THE LAWYER’S FOCUS (AND OUR’S TOO):
- “Sure, I’m willing to help. . . when it’s convenient for me.”
- v. 29.
- helping within the family/helping with a friend/helping in a tear-jerking situation/helping at Christmas.
- his question presumes that “some are my neighbors and some aren’t.”
- ongoing examples throughout the sermon:
- hungry (physical needs),
- hurting (emotionally),
- helping (ministering at church).
EXCUSES NOT TO HELP:
- some of these overlap each other and some come from opposite directions because there are all sorts of excuses that people will use.
1. “It’s his own fault.”
- v. 30 - “went down from Jerusalem to Jericho”
- blame as an excuse not to help.
2. “I’d help, but I’m not going to get hurt.”
- v. 30 - “wounded him”
3. “I’ll help next time.”
- v. 30 - “half dead” - sometimes there is no “next time.”
- procrastination.
4. “It’s not my job.”
- v. 31-32 - “a certain priest. . . a Levite”
5. “I’ll help if somebody asks.”
- v. 34 - “went to him”
6. “I’ll just write a check to help.”
- v. 34 - “bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine”
- Union Mission: checks to volunteers - 16:1.
- the value of touch.
7. “I don’t have the time right now.”
- v. 34 - “set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him”
- hurry/busyness.
8. “I can’t afford to help.”
- v. 35 - “two denarii”
- the need for sacrificial giving sometimes.
9. “I’ll help if this doesn’t take too long.”
- v. 35 - “when I come again, I will repay you.”
- short-term commitment.
BUT THE BIGGEST EXCUSE (AND THE BIGGEST COST) IS:
10. “It cost him heart.”
- v. 33 - “And when he saw him, he had compassion.”
- v. 37 - “‘He who showed mercy’. . . ‘Go and do likewise.’”
