WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

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 Let me acknowledge something as we get going this morning, and that is, if it's hot in this room,

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 you know it's gotten hot outside. It doesn't get hot in this room very easily, and it is

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 warm this morning. I see your bulletins doing this every time I look out.

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 But that's how hot it's getting outside these days. We come this morning in our study of Luke

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 to one of the most famous stories that Jesus ever told, the parable of the Good Samaritan.

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 Good Samaritan is fairly common lingo now, right? This story has been picked up in churches and

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 culture, and we know what a Good Samaritan is. It's very familiar to us. In fact, it's so familiar

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 that we could be tempted to think we know the point of the story already. And in fact, that

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 may well not be true. We may only really know part of the story. You'll notice as we read this morning

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 that Jesus tells this famous story as part of a larger conversation that goes well beyond helping

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 the poor into issues of the law of God, life after death, all sorts of things. So note that broader

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 context as we read about Jesus' conversation with a lawyer, a religious leader, teacher of God's law.

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 It's in Luke 10 at verse 25. This is God's holy, inerrant, infallible word.

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 Behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying,

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 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, what is written in the law? How do

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 you read it? And he answered, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your

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 soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to

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 him, you have answered correctly. Do this and you will live. But he, desiring to justify himself,

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 said to Jesus, and who is my neighbor? Jesus replied, a man was going down from Jerusalem to

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 Jericho and he fell among robbers who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

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 Now by chance a priest was going down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

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 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

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 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was and when he saw him, he had compassion.

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 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal

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 and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave

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 them to the innkeeper saying, take care of him and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I

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 come back. Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?

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 He said, the one who showed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, you go and do likewise.

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 Pray with me as we look to God's word together.

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 Father, we know this is your word.

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 So we ask for your spirit to come

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 and to teach us. We know that you delight to do that.

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 And so we come to it expectantly.

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 Expectant that you'll show us more of yourself.

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 That you'll show us more of our hearts.

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 And especially that you will show us more of Jesus.

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 As we know that's what your word does.

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 Speak to us this morning that we may hear from you.

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 We ask it in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Put yourself in the shoes of this lawyer for just a minute this morning.

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 Now this Jewish lawyer would actually be a religious figure in that culture.

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 So some of you are thinking that's the only way for him to take a step down in my mind.

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 To go from being a lawyer to a pastor.

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 It's just disastrous.

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 But that's who he is.

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 The law that he studies is the law of God.

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 The early portions of the Old Testament.

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 He's an expert.

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 He's sharp.

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 He knows his stuff.

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 And perhaps this guy, pretty influential in his town,

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 is not too excited about this new teacher who's shown up.

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 Some of the things he's saying.

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 So he's out to catch Jesus.

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 To trip him up.

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 To validate his own wisdom and spiritual standing before God, perhaps.

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 As well as before his peers.

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 But he's about to be overmatched by Jesus.

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 So as much as he's an expert in the law, we'll see that he has some distorted views of God's law that come largely from this perspective,

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 this desire in his heart wanting to justify himself.

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 Luke highlights that motive in his heart in verse 29.

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 He desiring to justify himself.

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 And I can totally relate to this.

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 You and I may not theoretically believe that we can justify ourselves, make ourselves right with God.

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 Right?

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 We know what the Bible teaches.

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 It's justification by faith alone.

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 By the grace of Christ alone.

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 That's how we're made right with God.

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 But practically, I often function the way this lawyer is going to in this story.

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 Look how Luke shows us the lawyer's struggle.

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 Behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, to test Jesus, saying,

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 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

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 And already there, you've got to think there's a little hint of misunderstanding

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 because you don't usually do something in order to inherit something, do you?

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 That's not the way it works in our culture or theirs.

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 So we're wondering a little bit about this guy's understanding.

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 But Jesus carries on with the conversation.

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 And that doing piece is a big part of it.

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 Jesus knows this guy values God's law.

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 He reads it and teaches it.

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 And so he pushes him to what he knows.

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 Jesus says, what's written in the law?

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 You're an expert.

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 How do you read it?

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 And the lawyer responds, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

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 and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind

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 and your neighbor as yourself.

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 And Jesus says, you got it.

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 You've answered correctly.

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 Do this and you will live.

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 The lawyer gets it right.

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 He gives this great summary of God's law.

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 But Jesus says, it's not enough just to know it.

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 You must do it.

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 You must do this and then you will live.

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 When we begin to think we can measure up to God's law,

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 this idea in our hearts of justifying ourselves that we could measure up,

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 one thing we easily fall into believing is that knowing right answers is enough.

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 When I was a kid, I grew up in a Presbyterian church and I could memorize.

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 I could remember things and so I knew Bible verses.

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 I knew catechism questions and answers and I drilled them and I remembered them

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 and that was wonderful.

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 I'm really thankful for those truths, many of which I still remember today.

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 Today.

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 What happened, however, that was not as wonderful was that I began to think that I gained some

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 spiritual rank from all of my knowledge and memorization.

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 I could out-debate nearly anybody around me in theology and explain to them why I was right

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 and they were wrong and quote scriptures and even catechism.

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 They didn't even know what catechism was and I could quote answers to them.

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 And I began to think that it made me a better Christian than they were.

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 I knew more right answers than they did.

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 I still struggle with that.

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 Seminary just piled on right things to know.

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 So I struggle with having the right answers to spiritual questions.

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 It's a good thing, but I can find my relative significance or security in having those right answers.

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 And while it's good, it can also be dangerous to our hearts, can't it?

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 To know so many right things and to begin to think that that's what makes you matter to God or to others,

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 it can be dangerous.

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 Jesus is going to make that clear here as we keep talking through this passage.

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 But the next thing we see as he interacts with the lawyer is a different distortion of God's law

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 that's so common when we start to think highly of ourselves.

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 We see it in verse 29.

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 The lawyer, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus,

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 and after all, who is my neighbor exactly?

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 What's he doing?

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 The lawyer is seeking to narrow the law to make it manageable.

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 He needs to get this one right because he's seeking to justify himself.

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 And in his day, Jewish teachers agreed, it was quite clear,

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 that you were to love your neighbor as yourself.

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 That was part of God's law.

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 What they disagreed on was who was a neighbor.

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 Almost all of them, in fact, agreed that neighbor was only Jews.

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 It didn't involve anybody beyond that.

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 It excluded everybody who was a non-Jew.

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 And beyond that, they disagreed.

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 Maybe even further, there were others that might be excluded.

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 Heretics from a different Jewish sect or unclean Jews

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 or other people who just didn't measure up to your standards in some way.

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 They were not neighbors either.

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 And so the pool of neighbors is shrinking, right?

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 And this lawyer wants to know, this is a debate, Jesus.

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 I want you to weigh in.

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 Who's my neighbor?

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 Apparently, I've got the loving God part down,

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 and I'm wondering if I've possibly got it on the neighbor too.

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 Can you just make the law manageable for me?

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 Defined in that narrow way, with specifics as to who the neighbor is,

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 maybe you can keep the law.

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 And so we relax God's standard.

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 We lower it to a point where it seems attainable,

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 where we can measure up and feel good about ourselves.

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 We do this in so many ways, don't we?

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 Often without even thinking about it.

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 We ask, do I have to tithe on the net or the gross?

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 10% of which one, because I want to get it right.

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 Right?

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 We convince ourselves in our minds that it's not really adultery

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 because it's just emotional and not physical,

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 so it's really not that bad after all.

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 We say to ourselves, you know, you can't really love everyone.

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 There's so many people in the world after all.

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 Have you looked around these days?

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 I can't love everybody,

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 so I'll love those that I naturally connect with.

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 And that'll be what it looks like for me to love my neighbor.

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 And now all of a sudden, with my heart out to lunch, as it were,

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 not engaged in the process,

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 I can stand next to God's law and feel like I've measured up.

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 I'm pretty good.

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 It's like a husband telling his wife who feels unloved

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 all the things that he's done, the boxes he's checked.

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 And she rightly sees that he has lowered the standard

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 of passionate, sacrificial love from the heart.

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 When we seek to justify ourselves before God, before others,

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 we often rely on our right answers

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 or relax God's perfect standard to something we feel we can reach.

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 And so it's to people like us,

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 people who have those tendencies in our hearts,

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 who tend to want to justify ourselves and measure up

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 and think we're doing well enough for God

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 or someone else to like us.

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 It's to people with those heart tendencies

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 that Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan.

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 You want to know who your neighbor is?

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 And especially you want to know who your neighbor's not,

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 Jesus says.

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 Let me tell you a story.

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 And you know the story.

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 It's familiar to you.

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 A man is traveling along the road when he's robbed

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 and beaten and left to die.

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 And a priest passes by him on the other side.

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 And a Levite passes by him on the other side.

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 But a Samaritan stopped to help.

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 And here's where we need to appreciate some of the shock

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 and offense of what's going on in the story Jesus tells.

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 Remember, put yourselves in the shoes of the lawyer again.

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 We're feeling pretty good about ourselves.

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 We're wanting to feel even better.

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 That's where our heart is.

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 At the end of this answer, I'm going to feel like I've got it.

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 If we can just get this technicality about who my neighbor is nailed down,

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 I'll be able to manage it.

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 And Jesus says, but a Samaritan.

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 And that's the first surprise.

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 Because see, in Jewish culture,

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 there was a typical trio that was included when you told stories.

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 And they would have been expecting this.

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 There was the priest,

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 the one ordained to the service of God in the temple.

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 And then next in the story would always be a Levite,

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 who was not ordained,

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 but did serve in the administration of the temple.

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 And then the third one,

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 who always came along next,

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 was the Jew.

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 The lay person,

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 the Jewish guy,

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 would be third.

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 And Jesus skips that part.

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 All the people expecting,

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 ah, the priest blew it,

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 the Levite blew it,

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 I knew those clergy.

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 They failed us again.

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 Now here comes the Jew to come through.

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 And Jesus says,

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 but a Samaritan.

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 And he's going to go on to hold the Samaritan up

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 as the model,

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 the moral example for the Jew.

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 The Samaritan.

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 The one with the wrong theology.

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 The bad ethics.

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 That one.

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 Remember them?

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 They don't know God truly.

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 They don't understand his word.

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 They don't live the way God tells them to.

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 Shocking.

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 The next shock is that the Samaritan cares at all.

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 We know Samaritans generally despised Jews.

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 Further surprising is the extravagant way

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 that he loves this stranger.

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 Not just checking in on him,

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 stopping to see,

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 but changing his plans,

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 redirecting his life

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 in order to get him to an end,

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 to care for him all night,

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 and providing above and beyond

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 so that this injured man,

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 when he recovers,

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 with no resources left on him,

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 will not have to sell himself into slavery

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 just to recover from his injuries.

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 Whatever it takes,

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 I'll pay it when I come back.

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 But the final surprise is Jesus' question

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 at the end of the story.

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 It flips the lawyer's question around.

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 Not who is my neighbor?

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 That's what the lawyer asked, right?

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 Which are the ones I'm supposed to love?

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 Tell me which ones are my neighbor?

00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.500
 And Jesus changes that question entirely.

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.200
 What does he ask?

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.240
 Who do you think,

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.460
 which one of the three

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:30.860
 proved to be a neighbor,

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.159
 became a neighbor

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:35.740
 to the man who fell among the robbers?

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:39.100
 And the lawyer sees it.

00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.879
 He heard the story.

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.480
 What word can he not get out of his mouth?

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:45.519
 Samaritan.

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.360
 He can't even say it.

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.060
 But he's not blind to the mercy.

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:52.279
 He sees the mercy in the story

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:52.779
 and says,

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.360
 yeah, it's the one who showed him mercy.

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:58.279
 And Jesus said to him,

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:01.279
 you go and do likewise.

00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.079
 Jesus is saying,

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:04.960
 you're right again,

00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.539
 lawyer.

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.500
 You got the right answer.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:10.620
 This is the picture of what my law means

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:12.859
 when it talks about loving neighbor.

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.259
 And again, Jesus says,

00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.099
 go and do.

00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.699
 Many of you will remember

00:17:18.699 --> 00:17:20.839
 the funny ad campaign

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.419
 run in recent years

00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:24.119
 by State Farm Insurance.

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:27.199
 I'm convinced that what's,

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.379
 I haven't talked to anybody,

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:30.019
 but you can tell in the campaign

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.139
 what they want you to know

00:17:31.139 --> 00:17:32.839
 is that they're not that company

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:34.639
 that when you call

00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:35.899
 and something bad has happened,

00:17:35.979 --> 00:17:38.199
 you get this impersonal voice recording

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:41.340
 that basically tries to avoid helping you

00:17:41.340 --> 00:17:42.299
 and only does exactly

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:44.240
 what they're contractually obligated to do.

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.860
 State Farm doesn't want to be that.

00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:49.740
 They want you to believe

00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.880
 that who they are

00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:53.299
 is somebody who will personally show up

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:56.559
 and help and meet your needs,

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.500
 bend over backwards

00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.759
 to help their clients.

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.640
 And so in the commercials,

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:02.279
 you know what happens.

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:04.360
 People get in all sorts of different binds

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.519
 and all they have to do

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.660
 is sing the little jingle,

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:09.380
 like a good neighbor State Farm is.

00:18:10.300 --> 00:18:11.140
 And you snap,

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:13.620
 there, there, there.

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.040
 And wherever you are

00:18:15.040 --> 00:18:16.240
 and whatever you need,

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.000
 the agent appears magically

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.860
 and takes care of it.

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.880
 They show up in the house,

00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.380
 in the car.

00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:25.820
 They show up with a new roof for somebody,

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.840
 with a sandwich for someone else.

00:18:28.040 --> 00:18:30.000
 I didn't know they even served sandwiches.

00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:32.500
 With a hot tub for another guy.

00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.019
 He snaps and it crashes in.

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:37.180
 And whatever it is that you need,

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.039
 State Farm is there

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.299
 to meet that need.

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.700
 That's the message, right?

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.379
 You're never gonna be left alone,

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.900
 hung out to dry,

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:49.220
 because we will always come to help.

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:51.079
 And that, we can all agree,

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.660
 coming to help in those kinds of situations

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:55.039
 is like a good neighbor.

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:58.680
 That's what a good neighbor is like.

00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:00.599
 A good neighbor is not trying to get off

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.980
 on a technicality, right?

00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.819
 Seeing a guy lying in the road

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:04.200
 and saying,

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.299
 oh, actually,

00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.779
 he lives two doors down.

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.279
 No, that's not my neighbor.

00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:11.019
 No, that's not what a good neighbor is like.

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.920
 Being a good neighbor

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.079
 means seeking to help anyone

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.980
 and everyone in any need.

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:19.019
 Showing up and meeting needs

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.579
 anytime, anywhere.

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:24.480
 That's why Jesus is flipping the question, right?

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:27.079
 Not whom do I have to love,

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:30.619
 but how do I get to love well?

00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:33.480
 It's clarifying for us

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.679
 the high standard of God's law.

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.659
 Jesus has been asked

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:39.279
 to interpret God's law here

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.980
 and Jesus says,

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.619
 it's even higher than you think.

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.759
 It's seeing neighbor love

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.139
 as something not to try to

00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:46.960
 meet a minimum standard for

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.419
 and see what you can get by with,

00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:50.659
 but rather to set my heart

00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:52.699
 on a trajectory to take off

00:19:52.699 --> 00:19:53.859
 in the right direction

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:55.259
 to love extravagantly

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.500
 beyond what I can afford.

00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:00.480
 The story of the Good Samaritan

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.099
 is not just teaching us

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:04.160
 to look out for injured Jewish males

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.160
 when riding a donkey

00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.680
 from Jerusalem to Jericho.

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:09.160
 You're not likely to do that soon.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.960
 Now, you get Jesus' point.

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.259
 Go and do likewise.

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.519
 Show mercy.

00:20:17.379 --> 00:20:18.180
 He's teaching us

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:20.519
 to love everyone in our path.

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.039
 Even our enemies.

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.500
 Even those we don't like.

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.119
 Those we know don't deserve it.

00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:27.420
 Anyone who needs mercy

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:29.200
 or help in any way

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.299
 to lavish it upon them

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:33.519
 at great cost to ourselves

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.799
 however we can.

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.299
 So why not just say that?

00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:42.099
 Answer the question, Jesus.

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.000
 Why tell a story?

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.119
 Why is that necessary?

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:47.900
 Well, you can think of several reasons.

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.579
 It's memorable, certainly.

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:52.079
 But among other reasons,

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:56.039
 I think it's by the overwhelming nature

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:59.259
 of the surprises in that story

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:01.639
 to help the lawyer,

00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:03.119
 his heart,

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:05.399
 and to help us and our hearts

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:07.199
 to see what we're missing,

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.799
 to see what causes us

00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.699
 to pass by on the other side

00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:12.139
 so often.

00:21:13.439 --> 00:21:14.439
 See, the Samaritan

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:16.480
 is the exemplar, right?

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.599
 Right.

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.680
 And so we know enough

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.799
 about the Samaritans

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.460
 to know that

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:22.079
 that means rightness

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.920
 must go beyond

00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.480
 intellectual accuracy

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:28.380
 and beyond religious formalism

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.480
 because the Samaritan

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.079
 doesn't have

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.120
 either of those.

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.440
 Priest or the Levite might,

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:32.680
 but

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:35.099
 it's got to go beyond

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:35.700
 those things

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.140
 the Samaritan wouldn't have

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.880
 where you can just check

00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.660
 the right boxes

00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:40.599
 and say you've loved.

00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:42.919
 that God calls us

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.459
 to a love

00:21:43.459 --> 00:21:44.419
 so much richer

00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:45.480
 and fuller

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.079
 than we even imagine.

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:48.639
 It would be similar

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:50.859
 when God uses the Samaritan.

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.659
 I don't think we have

00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:52.719
 an exact comparison,

00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:54.099
 but similar to God

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.919
 saying to us,

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.480
 aspire to the zeal

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.419
 of the Mormons.

00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:59.000
 Look how they love

00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.619
 their neighbors

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:01.219
 by always sharing

00:22:01.219 --> 00:22:02.039
 their faith.

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.639
 Or aspire to the generosity

00:22:04.639 --> 00:22:05.659
 of the Catholics

00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:07.179
 caring for the needy.

00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:10.080
 Or aspire to the humility

00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:10.960
 and compassion

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.900
 of the Muslims

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:13.400
 living among those

00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.299
 who don't believe

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.120
 as they do.

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.360
 That would get your attention,

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.840
 wouldn't it?

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.640
 If that's what God came

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.980
 and said to you.

00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:23.500
 It's a high call.

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.779
 The standard is high.

00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.900
 Jesus resists

00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.440
 relaxing the standard.

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:29.980
 Don't limit

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.259
 who your neighbor is,

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:31.840
 he says.

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.180
 Rather,

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.680
 dream of how to help

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.740
 anyone and everyone

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.820
 in your path.

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:37.279
 See,

00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.619
 the gospel Luke

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.980
 has been telling us about,

00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:40.819
 we've been saying

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.659
 from the very beginning,

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.700
 is good news

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.819
 of great joy

00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.439
 for whom?

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.480
 For all people.

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.099
 And so if that's true,

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.679
 and if you have that gospel,

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:51.359
 if you have that good news,

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:53.679
 then if it's for all people,

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.759
 everyone in your path,

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.339
 when you cross them,

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.319
 should feel

00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:00.059
 a meaningful impact

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.119
 of that reality

00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.359
 in some way,

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.379
 that good news

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:05.000
 should impact them.

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.299
 Now,

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.099
 you've probably not

00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:09.059
 run across a guy

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.899
 to put on your donkey

00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:11.139
 between Jerusalem

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.859
 and Jericho.

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:14.019
 And there are times

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.019
 where we need to think

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.159
 intentionally about

00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:17.559
 rerouting our paths

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:19.500
 and going and finding

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.480
 people in need

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.119
 of mercy.

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:23.379
 But just think of the people

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.859
 in need of mercy

00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:26.599
 already in our lives.

00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.619
 Already in your path.

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.899
 Maybe even this week.

00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:31.659
 Who comes to your mind

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:33.940
 who is or will be

00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.920
 in need.

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.259
 I'll change some

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.700
 names and details,

00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.720
 but while you're thinking,

00:23:40.540 --> 00:23:42.500
 I think of homeless Alana

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.160
 who has shown up

00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.279
 at our church office

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.540
 several times

00:23:46.540 --> 00:23:47.720
 in the last several weeks

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.640
 on her bike

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:51.460
 needing food

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:53.019
 or water

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:55.940
 and much more than that.

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.140
 Needing the dignity

00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.500
 of being looked in the eye

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.660
 and respected

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.519
 as a person

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:02.440
 made in God's image.

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:05.480
 I think of Mike

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.960
 waiting my table

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:08.220
 at Buffalo Wild Wings

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:10.200
 and pretty confident guy

00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.680
 all of a sudden

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.460
 finding himself

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.600
 in a situation

00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.440
 he has no idea

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.039
 how to manage

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.799
 or whether or not

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.380
 he wants to enter

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:17.400
 into his girlfriend

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.019
 who's pregnant

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.920
 with his child.

00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.840
 He needs wisdom,

00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.080
 friendship,

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:25.559
 somebody to walk with him.

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.660
 I think of Manny,

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.779
 a Jobs for Life student

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.980
 wanting to provide

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.779
 for his family,

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.500
 but it's hard to feel

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:36.700
 capable and confident

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.619
 when you're not able

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:39.160
 to put food on the table.

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.720
 He needs relationship,

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.859
 skills, encouragement.

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:47.019
 I think of Joe and Sue

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.500
 who live on your street,

00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:49.700
 potentially,

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.420
 drive an SUV

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.559
 and a minivan.

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.519
 When you walk by,

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.680
 it looks like they're fine.

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.399
 They've kind of got

00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.119
 life together.

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.720
 Two kids,

00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.819
 you see them out

00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:01.259
 walking the dogs a lot.

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.460
 They both got good jobs.

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:05.200
 But inside,

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:07.539
 they're half dead.

00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:08.960
 They're empty.

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.899
 They're not sure

00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:12.299
 what they're living for

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.019
 and they're not sure

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.139
 they want to anymore.

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.700
 They're needing

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:16.619
 the mercy of Jesus

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:19.119
 that brings true life.

00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:23.200
 I think the new family

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.159
 will be sitting by

00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:25.939
 at school orientation

00:25:25.939 --> 00:25:26.939
 maybe next week.

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.860
 the kid

00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:30.480
 who doesn't know anyone

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.360
 at his new school

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.080
 and needs you

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.880
 to be a friend.

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.900
 The mom who's struggling

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:37.740
 with her twin two-year-olds

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.940
 running all over the place

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.740
 while she just wants

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.480
 30 seconds

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.980
 to meet her first kid's

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.920
 kindergarten teacher.

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.580
 She doesn't know

00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.100
 how to do it.

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.580
 And you'll be there

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:50.299
 and you'll have

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.059
 these opportunities

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.199
 and I think of all

00:25:52.199 --> 00:25:52.639
 these people

00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:53.399
 and the spiritual

00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:54.720
 and relational

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.079
 and physical needs

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.059
 that they have

00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:58.359
 that they don't want

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.119
 people to see

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.839
 so you're not going

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:00.519
 to see them

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:02.139
 unless you stop

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:05.279
 and enter into their lives.

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:08.119
 It's so much easier

00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:09.419
 to pass by

00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:10.299
 on the other side

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.720
 to keep going.

00:26:12.939 --> 00:26:13.939
 And we're headed

00:26:13.939 --> 00:26:14.599
 other places

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.359
 to do other

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.980
 really important things

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.599
 and God puts these people

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.740
 in need of mercy

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:21.420
 on our paths

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.680
 and calls us

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.660
 to be a neighbor

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.579
 to them

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.120
 to the least

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.620
 the lost

00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:29.019
 the littlest

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.700
 the lonely

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.740
 the left out.

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:32.180
 We don't need

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.160
 a special program

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:34.079
 for this.

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:36.180
 Just open eyes

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:38.960
 in God's merciful heart.

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:41.740
 This is the call

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.519
 of God's law

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:44.000
 on our lives

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.360
 to love our neighbors

00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:47.000
 as ourselves.

00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:49.880
 Jesus never relaxes

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.700
 God's perfect standard.

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.319
 But God's law

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.299
 does more than

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.380
 show us

00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:57.360
 God's perfection

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.920
 His holy standard.

00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.120
 It does that

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:01.640
 and then at the same time

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.660
 as it does that

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.620
 when we're willing

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.799
 to look at it head on

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.240
 in all its fullness

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.400
 and difficulty

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:10.420
 it also reveals

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.900
 to us

00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.440
 how far

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.519
 we fall short

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.580
 doesn't it?

00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:15.840
 Remember the context

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.240
 again?

00:27:17.280 --> 00:27:18.120
 Come back to the lawyer.

00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:21.040
 Jesus is revealing

00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:22.040
 the lawyer's heart

00:27:22.040 --> 00:27:22.440
 here

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.519
 isn't He?

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.680
 When He tells him

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.340
 go and do

00:27:25.340 --> 00:27:27.160
 go and do

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.620
 go and do

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.580
 like this

00:27:29.580 --> 00:27:31.920
 the standard

00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.259
 is so shockingly

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:33.759
 high

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.940
 there's no way

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.500
 He can leave

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.259
 the conversation

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.579
 thinking He

00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.759
 can meet it

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:40.119
 and be like

00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.799
 a Samaritan

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.799
 in order to get there?

00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:42.539
 No way!

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.420
 Impossible!

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.460
 I'm not going

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.259
 there!

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.720
 That's true for us.

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.500
 Even if we were

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.259
 magical

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.519
 state farm agents

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.140
 who could

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:53.879
 show up

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.920
 wherever we wanted to

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.079
 in every situation

00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.720
 where everyone

00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.500
 is in need

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.779
 and take care of it

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.759
 we wouldn't.

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:03.160
 We love ourselves

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.339
 and our plans

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.159
 too much.

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.779
 Someone would

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:08.059
 cost too much

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.839
 eventually

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.419
 wouldn't they?

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.799
 Someone would be

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.779
 too despicable.

00:28:13.939 --> 00:28:14.579
 No way

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.740
 am I helping them.

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.720
 No way

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.000
 am I sacrificing

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.359
 my life

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:21.079
 for that person.

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.740
 So you may

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.439
 stop to love

00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:25.159
 one of the

00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:26.559
 people I mentioned

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.500
 or one of the ones

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.939
 who's come to mind

00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:29.439
 for you

00:28:29.439 --> 00:28:30.839
 but every single

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.220
 one

00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.159
 every day

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:34.440
 sacrificially

00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.360
 and lavishly

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.500
 at great cost

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.140
 to ourselves

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.259
 every time

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.800
 even the people

00:28:39.800 --> 00:28:40.840
 we can't stand

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:42.120
 and really mean

00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.160
 every minute of it

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.880
 from love

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.120
 sincerely

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.960
 from the heart

00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:47.220
 no way.

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.820
 It's a standard

00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:50.620
 Jesus has

00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.560
 revealed

00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.759
 and we stand

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.440
 condemned

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.960
 right alongside

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.500
 the lawyer

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:57.120
 when we seek

00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:57.980
 to justify

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.660
 ourselves

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.620
 by going

00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:00.180
 and loving

00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:00.500
 neighbor

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:00.920
 doing

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.740
 likewise.

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.279
 Jesus really

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:04.940
 means it

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:06.100
 when he says

00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:07.080
 go and do

00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:07.500
 likewise.

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.220
 He's not merely

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.539
 being sarcastic

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:11.980
 but at the same

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:13.160
 time he knows

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:14.259
 that that will

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.220
 expose our

00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.220
 self-justifying

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.759
 hearts

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:18.259
 and our

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.100
 self-serving

00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.039
 actions.

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.220
 We too

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.480
 fall short

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.500
 just like

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.600
 the lawyer

00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:26.140
 and it's here

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:26.500
 we need to

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.220
 remember something

00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.860
 about where we

00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.840
 are in Luke.

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.859
 we've just

00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.399
 turned the

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:31.679
 corner

00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:33.039
 and it's

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.500
 part of us

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.099
 understanding

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.720
 that the story

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.099
 of the good

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.559
 Samaritan

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.039
 does more

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.519
 than tell us

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:36.879
 to love

00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.459
 needy people

00:29:37.459 --> 00:29:38.119
 it definitely

00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:38.919
 does that

00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:40.119
 but Jesus

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:40.819
 tells this

00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.559
 story to a

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.099
 guy asking

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.740
 about what

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:44.220
 eternal life

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.879
 and Jesus

00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:46.599
 is on his

00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.299
 way to

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.799
 Jerusalem

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.619
 he set

00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.259
 his mind

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.579
 to go

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:49.959
 where

00:29:49.959 --> 00:29:50.939
 where's

00:29:50.939 --> 00:29:51.179
 Jesus

00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:51.679
 going

00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:52.639
 to the

00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:53.259
 cross

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:54.519
 to suffer

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.700
 and die

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.440
 for his

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:56.819
 enemies

00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.839
 at great

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.559
 cost

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.619
 to himself

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.359
 to show

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.220
 mercy to

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.519
 those

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.359
 desperately

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:02.900
 in need

00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.220
 of it

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.539
 to redirect

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.539
 his path

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.259
 that is headed

00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:06.920
 to glory

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.200
 through suffering

00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:09.440
 and a cross

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.379
 on his way

00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:10.759
 there

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.480
 to love

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.519
 so lavishly

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:13.859
 that he would

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.259
 not just

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.559
 provide temporarily

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.519
 but that he

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:16.920
 would meet

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.579
 our greatest

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.180
 needs

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:19.259
 eternally

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:21.680
 he truly

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.079
 and fully

00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:24.700
 and perfectly

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:26.180
 loves his

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.579
 neighbors

00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.740
 doesn't he

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.480
 that's what

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:29.759
 he's in the

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.440
 midst of doing

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.460
 he's the good

00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:31.819
 neighbor

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:33.180
 who shows up

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.579
 in our need

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:36.359
 he perfectly

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.000
 therefore

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.660
 meets

00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.480
 God's

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.200
 perfect

00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.160
 standard

00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:41.220
 and y'all

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.700
 this is the

00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:41.920
 glory

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.299
 the last

00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:42.660
 thing I want

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.160
 you to see

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.039
 of how the

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.519
 law and the

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.200
 gospel work

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.660
 together

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.500
 it's a whole

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.200
 sermon another

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.920
 time but just

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.460
 a window

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.799
 this is how

00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.640
 it works

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.620
 in our

00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:51.980
 lives

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.400
 how God

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.220
 has designed

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.220
 his law

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.579
 in the

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.039
 gospel

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.100
 to change

00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.680
 us

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:59.180
 he sets

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.920
 the standard

00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.700
 high

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:02.440
 we're called

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.019
 to love

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.480
 neighbor

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.480
 and what

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.039
 happens is

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.500
 we then

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.259
 fail to

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.600
 meet

00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:07.620
 the perfect

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.279
 standard

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.779
 but Jesus

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.559
 meets it

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.660
 for us

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.640
 and then

00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.660
 connected to

00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:13.960
 him

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.440
 we are

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.200
 recreated

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.259
 to follow

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:17.079
 him toward

00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.799
 that perfect

00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.340
 standard

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.399
 that's the

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:20.119
 design of

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:20.439
 what it's

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:20.819
 meant to

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.559
 work like

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:23.959
 see when I'm

00:31:23.959 --> 00:31:24.419
 trying to

00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:24.939
 justify

00:31:24.939 --> 00:31:25.899
 myself

00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:27.279
 show you

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.480
 a quick

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.000
 little chart

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.379
 every

00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:30.579
 step

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.339
 changes

00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:32.059
 when that's

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.619
 the perspective

00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.220
 I'm coming

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.619
 from

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:35.699
 I relax

00:31:35.699 --> 00:31:36.179
 God's

00:31:36.179 --> 00:31:36.480
 standard

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:36.959
 remember I

00:31:36.959 --> 00:31:37.539
 lower it

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.399
 so that I

00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:39.019
 think I

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.919
 can meet

00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:40.399
 God's

00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:40.819
 standard

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.480
 therefore

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.619
 Jesus is

00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:43.419
 not needed

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:43.980
 in the

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.379
 process

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.179
 and I

00:31:45.179 --> 00:31:45.599
 follow

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.220
 how far

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.200
 only as

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:47.620
 far as

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.039
 I need

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.220
 to

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.519
 in order

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:48.900
 to feel

00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.360
 good about

00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:49.799
 myself

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.079
 in the

00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.220
 new

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.480
 low

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:50.900
 standard

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.759
 I only

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.079
 have to

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.400
 love the

00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:52.980
 people along

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.279
 the way

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.559
 to the

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:53.799
 low

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.220
 standard

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.700
 that I've

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.120
 created

00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:56.740
 and so the

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.279
 danger is

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.519
 we're going

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:57.860
 to miss

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.220
 out

00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:59.680
 on some

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.079
 neighbors

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.779
 Jesus is

00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.360
 calling us

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.019
 to love

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.960
 because we've

00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.720
 relaxed the

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.400
 standard and we

00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.019
 only have to

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.700
 love those

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.100
 people

00:32:06.100 --> 00:32:08.360
 and worse

00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:10.460
 we miss out

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:10.880
 on Jesus

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:12.940
 we don't

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.440
 need him

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.580
 for that

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.020
 when we're

00:32:15.020 --> 00:32:15.720
 justifying

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.420
 ourselves

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:18.060
 but it's

00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:18.500
 entirely

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.540
 different when

00:32:19.540 --> 00:32:20.160
 God

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:20.820
 justifies

00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:22.420
 when we

00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:22.880
 come in a

00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:23.660
 relationship with

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.380
 God established

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.220
 by what he's

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.120
 done not what

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:26.560
 we've done

00:32:26.560 --> 00:32:27.520
 we can leave the

00:32:27.520 --> 00:32:28.360
 standard where he

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:28.920
 said it

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:30.600
 what he calls

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:31.100
 us to

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:32.060
 the standard is

00:32:32.060 --> 00:32:33.600
 never relaxed

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:36.020
 and then we

00:32:36.020 --> 00:32:37.100
 fall short

00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:38.200
 of that standard

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.240
 and it's why we

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:39.980
 have to be so

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.600
 grateful

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.339
 that God

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.059
 justifies

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.919
 the ungodly

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:44.399
 that's from

00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.159
 cover to cover

00:32:45.159 --> 00:32:45.659
 of scripture

00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.240
 that that's how

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.619
 he works

00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:47.599
 he finds these

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.139
 people who've

00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:48.799
 fallen short

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.459
 of his

00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:49.919
 standard

00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:51.059
 and he

00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.719
 makes them

00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.139
 right

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.919
 Jesus comes

00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:55.319
 and perfectly

00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.839
 meets the

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.219
 standard

00:32:57.219 --> 00:32:58.079
 perfectly

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.119
 always

00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.799
 loves

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.399
 neighbors

00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:01.000
 and then

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.779
 Jesus makes

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.439
 us new

00:33:02.439 --> 00:33:03.899
 and calls us

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:05.039
 to follow him

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.039
 there

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.379
 towards that

00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:07.919
 standard

00:33:07.919 --> 00:33:08.359
 to be a

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:08.879
 neighbor to

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.659
 everyone

00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:11.100
 on our

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:11.500
 path

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:12.840
 he meets

00:33:12.840 --> 00:33:13.460
 the standard

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.080
 for us

00:33:14.080 --> 00:33:14.279
 y'all

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.300
 not so we

00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:15.860
 can ignore

00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:16.140
 it

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:17.560
 and carry

00:33:17.560 --> 00:33:17.940
 on with

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:18.380
 however we

00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:18.680
 want to

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.000
 live

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.620
 but so that

00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:20.940
 we can

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.940
 follow Jesus

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.960
 on the path

00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.120
 of sacrificially

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.940
 loving

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.600
 neighbor

00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:26.259
 which is

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:27.019
 exactly what

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.340
 God has

00:33:27.340 --> 00:33:27.860
 created us

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.300
 to do

00:33:28.300 --> 00:33:29.180
 and how

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.560
 we're supposed

00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:30.120
 to work

00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:32.579
 if there's

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:32.979
 no one

00:33:32.979 --> 00:33:33.299
 on your

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.839
 path

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.759
 in need

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.299
 of mercy

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.699
 you're not

00:33:36.699 --> 00:33:37.339
 on Jesus'

00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:38.219
 path

00:33:38.219 --> 00:33:39.339
 you're not

00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:39.879
 actually

00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:41.059
 following him

00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.659
 on his

00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.000
 path

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.419
 there's all

00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:42.939
 sorts of

00:33:42.939 --> 00:33:43.479
 people in

00:33:43.479 --> 00:33:43.839
 need

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:46.379
 but as you

00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:46.919
 follow the

00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:47.439
 one who

00:33:47.439 --> 00:33:48.500
 has loved

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.339
 perfectly

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.559
 for you

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.859
 so that

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:52.539
 your failures

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.259
 to love

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:54.139
 no longer

00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:54.959
 define your

00:33:54.959 --> 00:33:55.619
 relationship

00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:56.639
 with your

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:56.979
 father

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.980
 as you

00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:59.039
 follow him

00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.160
 you can

00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:00.700
 revel

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.579
 in his

00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.000
 love

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.500
 for you

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.160
 and

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:04.200
 and

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:05.259
 reflect

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.860
 that love

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.759
 to everyone

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.199
 we need

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.740
 God's help

00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:11.380
 let's pray

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.780
 and ask

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:16.460
 father it's

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.880
 not just

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.420
 the failures

00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:17.760
 in our

00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.179
 lives

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:18.840
 what really

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.199
 is the

00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.639
 problem

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.039
 is our

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:20.559
 hearts

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:23.179
 we would

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:23.619
 like to

00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.000
 come to

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.360
 church

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:24.880
 and say

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.219
 that we

00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:25.960
 love God

00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.480
 with all

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:26.780
 of our

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.139
 hearts

00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:27.480
 and we

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:27.840
 love our

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.119
 neighbors

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:28.860
 as ourselves

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.340
 but we

00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.880
 see so

00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:30.519
 many other

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.240
 lesser

00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:31.900
 loves

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.800
 in there

00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:35.400
 we need

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:35.639
 you to

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.360
 change us

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.679
 Jesus we

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.219
 need your

00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:38.940
 love for

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.400
 us

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:40.500
 to come

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:40.880
 and be

00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.380
 the thing

00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.019
 that makes

00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.740
 our hearts

00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.159
 new

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.900
 and gives

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.199
 us

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:45.400
 life

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.400
 to actually

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:46.820
 be able

00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:47.280
 to share

00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:47.820
 love like

00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.260
 this with

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:48.639
 others

00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:51.679
 so change

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.199
 our hearts

00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:52.679
 and then open

00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:53.340
 our eyes

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.780
 send us out

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.099
 of here

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.480
 with a

00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.360
 joy

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:56.960
 we don't

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.260
 have to

00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:58.059
 walk out

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:58.340
 of here

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:58.740
 guilty

00:34:58.740 --> 00:34:59.160
 thinking

00:34:59.160 --> 00:34:59.660
 how can

00:34:59.660 --> 00:35:00.079
 we do

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.420
 it all

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:00.900
 send us

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.280
 out with

00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:01.920
 eyes that

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:02.460
 are peeled

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.140
 for people

00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:03.480
 who will

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:03.940
 need your

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.380
 mercy

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.880
 and with

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.820
 a joy

00:35:06.820 --> 00:35:07.260
 that we

00:35:07.260 --> 00:35:07.559
 get to

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.079
 be vessels

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.539
 of it

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.059
 we get

00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:09.519
 to be

00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.480
 channels

00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.579
 of your

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:11.940
 mercy

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.519
 to others

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.300
 Father do

00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:13.620
 that

00:35:13.620 --> 00:35:14.760
 in our

00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:15.079
 hearts

00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:15.680
 and change

00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:16.559
 this community

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.000
 and every

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.640
 other path

00:35:17.640 --> 00:35:18.160
 we walk

00:35:18.160 --> 00:35:18.500
 in

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.920
 because you've

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:20.460
 changed our

00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:20.880
 hearts

00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.579
 we ask it

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:21.940
 in Jesus

00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.360
 name

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.320
 Amen

00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:27.760
 for more

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.300
 information

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.080
 visit us

00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:29.580
 online

00:35:29.580 --> 00:35:29.980
 at

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.880
 southwood.org

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.940
 in

00:35:33.660 --> 00:35:46.780
 in

00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:47.380
 the

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:48.260
 world