RPG Adults
THE GOOD SAMARITAN – RIGHT AND YET WRONG!
THURSDAY, MAY 28
Luke 10:25-37
Memory verse: Luke 10:37b
“…they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts…”
THE GOOD SAMARITAN – RIGHT AND YET WRONG!
Instead of allowing Himself to fall into their snare, Jesus helped the scribe to be saved from his sin, not by good works but by believing in Christ. To arrive at this conclusion, Jesus wanted the scribe to answer His question in this manner, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” With this answer, Jesus said to the scribe, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”
The scribe’s answer was correct, for all who have believed in Christ as their Lord and Saviour have this love of God in them. They can all love God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind, and their neighbour as themselves. This is the result of salvation but not the means of salvation, for no sinner can love God and his neighbour in this manner on his own. Therefore, Christ said that the scribe answered rightly. But then He also told him to do it, and he shalt live, i.e. have eternal life. Jesus knew that the scribe would understand that if he were to love God completely as he had described, he had to love his neighbour as himself.
Loving God in such a complete manner cannot be seen or measured accurately. There is no tangible yardstick to measure such a love for God outside of loving one’s neighbour. Firstly, God cannot be seen. How do you love someone who cannot be seen? Secondly, how does one measure such a complete love toward God in practical terms? Can he give his life? What about giving all his possessions? If God demanded these of him to show his love, how and to whom does he give these? But the measure of such a love for God is measured by his love for his neighbour. He loves his neighbour as himself, not more than himself. To love one’s neighbour more than himself, that neighbour becomes his idol. The way to love his neighbour as himself without compromising and sinning against him and God is to love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. To love his neighbour as himself means that what he wants for himself in terms of eternity and faithfulness, he also wants for his neighbour.
THOUGHT: Have you been loving your neighbour as yourself?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to love Thee by loving all my neighbours as myself, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.