Try the latest Words of Life as Spotify Podcasts.

Tip: To see latest Words of Life, use Refine Search to list by Year. If using Mobile device, Refine Search may be located at end of page.

Our Lord gave warnings that it is no good loving someone who you know will love us back, there is no victory in that. We must learn to love those who we know will not love us back or who will not necessarily know that they can repay us for that kindness. God is love and the whole of God’s creation and the whole of His commandments is linked to that word love and those two great commandments. To love God above all else and our neighbour as ourself. All the other commandments will just fall into place if we can fulfil those. Thou shalt not kill – We would not want to kill anyone if we have love. Thou shalt not steal – We would not want to steal if we have love. Thou shalt not bear false witness – We would not want to do that if we have the love of God within us at all times. We can see that this is of great importance unto us. Our Lord spoke of this at that time when He answered those questions on that in our text.

We see in the text a very vivid description of who is our neighbour. We have heard the parable and the teaching of the Good Samaritan, on how a certain man fell amongst thieves and was stripped of his clothing and everything he had, and was wounded and was left to lay by the side of the road. A priest came, and he thought that he was above and higher than this man. In his mind he probably thought this man was a drunkard and he deserved to be where he was and he walked by. A Levite came. The Levites were a group of people chosen to look after the sanctuary who had taken special vows to at all times fulfil the law of Moses, and they became so arrogant that they thought that because they were Levites, that was all that was necessary. He looked upon him and he thought he was below his station, and he walked by.  A Samaritan came. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews. They were called dogs because they were half Jew. They were interbred with those who were in the nation of Samaria at that time. The Jewish nation despised them and would not even sit down at meat with them. They thought that it was wrong. This Samaritan came and saw this man in trouble, and he took him in, and he helped him. He poured oil into his wounds and he took him to the inn and cared for him. He even went to the extent as we have heard, to tell the innkeeper that if more was required do it unto him and he will recompense him when next he comes. The Lord asked the people at that time and the Pharisees who were trying to trap him and justify themselves – Who do you think of the three was neighbour to that man? They answered the Lord, and they could do nothing else but answer in truth – We suppose, they were not positive: We suppose, they said, that he who showed mercy unto him. Our Lord said also unto them – Go and do likewise. We see very clearly how this love to our neighbour extends beyond what our mind might first think, and we then have to go and do likewise if we are to fulfil this law. Many times we fail but we have the advantage that we still have this Lamb of God who can take away the sins of the world. We have this Lion who will protect the church and who will give us guidance. We must stand firm in that, but we must also try to fulfil these commandments so that we show the Lord that we are indeed following in His footsteps.