Luke 10:29-37

Luke 10:29-37

1. We are taught how rare and uncommon is true brotherly love.
2. We are taught who they are to whom we should show kindness, and whom we are to love as neighbors.
3. We are taught after what manner, and to what extent we are to show kindness and love to others.

"That cheap charity which costs nothing more than a trifling subscription or contribution, is common enough. But that self-sacrificing kindness of heart, which cares not what trouble is entailed, so long as good can be done, is a grace which is rarely met with."

"We should regard the whole world as our parish, and the whole race of mankind as our neighbors...To be friendly to all men in this way, is to show something of the mind that was in Christ."

"He should think it no misspent time to work as hard in doing good to those who need help, as others work in trying to get money. He should not be ashamed to toil as much to make the misery of this world rather smaller, as those toil who hunt or shoot all day long. He should have a ready ear for every tale of sorrow, and a ready hand to help every one in affliction, so long as he has the power."

Questions:

1. I don’t know about you, but I can easily read the command to love God and neighbor, or read that love is fruit produced by the Spirit, and it not hit me that I fall so short of this calling! Does Ryle saying that this love is rare and uncommon humble us or make us proud?

2. The answer to who our neighbor is, is the person we see in need and can help. Is this our practical response to those around us? Are we quick to meet needs that we see, or run away from them?

3. As Ryle asks, “what are we doing, each in our own station, to prove that this mighty parable is one of the rules of our daily life? What are we doing for the heathen, at home and abroad? What are we doing to help those who are troubled in mind, body, or estate? There are many such in this world. There are always some near our own door. What are we doing for them? Anything, or nothing at all?”