Pastor Dale Benson
As I began to prepare this message to discuss what it means to be a neighbor, I began to run through story after story of people who have come to church lately because of someone they worked with, or someone they lived near, or someone who took time to sit down with them and teach them about Christ.
If you are new here, I would love to invite you to be a part of that DNA. To learn what is means to be a neighbor by following the example of others who are already a part of our church family.
There is a story that is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke from various viewpoints. In Matthew, the religious leaders ask Jesus the question as a trap. In Mark, Jesus is asked the question, answers, and the Jewish ruler expounds, and Jesus commends him. In Luke, the question seems to be a sincere inquiry.
Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)
- This is how I know Jesus was from Southern Judah or Israel. He doesn't answer the question. He doesn't give another question right away. Jesus goes on to tell a story. I am not going to assume everyone knows the story. I am not even sure the phrase carries the same meaning it used to. Do you know what a "Good Samaritan" is?
- You know, someone who pays the few dollars you are short when you are in line at the grocery store?
- You know, someone who stops when your car is broken down and you need gas or a jump for your battery?
- We call those people "good Samaritans."
The Story of The Good Samaritan
- This was a novel idea for Jewish people of Jesus' day. But He gives them this story to demonstrate something. The Jews thought they were morally superior to the Samaritans. They were also looking for the parameters by which they could fulfill the law and its commands. How far does my neighborliness need to extend?
I looked to find definitions of neighbors and was not shocked to find the definitions I found, except for the supposed biblical definition.
Neigh-bor / näbar/
- Noun
- a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to: "Our garden was the envy of the neighbors."
- a person or place in relation to others near or next to it: "I chatted with my neighbor on the flight to New York"
- any person in need of one's help or kindness (after biblical use): "Love thy neighbor as thyself."
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the point was not who was being helped. The neighbor was the person who was helping.
Luke 10:36-37 (NLT)
- Let me give you an example from where you live. If someone is not very helpful. They don't say hi to you. They don't seem to want to come chat with other neighbors. They don't help with neighborhood cleanup days, you say, "They aren't a very good 'neighbor'" or, "They aren't very neighborly."
- Are you neighborly? I learned a new word last week. I am sure I will use it more often in the future when the book finally comes out... "Are you hostable?"
Jesus didn't just cross the street to help you. Jesus crossed heaven to earth and picked up His cross for you.
Whether you are a Jewish Ruler of the Law, a Samaritan, or the person who is lying broken and wounded on the side of the road, this story is for you.
I am sure this building and the online audience is filled with plenty of people in each of these categories.
Each of us may approach this story with a different question:
- Why does Jesus want to care for me?
- What is my place in this neighborhood?
