The parable of a Good Samaritan is a beutiful picture of God’s great love for us. Though we were totally underserving but he identified with us in our helpless condition.
Three Kinds of Love
1. Eros - sensual love (lust)
2. Phileo - love of a friend, family
3. Agape - God’s love, "one way" love is now poured into our hearts by the ’Holy Spirit’ which are now to share with others (Rom. 5:5)
The Commandto Love (Rom.13:8)
There are three different groups to whom we are to express our love:
1. Love your neighbor - Mark 12:31
2. Love your enemies - Luke 6:27-28
3. Love one another - John 13:34
The Components of Love
1. Mercy (Luke 10:30-37)
-neighbor covers people in general with whom we come in contact
-the man overcame by thieves was:
a. undeserving
John 8:48 -"The Jews despised the Samaritans"
John 4:9 -"The Samaritans were publicly cursed in the Jewish synagogues"
b. In a helpless condition (10:30)
-The good Samaritan:
a. identified him v.33
b. ministered to him v.34
c. provided for him v.34-35
What a beautiful picture of God’s great love for us. Though we were totally undeserving, God identified us in our helpless condition and came to where we were (Phil 2:5), He ministered to us in all our desperate need (Isa. 53), and He provided for us from hin abundance (2 Pet. 1:3-5)
2. Forgiveness (Matt. 5:38-48)
-It is expressed through:
a. Our outward action
-God’s kind of love surrenders the right to retaliate when someone who is against us affects our feelings (v.39), our possessions (v.40), and our labor (v.41).
b. Our outward attitude
-Agape love sees through God’s eyes and recognizes their need. Jesus says "pray for those who persecute you (v.44)
-Ref. Luke 23:33-34, Acts 7:59-60
3. Sacrifice
-His love to us not only expressed his mercy and forgiveness but also through great sacrifice.
-Phil.2:4-8, John 15:9-17
Importance of Agape Love
-It demonstrate our love for God (Jn. 4:19-21
-It reveals Jesus in us to the world (John 17:20-23)
-It is the sons of the Father in action (Matt. 5:44-48)
The Cycle of Love (Eph. 5:21, 6-4)
1. The husband’s expression of love is giving
-Eph. 5:23,25; 1 Pet. 3:7; Col. 3:19)
2. The wife’s expression of love is submitting
-Eph.5:22-24; Gen. 2:18-22,23-25
3. The children’s expression of love is obedience
-Eph. 6:1
"The husban loved "as Christ," the wife submits "as to the Lord," the children obeys "in the Lord."
