Shepherd Notes July 2025
We are called to Proclaim Christ, Teach Christ’s Word and Reflect Christ’s Love to all!
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37 “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Biblical expert here at the beginning of the Good Samaritan story thought he had God’s law all figured out. However, as he expounded on His initial statement to love God with His whole being and to love His neighbor in a similar way, he tried to put limitations on those expectations. When he inquires as to “Who is my neighbor?” he really is asking, “Who is not my neighbor?” The Biblical expert was mirroring what humanity does with God’s law. It looks for loopholes or a way to diminish its impact. Yet the truth is we are to love all people, including our enemies (Luke 6:27). When God sent His Son Jesus, He knew that we diminish godly expectations and as a result we dimmish those people around us. Thank goodness Jesus came to be our Good Samaritan. He knows everything about you, and still, He comes to bandage you up with His healing forgiveness and righteousness. We dimmish, but God expands. What a wondrous love is this.
Have a Blessed July
Your fellow servant in Christ
Pastor Brian