The Commandment to Love (Luke 10:25-37)
Gary McManus, 09/15/2019Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
September 15, 2019 Luke 10:25-37
Love is complicated. WE are complicated.
We are complicated because we are sinful
human beings.
We were in Genesis 3:7-10 and forever
would be CONFLICTED within ourselves.
We Christians are commanded to love.
(John 13:34-35, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23)
Any questions? Read 1 Corinthians chapter 13. . .
Remember John 3:16, 1 John 4:9. . .others?
God loves us but what happens to us on earth
makes God’s love REALLY REALLY hard
for some people to understand, let alone accept.
Ask the people of the Bahamas.
Our God knew there was trouble on earth and
decided to come see for himself
—and still concluded. . . (Matthew 5:43-45):
God is loving and kind.
The kindness of love. . .See “The Love Dare”
Jesus tells the story of the Samaritan and
the injured Jew.
Luke 10:33: he took pity on the Jew. . .
See other translations and versions.
The Samaritan had a heart—that probably
shocked a few folks.
The Jew’s situation evoked KINDNESS
from the Samaritan.
Then Jesus lists all that this kindness was
moved to do. . .
Rest there for a moment—consider the generosity. . .
Love, as Jesus talks about it, is an active process
—an activity. AND this love does not require
compassion—it helps but it isn’t required.
(You may fake it ‘til you make it.)
Jesus states in brief and certain terms “go and DO.”
Notice what Jesus DIDN’T SAY. . .
Compassion—love of neighbor wins out over politics. Compassion wins out over all divisions that WE create among ourselves.
LOVE wins out over ALL the divisions that WE create. God’s love reaches down. . .
And God’s love in Jesus Christ reaches across. . .
That is the cross of Jesus. . .love reaching down and then love reaching across, reaching out.
God’s love WINS. Amen.
Luke 10:27 quotes Deuteronomy 6:5
Luke 10:27 quotes Leviticus 19:18
See Dr. Harold G. Koenig,
“You Are My Beloved, Really?” 2016
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