Change the World - Go and Do - Luke 10 - December 12, 2010

Bible Study – Change World – Go and Do – December 12, 2010

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Change the World.”
Our scripture is Luke 10:25-37.


Our lesson is “Go and Do” which CHRIST told the expert in the law to do. Bible studies are great to help us glean knowledge. Many people who teach the Bible, lead Bible studies and attend Bible studies have a wonderful relationship with CHRIST. They have experienced or are experiencing the wonders of walking with CHRIST through difficult, as well as, wonderful times. However, Christians need to be careful to be an outlet for the things the LORD in leading them to do. They are a wonderful reservoir of Spiritual knowledge. I will quote a statement Rev. David Crim, Pastor of Lanai Baptist Church in Hawaii wrote in the “Advanced Bible Study Commentary” published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. Rev. Crim wrote, “Why do many Christians fail to act on the Bible knowledge about serving others? Are we like a spiritual “Dead Sea,” collecting knowledge but having no outlet to the world around us?”


We know the “Dead Sea” is a rich resource of minerals which it has collected over thousands of years. Most Christians have gone to more Bible studies than we can shake-a-stick at. But are we putting into action that which we have learned as the HOLY SPIRIT has taught us? It is easy to absorb knowledge but it is hard to put it to work. Again, I am not saying “Don’t just sit there, do something” but allow GOD, through the HOLY SPIRIT, to lead you to the action HE wants you to take. Recognize it, acknowledge it and confess that you have not been putting into action what the LORD has been leading you to do. GOD will help you and strengthen you to reach out in HIS name to others. Help takes on many different forms – financial, prayer, getting involved, giving a cup of cold water, supporting others as they go and do. Allow GOD to lead you to what HE desires for you in the world that you travel in every day.


Many of us are hesitant to get involved, if that is your situation, confess it to our LORD. Ask HIM to help you because you want to obediently serve HIM wherever HE leads you and opens the doors of opportunity. You may have to confess that you are hesitant or concerned about serving HIM but you are willing. Ask HIM to lead you to the ministry HE has for you. In fact, you may be already doing it and HE needs to open your Spiritual eyes to see it. HE will and HE will equip and empower you. Will it be easy? Most likely not but it will have eternal rewards. Let’s explore!


An expert in the law was asking JESUS a question. But some background first. JESUS sent seventy (70)/seventy-two (72) of HIS disciples on a mission trip. Let’s read Luke 10:1-20:


Sending Out the Seventy (Other scripture states that 72 were sent. This would have been 36 pairs sent.)


1 After this, the Lord appointed 70[1] others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 He told them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. 3 Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a son of peace[2]is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t be moving from house to house. 8 When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’ 10 When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We are wiping off [as a witness]* against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
Unrepentant Towns
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes! 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to • Hades![3] 16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”


The Return of the Seventy (Seventy-two)
17 The Seventy[4] returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. 19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions[5]and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. 20 However, don’t rejoice that[6]the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


We see that the disciples were called and empowered by JESUS to prepare the way for HIM to go and teach the Gospel in neighboring towns, villages, etc. JESUS had the authority to empower them and for them to depend upon the leadership of the HOLY SPIRIT. They went and they saw the hand of GOD at work. They returned rejoicing that demons had submitted to them in the name of JESUS. Take special note of the caution that JESUS gave them in verse 20 - 20 However, don’t rejoice that[6]the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Christians serve a sovereign GOD, WHO manifests HIS power and grace through them. It is easy for us to get the big head and think it is our power because we are such faithful followers and when we get this attitude, we abuse what GOD has entrusted to us. Christians are sinners saved by grace and empowered by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.


This leads us into our next scripture.

Let’s read Luke 10: 25-28:
The Parable of the Good Samaritan


25 Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.[13]28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.”


JESUS had sent seventy (70) – Seventy-two (72) of HIS disciples on a mission trip. They had gone and returned, rejoicing. In verse 25, the words “Just then” imply that the lawyer had heard what the returning disciples had been saying. Other Bible translations use the words “On one occasion” which implies this event occurred at a different time but likely following the return of the disciples. Either way “an expert in the law” asked a question to test JESUS. An expert in the law or lawyer was skilled in the interpretation of the Law of Moses combined with the teachings of the better known rabbis. Lawyers and scribes were, in essence, in the same group. Lawyers were the advocates of the Law of Moses.


This lawyer’s motive was to test JESUS. If he had witnessed the return of the disciples, then what they had experienced did not intrigue him. The lawyer is gracious when he addressed JESUS as “teacher.” He asked JESUS “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Notice he wanted to know what “he” had to do. This could indicate that JESUS just might tell him that he had done all that he needed to do. JESUS challenged him to answer his own question, which he does. JESUS told him he had it correct, now put what you know into action. The lawyer should have followed up with a question, “How do you do that in your own strength?” Because it seems clear that no human can love the LORD with all your heart, soul and mind, plus love your neighbor as yourself in their own strength. But instead he wanted JESUS to explain who his “neighbor” was. We must keep in mind JESUS knows our hearts. HE knew the heart and needs of the lawyer. So HE told him a parable to help him understand who his neighbor was.


Let’s read Luke 10:29-32:
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up [the question]* and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.


JESUS responded to the lawyer’s question. By the lawyer asking the question implied that he had his own definition of who his neighbor was. Likely his neighbor was a fellow Jew.


JESUS told the parable about “A man” was going down from Jerusalem. The “man” could have been a Jew, Gentile or Samaritan. JESUS chose not to identify the nationality of the man. The man could have been in Jerusalem on business, worshipping, visiting friends or relatives and he was going down to Jericho. The important point was the man was on the road and robbers attacked him and stripped him of all he had, plus they beat him and left him to die. The man needed help.


A priest was on the same road going from Jerusalem to Jericho. Priests served in the temple and lived in Jericho. Priests were a branch of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron. Priests officiated in the worship service by offering various offerings and by leading people to confess their sins. The priest saw the condition of the man and moved to the opposite side of the road and passed the dying man. The priest may have had good reason not to go to the man. If he was on duty then he could not touch a dead body. If he did he would be unclean and could not perform his priestly duties.

Along came a Levite. A Levite was a descendant of Levi. The Levite was an assistant priest. He took care of the tabernacle, the Temple and performed tasks such as providing music, preparing sacrifices for the priest to offer in behalf of the people. Other scripture tells us that the Levite went over and looked at the man but like the priest, passed the dying man by crossing to the other side of the road and continued on his journey home.


JESUS identified two (2) religious Jews who pass the dying man by crossing to the other side of the road. The priest and the assistant priest could be compared to the pastor and an associate pastor or chairman of the deacons or elders. Both saw the man’s dire condition but chose to walk on by.


Let’s read Luke 10:33-37:
33 But a • Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw [the man]* , he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day[14]he took out two • denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”


A Samaritan was traveling on the same road and saw the man who had been robbed, beaten and near death. The Samaritans were considered half-breeds or a mixed race by the Jews. Samaritans were part Jew. They had intermarried with non-Jews when they were in exile. Some Jews remained pure, tracing their lineage back to Abraham. Those who did not intermarry looked down on those who did. Those who intermarried married those who worshipped pagan gods. Therefore, they were not only considered a “mixed race” physically but also spiritually. Jews would go out of their way to avoid Samaria. The Jew did not even want to walk on the soil that a Samaritan had walked upon. So of all people to help the dying man was a despised Samaritan.


The Samaritan not only went over to the man, risking his life because the robbers might be in waiting to ambush him, he administered first aid. He likely consoled the man by telling him that he was there to help him. He bathed his wounds with wine. Wine having alcohol was an antiseptic and the oil was for soothing and healing. He placed the injured man on his animal and took him to an inn. This meant the Samaritan had to walk. Not only did he take him to an inn, he took care of him during the night and gave the innkeeper enough money to continue to care for the man until he was well enough to travel. The Samaritan told the innkeeper that he would pay for any extra cost.
I team teach with Nancy Babb and she presented the lesson today. She shared this with our class and I thought it was excellent:
The robbers took what belonged to the man.
The religious leaders kept what was theirs.
The Samaritan shared what was his.
Which one do we represent?

JESUS then asks the lawyer to answer the question he had asked. The lawyer responded with “The “one” who showed mercy to him.” Notice the lawyer would not even say the word “Samaritan.” JESUS responded by saying “Go and do the same.”


That meant the lawyer had to drop all of his prejudice and reconsider that every human was his neighbor including the despised Samaritans.


This is a message to every Christian today. Prejudice is a major barrier to being obedient to GOD. When Christians are in right relationship with CHRIST, they will see others through the eyes of JESUS and can respond to the needs of others, as HE leads them. Prejudice takes on many forms – race, weight, height, physical defects, speech impediments, accent, where a person was born, the family that a person comes from, those involved or previously involved in drugs, alcohol abuse, prostitution, abusers of children, abusers of a spouse, stealing and the list goes on.


I was talking to a friend about ministering to such people, especially child abusers and he said something that stuck with me. He said, “You can pray for and with others who have or had issues but keep your eyes open.” Christians must be wise when reaching out to others. There are people who prey upon the good heart of Christians. Pray and seek the leadership and wisdom of the LORD. Go and do but in the name and power of the LORD. It is time for Christians to put into action what they have been learning.


Also, be careful not to become an enabler. It is better to teach a person how to fish than to give them a fish every day. There is a balance between helping and making a person dependent upon your help.


As I heard from a wonderful visiting pastor years ago, Dr. Vance Havner, “Practice in the dark what you have learned in the light.” Folks, I believe we are in dark times and they may even get darker. We must keep in mind that GOD is sovereign. Go and do as HE leads you.