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? Today, I want us to consider a few more scriptures and passages that align with the parable of The Good Samaritan.
1. What we do for “the least of these” we do for God!
(Matthew 25:35-46 TPT)
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 we extend our hands to meet the needs of those who are overlooked and undervalued, we are reaching into the very heart of God’s mission on earth. We are manifesting heaven on this planet. In heaven, there will be no selfishness, self-centeredness, sickness, disease, or need.
— Our service to others is not just a good deed; it is a holy encounter, an act of worship that honors the God who made us all.
— In the face of hunger, thirst, and need, our response should not be one of judgment but of Jesus-like compassion that sees beyond circumstances. Remember the Parable of the Prodigal Son. When the boy came home, his father did not take time to chastise him, or ask about the money, or ask about what he did. His soul was more important than his sin! In like fashion, there are moments when the Holy Spirit prompts us to help someone, but our flesh steps in and wants to ask WHY or HOW the person got themselves into that situation. If we are not careful, we can develop a critical spirit that will keep us from BEING a blessing!
— The kingdom of God is revealed in the simple acts of kindness that echo the grace and generosity of our Father in heaven.
— The measure of our love for God is directly reflected in our love for the ‘least of these,’ for in serving them, we serve God Himself.
— Our faith is authenticated not in grand declarations but in quiet acts of mercy that resonate with the heart of the gospel.
— The truest expression of God’s love through us is when we love without discrimination, seeing every person as a brother or sister in Christ.
— Let us not be found wanting in love, for to neglect the needs of the least is to neglect the call of Christ.
2. Jesus said that our love for others would be our identifying characteristic as His disciples.
(John 14:34,35 TPT)
34 “So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you.
35 For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
— As disciples of Christ, our hallmark is the love we demonstrate, a love that is not self-seeking but self-giving.
— The love we extend to others is the most powerful testimony of our discipleship, more eloquent than words could ever be.
— Our love must be a mirror of Jesus’ love for us—unconditional, sacrificial, and all-encompassing.
— The world will recognize us as followers of Jesus not by our titles or our talk but by our tangible love for one another.
— Love is the new commandment, the old made new through the example of Jesus, calling us to a higher standard of care and connection.
— Our love for one another is the truest form of worship, a living sacrifice that pleases God and draws others to Him.
— In a world rife with division, our love for one another is a beacon of hope. People will see Jesus in us and encounter Jesus through us, when we love the way He loved!
— Let us strive to be known not for our knowledge or our piety but for our love, for by this all will know we are His disciples.
3. Our love for a God we cannot see is proven in our love for the people we see every day!
(1 John 4:19-21 TPT)
19 Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.
20 Anyone can say, “I love God,” yet have hatred toward another believer. This makes him a phony, because if you don’t love a brother or sister, whom you can see, how can you truly love God, whom you can’t see?
21 For he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also demonstrate love to others.
— Our proclamation of love for God is empty if it is not accompanied by a genuine love for those He has placed in our lives.
— The authenticity of our relationship with God is demonstrated in the way we treat others, especially those who are hardest to love. Remember, people are messy.
— Love is not a feeling that comes and goes but a decision to act in the best interest of others, reflecting the steadfast love God has for us.
— The love we show to others is our grateful response to the unmerited love and grace we have received from God. God wants us to treat others the way He treats us.
— It is easy to claim love for the unseen God, but the proof of that love is found in our actions toward those we encounter daily.
— True love transcends words and manifests in selfless actions, mirroring the sacrificial love of Christ.
— Our love for God grows as we love others, for every act of love is a step closer to the heart of the Father. Loving them helps us to experience His love for us on a greater level.
— Let us not be hypocrites, professing love for God while harboring hatred, bitterness, and animosity towards others.
— Paul said, “ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV). The key here is the “as far as it depends on you” part. There will be people who do not want a relationship with you. That’s okay. You don’t have to force it. YOu don’t need to be friends with every person on the planet. Just make sure you are not harboring bitterness or malice in your heart towards them. If your heart is pure and your hands are clean, and they still don’t want anything to do with you, bless them and keep going. I want to be clear about this point because if I don’t, the devil will use it against you and cause you to lose your peace when someone does not like you or does not want a relationship with you.
— The devil loves to twist scriptures, so this is why I need to provide this clarification. Love everyone, but don’t let anyone hold your peace hostage. When Jesus sent out the disciples to minister, this was part of His instructions to them:
(Matthew 10:12-15 NKJV)
12 And when you go into a household, greet it.
13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you depart from that house or city.
Did you catch that? They were supposed to go and pronounce peace wherever they went. But if they were not received, they needed to take their peace back, shake off the dust from their feet, and keep going. So, in short, do all you can to love everyone, but DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PEAVE anywhere. If someone does not want a relationship with you, go back and TAKE YOUR PEACE and keep going. Do not allow the devil to cause you to lose your peace because someone does not like you. You love them even if they do not like you, and you keep going with your peace intact!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
My life is a reflection of Your love and compassion. I understand that what I do for the least of these, I do for You, and I commit to serving them with the same love You have shown me.
I will not just talk about love; I will demonstrate it through my actions, especially towards those who are marginalized and in need.
I will be a true disciple of Jesus, known by my love, and through this love, I will reveal Your heart to the world.
I love others as a grateful response to Your love for me, not allowing any root of bitterness or malice to reside in my heart.
I will live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on me, and I will not let my peace be taken by any situation or individual.
My love for You, God, will be proven in my love for the people I see every day, and I will carry my peace with me, knowing that You are with me every step of the way.
Living this way, 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!
