Luke Chapter 10: Verses 36-37 (NIV-UK)
‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’
The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’
Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
An expert in the law approached Jesus to question Him about how to live. Jesus told him that he needed to love God and also to love his neighbour. Jesus then told him the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus often illustrated His teaching in parables like this, but we don’t always read about what happens after He finished teaching. We do here. Jesus, knowing that the man was an expert in the law, asked him what he had learned from the story. From his answer, it’s clear that the man got the point. But Jesus had intended it to be more than a good story. He told the man to follow the Samaritan’s example.
Crowds came to listen to Jesus’ teaching, using stories like that of the Good Samaritan. Some would go away, I’m sure, just happy to have been entertained. Others perhaps would go away with food for thought. But Jesus was looking for people to go away and put His teaching into practice.
We too, can be touched to a certain extent by a good sermon from someone who can capture our attention by the way they put their points across. But I’m also sure that if they asked us what the salient point of the lesson was, they would then also say to us, “Go and do likewise.” If we don’t take to heart the teaching of the sermon, then we have simply been entertained. God is in the business of changing lives – He isn’t an entertainer.
Dear Lord,
Whatever point it is You want to teach me when I listen to a sermon, help me always to put the teaching into practice. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.