Luke 10:36–37 (Read Luke 10:25-37)
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.”
Dwell:
At the heart of this parable is the golden rule: to love God with all your mind, heart, and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Throughout scripture, we see that true devotion and love for God naturally lead to loving those around us. When we truly grasp the compassion Jesus has shown us, we are moved to extend that same compassion, mercy, and grace to everyone, regardless of their background.
True love and compassion are demonstrated through actions, not just words or feelings. The Samaritan’s willingness to help at personal cost exemplifies this. We might mistakenly believe that having the intention to help or feeling care towards someone makes us “good.” However, words and thoughts are cheap. What are you actually doing? Are you being the hands and feet of Jesus to the broken world around you? Are you going out of your way to serve those around you in ways that don’t bring you glory in this life? This means loving, serving, and showing compassion to people without seeking recognition.
After telling this parable, Jesus emphasizes that true compassion, born from a love for God, leads to action. He then commissions the lawyer to “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). A genuine relationship with God will always lead to action. You cannot love God without being moved to love people. So, go and show the compassion, grace, and mercy of our Lord to the world around you, so that they too may come to a loving relationship with Jesus.
“Compassion is the deep feeling of sharing in the suffering of another and the desire to relieve that suffering.” - Jerry Bridges
Lord, grant me a heart that loves others as deeply as You love me. Help me to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing His love and compassion to those around me every day. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I’ve overlooked or ignored opportunities to extend Your grace and kindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.