This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Luke 10:25-37 ERV)
25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”
26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you understand from it?”
27 The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.'”
28 Jesus said, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have eternal life.”
29 But the man wanted to show that the way he was living was right. So he said to Jesus, “But who is my neighbor?”
30 To answer this question, Jesus said, “A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Some robbers surrounded him, tore off his clothes, and beat him. Then they left him lying there on the ground almost dead.
31 “It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he did not stop to help him. He walked away.
32 Next, a Levite came near. He saw the hurt man, but he went around him. He would not stop to help him either. He just walked away.
33 “Then a Samaritan man traveled down that road. He came to the place where the hurt man was lying. He saw the man and felt very sorry for him.
34 The Samaritan went to him and poured olive oil and wine on his wounds. Then he covered the man’s wounds with cloth. The Samaritan had a donkey. He put the hurt man on his donkey, and he took him to an inn. There he cared for him.
35 The next day, the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the man who worked at the inn. He said, ‘Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.'”
36 Then Jesus said, “Which one of these three men do you think was really a neighbor to the man who was hurt by the robbers?”
37 The teacher of the law answered, “The one who helped him.” Jesus said, “Then you go and do the same.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Love is a Free Gift that comes at a High Cost.
In the actions of the Samaritan, we see a vivid portrayal of love that is not bound by the constraints of societal norms or personal risk. This love is a free gift, not because it costs nothing, but because it is given freely, without expectation of repayment or recognition. It is a love that is courageous, not deterred by danger or inconvenience, and it is this type of divine courage that truly encapsulates the essence of God’s love for us—a love that was demonstrated most profoundly on the cross.
— While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We did not ask Jesus to do it. He knew we were in sin, and He did it because He loved us. The Father sent His Son to die, and the Son did it willingly, not because we asked, but because we needed it. That’s love!
— The cost of love is indeed high, and it was paid in full by Jesus Christ. As His followers, we are called to walk in His footsteps, which means loving others not just in word but in deed and truth. This sacrificial love is not just an emotional feeling but an active choice. It is a commitment to put others’ needs above our own comfort and safety.
— Reflecting on the sacrifice Christ made for us, we understand that sacrificial love is the very essence of true discipleship. It is easy to love those who love us back, but the gospel calls us to love even those who may never be able to repay us, just as Christ loved us when we were still sinners.
— The man who needed help in this parable did not ask for help from the Samaritan. The Samaritan saw he needed help, so he provided it, because he could, and because he was moved by compassion to do so. This is how we are supposed to live.
— The Samaritan’s actions remind us that love is not passive; it is an active force that compels us to make a difference in the lives of others, even when it’s inconvenient.
— The Samaritan gave his time, resources, and energy without sparing a thought for what he might get in return. This kind of generosity is counter-cultural in a world that often asks, “What’s in it for me?” But as disciples of Jesus, we are called to a higher standard—one that values giving over receiving and service over self-preservation.
— The Samaritan risked his own safety to help someone society deemed his enemy, showing this type of love is selfless and courageous.
— The Samaritan’s actions challenge us to examine our own hearts and ask whether or not our love is as selfless, bold, and reflective of the gospel as it should be.
— The cost of love is often high, but it’s a price worth paying to reflect the heart of the Father in this world.
— The priest did not demonstrate the love he taught others to walk in. Neither did the Levite. But the Samaritan, who was supposed to be the enemy of the man who needed help, extended love when it was unexpected. What will you do today? Which one of these characters will your actions emulate? As a follower of Jesus, you are called to CHOOSE LOVE, even when it is inconvenient and costly.
— In God’s Kingdom, the love we give away is the only love we keep. As we pour out ourselves for others, we find that our lives are filled with the richness of God’s love in return.
2. The Evidence of Faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Yet, this unseen faith is made visible through our actions. People are supposed to encounter a God they cannot see through the actions of His children, whom they can see.
The Samaritan’s response to the wounded man was a clear demonstration of faith in action. It wasn’t a faith that needed to be seen praying in the synagogues or making grand religious gestures; it was a faith that got its hands dirty, that saw a need and responded as Jesus would.
— The priest and the Levite, with their hollow religiosity, serve as a contrast to the Samaritan’s genuine faith. They observed the rituals, they knew the scriptures, but when it came to the application of that knowledge, they fell short. Our faith, therefore, must be more than just head knowledge; it must be lived out in everyday moments, especially when faced with someone in need.
— Our faith is authenticated in the eyes of the world, NOT through our words but through our actions. People are watching, and when they see us act with compassion and justice, our faith becomes real to them. It’s not enough to talk about what we believe; we must show it through how we live and how we love.
— The true test of our faith is not found in the quiet moments of prayer or the pews or seats we sit in on Sunday mornings. But in the loud, messy, and chaotic intersections of real life with real people. It is in these moments, when we are confronted with human need, that our faith is truly tested.
— By becoming living epistles (2 Cor 3:2). At this point, our lives speak louder than our words ever will. God wants our lives to tell a story of a faith that is alive, active, and abounding in good works. God wants our lives to be a testament to the love of Christ, a love that compels us to action.
— It is not enough to believe in God. Your learning must turn into living. Faith is not just a matter of belief; it’s demonstrated in how we respond to the suffering around us.
— The Samaritan’s deeds speak louder than the hollow religiosity of the priest and Levite who passed by.
— When we serve others, we serve Christ. We serve the God we cannot see by BEING a blessing to those we can see every day.
Allow me to read to you something Jesus said in Matthew 25:35-46 (from The Passion
Translation). This clearly illustrates this point:
34 Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world!
35 For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in,
36and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’
37 “Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink?
38 When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you?
39 When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least of these, my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’
41 “Then to those on his left the King will say, ‘Leave me! For you are under the curse of eternal fire that has been destined for the devil and all his demons.
42 For when you saw me hungry, you gave me no food, and when you saw me thirsty, you gave me no drink.
43 I had no place to stay, and you refused to take me in as your guest. When you saw me poorly clothed, you closed your hearts and did not clothe me. When you saw that I was sick, you didn’t lift a finger to help me, and when I was imprisoned, you never came to visit me.’
44 “And then those on his left will say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not give you food and something to drink? When did we see you homeless, or poorly clothed? When did we see you sick and not help you, or in prison and not visit you?’
45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you refused to help one of the least important among these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you refused to help and honor me.’
46 And they will depart from his presence into eternal punishment. But the godly and beloved ‘sheep’ will enter into eternal bliss.”
— When you give to “the least of these,” you are giving to Jesus. This is the heart of the gospel.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I stand before You, declaring my commitment to love others as You have loved me.
I acknowledge that true love comes at a high cost—a cost You paid on the cross.
I choose to walk in the footsteps of Your Son, Jesus, extending Your love freely, without expectation of repayment or recognition.
I declare that my faith will not be hidden or silent. It will be seen in my actions, heard in my words, and felt in the compassion I show to those around me.
I will not pass by those in need, but instead, I will be Your hands and feet in this world.
I commit to love courageously, to give generously, and to live sacrificially.
I will not let fear hold me back from being a beacon of Your love. I will serve the least of these and, in doing so, serve You.
I am a living letter that is being read by others every day. My life is preaching louder than my words ever will.
Therefore, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
