Sierra Vista Community Church
Loving My Neighbor As Myself
Part 2
Matthew 22:39-40 HCSB
Luke 10:25-29 HCSB
3 Potential Attitudes Towards Your Neighbors:
• You can distance yourself from them. “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. “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” (Luke 10:30-31)
• You can be intrigued, but unconcerned about them. “A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:32)
• You can treat them the way you want to be treated. ““Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.” (Luke 10:33)
To start loving your “neighbors”, you must …
…. see past who they are to what they need.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man …” (Luke 10:33a)
…. not only sympathize, but also empathize with their pain.
“... he felt compassion (pity) for him.” (Luke 10:33b)
…. seize the opportunity to help them.
“Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them.” (Luke 10:34a)
…. be willing to invest whatever it takes.
“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. 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)
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 10:36-37)