

19 Denn Gott war in Christus und versöhnte so die Welt mit sich selbst und rechnete den Menschen ihre Sünden nicht mehr an. Das ist die herrliche Botschaft der Versöhnung, die er uns anvertraut hat, damit wir sie anderen verkünden.

20 So sind wir Botschafter Christi, und Gott gebraucht uns, um durch uns zu sprechen. Wir bitten inständig, so, als würde Christus es persönlich tun: »Lasst euch mit Gott versöhnen!«

21 Denn Gott machte Christus, der nie gesündigt hat, zum Opfer für unsere Sünden, damit wir durch ihn vor Gott gerechtfertigt werden können.