I did the bare minimum required.
I just scraped through.
You know, picture the builder who builds a project, a house or a work,
and only does it well enough to get the job done, to get paid,
but they don't build it so that it lasts.
It's the person that goes to work and they clock in on the dot.
But they only do enough in the day to not get fired,
and then they clock out as soon as they can.
It's the person that's fearful of getting in trouble,
so they just obey the letter of the law.
It's me, in my first degree, living by the motto,
P's get degrees, which says passing is enough.
Doing the bare minimum required.
That's definitely been me in the past.
Has that been you?
It's definitely easier in the moment to just do the minimum that's required
out of laziness or something like that,
but it's certainly not satisfying.
I regret not working harder on my first degree.
I'm sure the builder regrets putting the minimum effort when they have to go back and fix up,
you know, when the building falls down or when cracks start appearing.
It's the tech company that regrets putting out a product too early
and then having to recall and fix issues.
I wonder if we could use the same description of our lives.
If you're following Jesus, would you say that you are a bare minimum Christian?
I go to church.
I watch church.
I give some.
I have a Bible and I've read parts of it.
But serving Jesus, growing in godliness, being part of a community, being radically generous,
those things are hard and they're not for me right now.
The challenge that we see from the story of the Good Samaritan today
is that we can be tempted to give the bare minimum,
to narrow down what following Jesus looks like into a little easy-to-follow box
instead of seeing Jesus as Lord of our entire life.
The joy of Christianity is that Jesus has saved people
and he calls them to be radical disciples.
Not bare minimum disciples.
The call of hope in Jesus is that our discipleship and giving of ourselves
would reflect all that God has done for us.
So we're going to see this morning a picture of bare minimum disciples.
Jesus will give us a bad example and then he will give us a good example.
We're in the Gospel of Luke this morning in chapter 10.
Please have your Bibles open at home.
Be using the St. Paul's app.
There are notes in there so that you can take notes along as we go.
From Luke chapter 10, where he records an expert in the law getting up and testing Jesus.
He asked in verse 25,
Jesus asks him,
Well, what's written in the law in the Old Testament?
How do you read it?
And the man replies,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength
and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus said,
You've answered correctly.
Do this and you will live.
It's a pretty straightforward interaction.
Love God perfectly.
Love your neighbor perfectly.
And you will get eternal life.
Now, I say that kind of sarcastically because,
of course, this is impossible for us.
And it shows us why we need Jesus so much.
But the lawyer wanted to justify himself.
Maybe he's trying to protect himself from the claim that he doesn't deserve eternal life.
And this is definitely in the soul of each of us.
The desire to protect ourselves, to defend our actions.
To say,
Oh, look, I'm not that bad.
You know, I'm not as bad as other people.
Look, there's people that are far worse than me.
And this lawyer wanted to justify himself.
So he asks Jesus,
Well, who is my neighbor?
Father, give me a list.
You give me a list of the neighbors and I'll show you how much I have loved them.
Now, I know three or four lawyers.
And unlike the standard jokes about lawyers,
the lawyers I know are all very lovely people.
They're really great.
And this man, he might have been really lovely.
He may have been really great as well.
He may have been an upstanding citizen.
He may have been kind and compassionate.
But maybe he was just kind and compassionate to the people who fitted his definition of neighbor.
If you were like him,
if you were part of the same tribe as him,
if you were,
if you looked like him and smelt like him,
well, do you know what?
He would love you.
He would show compassion to you.
And so wanting to make sure that he was above that claim,
that he had not fulfilled the law,
he asks,
Well, who is my neighbor?
This is the desire to just do the bare minimum.
Limit the people I need to love, Jesus,
and I will love them.
You tell me who these handful of people are that are my neighbor,
and I can do that.
But in response,
Jesus tells us the famous story of the Good Samaritan.
And first of all,
he shows us the bad example
before he shows us the good example.
Have a look with me at verse 30.
In reply, Jesus said,
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho
when he was attacked by robbers.
They stripped him of his clothes,
beat him,
and went away,
leaving him half dead.
This man,
although not specifically stated here,
it's most likely that he was Jewish.
He's coming down from Jerusalem,
likely from the temple,
and maybe he had been worshipping God
and bringing sacrifices.
And as he's coming down,
he is waylaid by bandits.
He's beaten,
he's robbed.
And this is no fault of his own.
It's a total accident.
He could not be blamed.
It was just misfortune.
But good news,
salvation comes.
Verse 31,
a priest happened to be going down the same road.
And at this point,
we can be expecting the priest is going to help out.
He's a compassionate guy.
And when he saw the man,
he passed by on the other side.
So to a Levite,
yes,
great,
a Levite.
He's going to help him out.
When he came to the place and saw him,
he passed by on the other side.
How did this priest and this Levite
happen to be on the same road?
It's as if God has brought this priest
to this very spot
to help this man,
to go and see what his needs are.
And then a moment later,
when the Levite arrives,
they can both help him.
Maybe they can carry him to an inn,
to a hospital.
Maybe one can stay with him
and guard him
while the other goes off
to get medical assistance.
And Jesus tells this story
as if God has brought both of these men
to care for this person.
But they both willfully refuse
to give aid.
And it's far worse
than if they had just found the man.
But Jesus uses their identities
and the location
to show what a bad example they are.
In Jesus' story,
both the man who was attacked
and the priest and the Levite,
they're coming down
from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Jerusalem,
this is the capital city of Israel.
It's up high.
It's the location
of where the temple is,
whereas Jericho lies quite low.
The purpose of the priest
being in Jerusalem
would have been
for offering service to God.
He would have been
working in the temple.
He could have been
bringing sacrifices.
He could have been
praising God,
singing holy psalms
and prayers.
And in the midst
of worshipping God
and bringing sacrifices,
he had not learned
how to make a sacrifice himself.
He had learned
the same message
as the lawyer
to love God
and to love his neighbour,
but he did not act upon it.
The Levite acted similarly,
although not central
to the work inside the temple.
they both had been
near to God,
but had not
become like God.
Both of these men
were bound
to help the beaten man,
and yet
they came close enough
to see him
and yet
passed him by.
They've
slowed down
at the site
of a car accident
with people crying out
for help.
There's no one around,
but they have
driven off.
Charles Spurgeon,
the great preacher,
suggested that the reason
that they hurried on
and didn't help
was because they had
too many great excuses.
I've got a quote
from Spurgeon.
He said,
I never knew a man
to refuse
to help the poor
who failed to give
at least one
admirable excuse.
For instance,
the priest and the Levite
were both in a hurry.
The priest had been
away for a month,
away at Jerusalem
from his wife
and dear children,
and he naturally
wanted to get home.
If he lingered,
the sun might go down.
It was an awkward
place to be
after sundown,
and he could not
expect him to be
so imprudent
as to stay
in a lone place
with darkness
coming on.
He'd spent a very
laborious month
in the temple,
and you do not know
how exhausting
he had found it
to act as a priest
for a whole month.
And if you did,
you would not blame him
for wanting to get home
to enjoy a little rest.
Besides,
he'd promised
he'd be home
at a certain hour,
and he was a man
of punctuality,
and would by no means
cause anxiety
to his wife
and children
who would be
looking for him
on their house stop.
The thieves
might be back again.
They were scarcely
out of hearing,
and after a month's service,
the priest would have
had some fees
in his purse,
and it was important
not to run the risk
of losing the support
of his family.
And he might be
wounded too,
and then there would be
two people
half dead,
and one of them
a valuable clergyman.
Really,
philanthropy would suggest
that you take care
of yourself,
as you could not
possibly do any good
to the poor man.
And then the man
might die,
and the person
found near the body
might be charged
with the murder,
and it's always awkward
to be found alone
in a dark spot
with the corpse
of one who was
evidently suffered
from foul play.
Moreover,
he could pray
for the man.
All these powerful
reasons put together
made him content
to save trouble
and leave the doing
of kindness
to others.
This is a big list
of excuses.
It may have made you
smile a little bit
at the poor excuses
that the priest
may have given.
But you know what?
That's me.
All I need
is a small excuse
to justify
not helping someone.
They're fine.
Someone else
is going to help them.
You know,
I can hear the Levite
coming.
He's going to help them.
Somebody else will do it.
I don't need to do it.
But hope
in the gospel
calls us
to radically
love others.
Jesus contrasts
the story
of the priest
and the Levite
with a good example.
One they wouldn't
expect
to see help from.
So this is our third point
this morning.
This is the good example.
From verse 33.
But a Samaritan
as he travelled
came where
the man was.
And when he saw him
he took pity on him.
He went to him
and bandaged his wounds
pouring on oil
and wine.
Then he put the man
on his own donkey
brought him to an inn
and took care of him.
The next day
he took out
two denarii
and gave them
to the innkeeper.
Look after him
he said
and when I return
I will reimburse you
for any extra expenses
you may have.
The Samaritan
was as different
as the priest
and the Levite
were similar
to the wounded man.
They were enemies
of the Jews
because they had been
part of God's people
but they had been
separated to the north
and their country
had been filled
with Gentiles
and other people's gods
and they worshipped
God differently.
And yet
the Samaritans
seized him
like the priest
and the Levite did
and took pity on him.
He doesn't ask
why are you injured?
He doesn't ask
well what have you done
to get out of this situation?
There's no inquiry
into his faith.
There is no questioning
of his political viewpoints.
He sees the wounded man
and he takes pity.
Although the wounded man
had no way
to repay him
the Samaritan
went over
and cared for him.
He doesn't say
I'll help you
as long as you pay me back.
There is no contract
or deal
just
compassion.
He bandaged
his wounds
poured on oil
and wine.
He risks the thieves
coming back
and his own life
being in danger.
He does it
at significant cost
to himself.
He pours on oil
and wine.
He puts the man
on his donkey
and he has to walk.
He gives the innkeeper
money.
He cares for this man
as best as he could
in the situation.
And then he takes him
to the inn
and at this point
he could have just left
but he stays
to take care of him
and then the next day
he gives the innkeeper
money
to continue
to care for him
until he comes back.
Jesus asks
the lawyer
verse 36
which of these three
do you think
was a neighbor
to the man
who fell into
the hands of robbers?
The expert
in the law replied
the one who had
mercy on him.
The strange thing
is that the priest
and the Levite
really were his neighbor.
They're from the same
family group
the Israelites
the Jews
and yet they didn't
neighbor him.
And it's as if
the lawyer can't say
the word Samaritan
because it's like
a dirty word
in his mouth.
So he doesn't say
it was the Samaritan
it was the one
who had mercy
on him.
And when
we see the word
neighbor here
by Jesus
the one who was
a neighbor
Jesus is almost
using it like a verb
it's not just
describing how
close they are
but it's describing
what he did
neighboring someone
caring for them
and loving them.
And so Jesus
encourages him
and us
to go
and do
likewise.
Jesus calls
the lawyer
and he calls
us to live
a life
of radical
discipleship.
In his life
and his death
and his resurrection
Jesus has showed
us what it looks
like to love
other people.
And as we read
this story
from Jesus
we see the
Samaritan
be compassionate
and generous
and help
the wounded man
and we can think
that Jesus
is putting himself
into the story.
You know
the Samaritan
man
well that's
Jesus
but
our
Saviour
Jesus
is so much
better
than even
this good
example.
The wounded
man could not
be blamed
for his
situation
it was just
an accident
but you
and I
we stand
condemned
for our
actions
because we
are dead
in our
sins.
We have
from our
first moments
been attacking
ourselves
and attacking
other people
and even
when Jesus
comes to
us
we have
resisted
him
and
rejected
him.
The
beaten
man
did not
ignore
the
Samaritan
but how
many times
have we
refused
the help
and healing
of our
Lord?
The
Samaritan
man
happened
to come
across
the wounded
man
and yet
Jesus
came to
earth
with the
only intention
of saving
us.
He didn't
take a
risk of
running
into
thieves
he knew
he was
going to
be attacked
and stripped
and crucified
and laid
in a grave.
What the
Samaritan
man gave
was generous
but it is
not comparable
to all that
Jesus has
done.
The Samaritan
man gave
wine and
oil.
Jesus
gave his
own blood.
The Samaritan
man gave
two coins
but Jesus
gave up
heaven
to take
on flesh
so that
we might
have
all of
the blessings
of our
inheritance
from God.
You
who know
the love
of Jesus
and the
hope of
heaven
you are
called
by Jesus
to have
practical
love
and kindness.
To have
a radical
discipleship
that will
love what
God loves
and that
says even
to an
enemy
you are
my neighbor
and I
will neighbor
you.
I will
care for
you.
I will
love
you.
I don't
think
though
having
enemies
really
stops
me
from
loving
people.
I don't
actually
know if
I have
any
enemies.
Most of
us don't
live in
that kind
of world
but I
think
the biggest
enemy I
have is
not a
person
or a
group
of
people.
It
is
busyness.
It
is my
own
time
that
stops
me
from
being
compassionate.
I don't
think I
have
enough
time
to
show
love
to
people.
Back
in the
1970s
a study
was done
at
Princeton
University
based on
the story
of the
Good
Samaritan.
They
wanted
to
investigate
why
people
did
good
things.
And
they
went
to
Princeton
Theological
Seminary
just
next
door
and
they
found
a
group
of
people
studying
to be
ministers
people
who
are
keen
to do
good
things
and to
share
Jesus.
They
set up
a study
with
these
people
and
they
were
told
to
prepare
a
brief
talk
on
the
parable
of
the
Good
Samaritan
just as
I've
done
today
to
prepare
the
talk
and
then
to
walk
to a
nearby
building
to give
a
talk
and
by
random
chance
they
were
told
one
of
three
things
they
either
had
a
lot
of
time
to
go
to
the
building
and
give
the
talk
some
had
to
leave
now
but
they
weren't
rushed
but
the
third
group
they
had
to
go
now
you
have
no
time
you
have
to
rush
so
you
can
go
and
give
the
talk
on
the
parable
of
the
Good
Samaritan
but
between
where
they
were
and
the
building
they
had
to
go
and
give
the
talk
at
there
was
a
corridor
and
they
placed
a
person
in
that
corridor
a
person
who
was
sick
on
the
ground
and
in
need
of
help
and
to
get
past
these
men
would
literally
have
to
climb
over
this
person
what
do
you
think
would
happen
do
you
think
these
people
who
were
training
to
be
ministers
of
do
you
think
that
they
would
stop
well
60%
of
these
people
did
not
stop
people
studying
to be
ministers
of
God's
word
who
had
just
sat
in
this
part
of
the
Bible
the
good
Samaritan
60%
of
them
did
not
stop
and
the
most
significant
variable
was
how
much
time
they
had
of
the
people
who
did
stop
to
help
the
stranger
over
60%
of
them
were
in
the
first
group
who
had
plenty
of
time
of
those
who
weren't
rushed
40%
of
them
stopped
but
of
those
who
were
rushed
to
go
and
give
the
talk
on
the
Good
Samaritan
only
10%
of
them
stopped
they
had
sat
in
God's
word
dwelt
on
this
part
of
the
Bible
and
we're
going
to
go
and
encourage
people
to
do
the
same
thing
but
only
10%
of
them
stopped
when
they
were
rushed
for
time
how
damning
is
that
and
how
true
is
that
of
you
and
of
me
now
the
shutdown
period
of
COVID
has
showed
me
that
I
am
just
too
busy
and
if
my
default
position
in
life
is
busyness
then
this
study
suggests
that
I'm
not
going
to
have
time
to
respond
to
God's
call
to
radical
generosity
and
to
love
other
people
if
we
are
going
to
live
a
life
worthy
of
Jesus
death
and
resurrection
to
live
a
life
worthy
of
what
we
have
been
called
to
it
will
cost
the
cost
we
usually
think
is
of
money
and
there
is
wonderful
things
that
we
can
be
supporting
the
food
drive
the
narrow
bri
fund
supporting
Sam
and
Sally
low
in
the
gold
coast
supporting
them
we
usually
think
about
the
cost
in
terms
cost
our
time
let's
not
be
bare
minimum
Christians
but be
willing
to
sacrifice
time
in
our
lives
so
that
we
can
love
our
God
and
that
we
can
love
our
neighbours
with
our
soul
our
strength
and
our
mind
let me
pray
dear
heavenly
father
we
thank you
for our
Lord
Jesus
and
for
this
parable
of
the
good
Samaritan
Lord
father
we
thank you
for the
reminder
about
how
much
Jesus
has
done
for
us
and
all
that
he
paid
so
that
we
could
be
brought
into
your
family
father
we
ask
that
we
would
not
be
like
the
priest
and
the
Levite
in
this
story
that
we
would
not
just
walk
on
by
when
we
see
people
in
need
father
help
us
to
respond
to
your
call
to
be
radical
disciples
to
give
of
our
money
and
to
give
of
our
time
because
you
have
given
us
every
moment
we
have
in
our
lives
help
us
to
love
you
and
to
love
our
neighbors
with
every
single
second
that we
have
Lord
Amen
ัu
I
want
to
grow
heart
and
fear
to
win