Scripture Introduction
“Who is my neighbor?” “Who is my neighbor?” One of the most intriguing and studied questions ever asked. It all began when a religious leader, in order to test Jesus, asked: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus’ answer was simple, if impossible: “Obey the law and you will live. Love God, heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.”
But the man, desiring to justify himself, said: “And who is my neighbor?”
Today’s sermon is nine of twelve in a study of the church in Acts 2. We call it “dynamic” because of the two-fold meaning of that word. Dynamic means both living and active, both enthusiastic and powerful, both vigorous and purposeful. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that God’s Word is living and active, and so were Christians whose lives were transformed by that Word. As a result, they grew outwardly (in evangelism) and inwardly (in edification). And the world was awed, and the Christians had favor with all the people.
One reason they impressed a watching world was because the Word they preached was paired with a ministry of deed which proved their belief. It is that ministry of deed, witnessing to the power and effect of the gospel, which we consider today.
The question, “Who is my neighbor?” prompted Jesus to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Because that account is so familiar and (at the same time) demands so much to understand and apply it correctly, I decided we should take a more direct path to the command to engage in mercy ministry. But I ask you to think about “Who is my neighbor?” so you could think on that as we hear Jesus from Luke 6. [Read Luke 6.27-36. Pray.]
Introduction
The story is told of an Irish boxer who got converted and became a preacher. One day as he was setting up his tent for meetings, some local toughs came and began heckling him. One of them took a swing at the preacher and hit him on the cheek, knocking him down. He got up and pointed to his other cheek and said, “Jesus told me to offer you this one also.” So the guy clobbered him, knocking him down again. The boxer turned preacher rose slowly to his feet, took off his jacket, and said, “Jesus gave me no further instructions.” Pow!
We might not make such a silly mistake, but how do we apply Jesus’ teaching? It seems that many Christians simply ignore the words of the Lord, preferring to avoid people who might demand of us sacrifice and service. Why does Jesus raise the bar so far above our reach?
After the worship service we will hear from one of the directors of a ministry with which some of us will be involved beginning in the fall. One of their mottos is: “Tutor One Child, Change Two Lives.” That clever slogan points out that tutoring affects the one who gives as surely as the child who receives. There is much to be said about the benefits of mercy ministry, about the needs we might meet, about those who need extra help. (I think our guest will about that.) I want to focus, not on those who might receive your ministry, but on you who give.
I find that distinction significant in Jesus’ explanation of deeds of mercy. Many Christians feel that service must lead to evangelism in order to be good. But in Luke 6, Jesus promises no such result. In fact, he specifically commands that we love our enemies, do good to those who persecute, and lend to those who cannot repay, expecting nothing in return. Mercy—at least in this passage—mercy is not a means to another end; it is an end in itself. That end is what I hope we can explore today. To arrive there, please hear three things from Jesus.
1. We Must Give Mercy Even to the Undeserving (Luke 6.27-31)
Many Christians divide the poor into two categories: the “deserving” poor, whose poverty is not their responsibility, and the “undeserving” poor, whose poverty is due to their own sin and foolishness. But we must be careful of judging.
Jesus does not measure mercy by what is “deserved.” Love your enemies — they do not deserve it; do good to those who hate me — surely they have not earned my favor; bless those who curse — they are unworthy; pray for those who abuse — why should I ask God to help those who mistreat me? Give to everyone who begs — I would soon be as poor as any.
To understand Jesus’ point, we must hold two truths at the same time: mercy underserved which looks to change lives. This Biblical model is based on the grace which God gives. “God’s grace is not unconditional acceptance, but it is undeserved” (Tim Keller, Ministries of Mercy, 226). God does not save those worthy of his help; he makes friends out of enemies, and daughters out of strangers: we were enemies, so that his grace comes undeserved; we are made into friends, so that his grace has conditions.
Pastor Tim Keller, Ministries of Mercy, 227: “It should be obvious how this applies to our work with the needy. Neither the ‘liberal’ approach (no conditions on aid to the needy) nor the ‘conservative’ approach (only helping the deserving poor) understand grace. Instead, our mercy ministry must help people freely, yet aim to bring their whole lives under the healing lordship of Christ. Mercy is kingdom endeavor.”
If you tune the second string of your guitar, the A string, to 440 hertz, then pluck it, the E string at 330 hertz will begin to vibrate also, because they share an overtone of 1320 hertz. It is called sympathetic vibrations. As you read this paragraph, Jesus is plucking the A string of mercy; does your heart vibrate with it? Do we sense in our souls that God showed us mercy ill-deserved? When Jesus says to give to everyone who begs, is our only thought, “I will lose all of my money”? Is there any resonance in the depth of your being with the fact that you are a beggar of God’s grace? Mercy is not first pity toward others’ needs; it is first an experience of God’s favor.
Thus Robert Murray M’Cheyne pleaded with those in his congregation: “There are many hearing me who now know well that they are not Christians because they do not love to give. To give largely and liberally, not grudging at all, requires a new heart.”
Jesus is not asking if there are any who deserve our help; he wants to know if any of us have God’s heart.
I should be clear that the specific ministry of Whiz Kids is unlikely to rise to the level Jesus speaks of. I could simply show you verses commanding our care for those suffering under a system which fails them. The Parable of the Good Samaritan, for example, tells us that our neighbor is whoever is in need.
Psalm 10.18: “do justice to the fatherless and oppressed.”
Isaiah 1.17: “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
James 1.27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction….”
Proverbs 19.17: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
Ezekiel 16.49: [A fascinating description of the cause of Sodom’s destruction. Not that immorality was not part of the problem, but the cause Ezekiel notes is different.] “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.”
And Jesus himself, while he was here, lavished deeds of mercy without discrimination. The question this text asks is not whether God commands that his people be involved in the ministry of deed as well as that of word. The only answer is, “Of course, it is on virtually every page of the Bible.” Nor does God ask is whether the people are deserving or appreciative or even if how they will respond. Jesus asks this: do you know the God who is merciful to the undeserving? We must be involved in deeds of mercy.
2. We Must Seek the Reward of Magnifying God’s Grace to Us (Luke 6.32-35a)
There is a potential benefit to giving of ourselves which motivates much seemingly gracious behavior. Those who love others often do so because they hope to be loved in return. We invite people over for dinner who will treat us well and reciprocate. We loan our electric drill, knowing that it will be returned, and when we need a skill saw, we know where to go. But such apparent generosity is actually only the basest of selfishness.
Loving those who love back is the most natural of responses. Grown men who are members of the Mafia kiss each other on both cheeks. They also lend money, expecting it to be paid back. Mao Tse-tung did good to those who returned the favor. “So what?” says Jesus. Love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting nothing in return—that is supernatural work.
Some commentators here call for you to display “disinterested love.” In other words, love with no thought of reward. There is a danger in such thinking. Many pagan philosophies suggest that we serve others with no thought of ourselves, to empty ourselves, to become nothing.
Instead, Jesus insists you seek the reward—a great reward as a matter of fact. Beware of being holier than the Bible! You must seek the reward—not being paid for how good you are, but the reward of magnifying how great God is!
When Jesus commands mercy from us to the undeserving, unloving, unappreciative, and unkind, he is bringing you to the end of your natural abilities to force you onto the grace of God. God brings us to that perfect point: the command to “love the unlovely” on one hand, so beautiful in its simplicity, so perfect in its demands. But will on the other hand, fallen and selfish, does not want to.
So God says to me: “Are you ever unlovely?”
Me: “Yes.”
God: “When you are, do you want people to treat you as you deserve, or to love you generously and graciously, with mercy and compassion?”
Me: “I want mercy.”
God: “Great, do to others as you would have them do to you. Love the unlovely.”
Me: “But I don’t want to.”
God: “Exactly!” The command of God sits contrary to the will of sinners. What will you do? Will you come to him for help? Will you call upon God in the time of trouble? Will you receive the heart to love because you ask of the God who is “able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2Corinthians 9.8).
Answer “Yes” and your reward will be to magnify the grace of God.
3. We Must Be Like God in Ministry (Luke 6.35-36)
For our anniversary, Helen and I visited the Cincinnati Art Museum. There really are some stunning paintings there. As I enjoyed the art, I soon noticed that a guard was never more than a room away, walking in and out, checking up on me. I don’t consider myself particularly criminal in appearance, but it made me think: would it not be terrible if I were the cause of damage to one of these masterpieces. There was Van Gogh’s Undergrowth With Two Figures. This is the painting; there is no other. There are prints, but here is the masterpiece.
What if I ripped it open with a knife, if I stole from humanity the glory and joy of seeing such a painting? It would be to my everlasting shame. I would die full of sadness and grief for ruining what is surpassing beauty.
When Satan first tempted Eve, he said: “You can be like God.” He lied. We cannot be like God in the way he claimed. In fact, if I were allowed to steal one drop from the cup of God’s glory, I would be forever distraught. Like mutilating the Van Gogh, only infinitely worse. I cannot be like God in glory.
But you can be like God in ministry. You can be merciful, just like God is merciful. Prove your adoption; work out your salvation with fear and trembling; be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew Henry: “It will redound to our honour; for herein we shall resemble God in his goodness.”
Robert Murray McCheyne: “Oh, my dear Christians! If you would be like Christ, give much, give often, give freely, to the vile and poor, the thankless and the undeserving. Christ is glorious and happy and so will you be. It is not your money I want, but your happiness. Remember his own word, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
4. Conclusion
Kent Hughes, who pastored in Chicago, tells something which happened to a dear friend. This lady was a missionary on furlough after a particularly difficult season of service. Now, for the first time since they had been missionaries, they had bought a place of their own to rest and recover. The lady loved the patio and made it the focus of her decoration efforts.
After a few months some new neighbors moved in. The best word to describe them would be coarse. Loud music sounded day and night, along with many obscenities. They even went to the bathroom in the front yard in broad daylight! One day the neighbor’s children sprayed orange paint all over her beautiful patio—the walls, the floors—everything! She was distraught and furious. She tried to pray but found herself crying out, “I cannot love them. I hate them!”
Knowing she had to deal with the sin in her heart, she began to converse with the Lord in her inner being, and a Scripture came to mind: “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Colossians 3.14). In her heart she questioned, “Lord, how do I put on love?” The only way she could picture it was like putting on a coat. So she did that—she wrapped herself in the love of God! As a result she began to experience a deeper life of Christ within her.
She made a list of what she would do if she really loved her exasperating neighbors, then did what she had listed. She baked cookies, she baby-sat for free, she invited the mother over for coffee—and the most beautiful thing happened! She began to know and understand them. She began to see that they were living under tremendous pressures. She began to love her “enemies.” She did good to them. She lent to them without expecting anything back. And when they moved, she wept!
She showed mercy, and she was changed. You think about that. Amen.
