EXTREME NEIGHBORLINESS

You see, when someone is an extreme neighbor to you, it's difficult not to share that love with the world. The phrase, Good Samaritan, persists in our language, although most people nowadays have never met a Samaritan, good or bad. Dr. Gregory Sells tells why Jesus is the ultimate good neighbor, today on The Lutheran Hour. Today we'll discuss how the parables of Jesus work with Lutheran Hour speaker Michael Ziegler and his guest, Dr. David Schmitt. I'm Mark Eicher, and all this month on The Lutheran Hour, we are revisiting classic messages from previous seasons. The Reverend Dr. Gregory Sells was Lutheran Hour speaker from 2011 to 2017. Today's message is from Season 83 and originally aired in July of 2016. Now with a message titled, Extreme Neighborliness, here is Dr. Sells. And Jesus said, Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him. And Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah. Won't you be my neighbor? You know, since Sunday school days, I've heard the parable in our reading from Luke chapter 10. It's one that I really like, especially Jesus' punchline at the end. It's the parable of the good Samaritan. Do you like it too? Well, let's listen to how it starts. On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the law, Jesus replied. How do you read it? He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with

all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this, and you will live. But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? Hmm, that's an interesting reply. Who is my neighbor? And do you think that the expert in the law had a neighbor he didn't like? Do you have any hard-to-get-along-with neighbor stories? I've had a few neighbors who bug me over the years. Neighbor issues abound. Countries fight with countries. People like us dislike people like them. Politicians bicker, co-workers quarrel, and family members squabble. We've got neighbor issues. Why? Because like the expert in the law in Luke 10, who was trying to justify himself and prove that he was an all-around very good guy, we are, in truth, fallen, flawed, and frail people. We have problems with each other. We're a mess. We're sinners. It's true whether we admit it or not. We need help and repair. We need a good Samaritan, don't we? If you're tired of living in neighborly conflict and discord with people in your life, pay close attention. You may not be able to solve the tension in your life, but you have a friend and a Savior who cares and who can. His name is Jesus.

That's why he answered the expert in the law by telling a remarkable story. As I mentioned, it is called the parable of the good Samaritan. This is what Jesus said in response then to the question from the expert in the law, who is my neighbor? A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now, by chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Now, you might think the priest and the Levite were being heartless for avoiding the man in trouble, but as people listened to this story back then, they may have applauded those two church officials. You see, they may well have been doing the right thing according to the letter of the law. According to the law, an upright religious person was made ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body, so if the man was dead, this priest and Levite were supposed to stay away according to their law. Since the man could have been dead, many people during Jesus' time figured those religious leaders were right in what they did. You see Jesus' point, don't you? It is possible to be right, but be wrong at the same time. You can fulfill the law outwardly, but violate the heart of God. Bible verses may even back you up to a degree, but you may be missing the Bible's ultimate point, the grace and the love of God. So let's bring it home a bit. You may very well have been totally right, absolutely innocent, and completely blameless when you tangled with your loved one, but you may still need to humble yourself and compassionately apologize to your wife, to your kids, or to your parents, or to a person

who's totally wrong, and may even be violating God's ways for the sake of a greater good, a greater love. Boy, that's a tough one, isn't it? Well, Jesus is digging deep here, friends. Extreme neighborliness, as I like to call it, has to be resourced in something more than the best efforts of sinful people like us. Extreme neighborliness means taking some chances based on the love, the kindness, and even the humility that finds its source in this grace of God in Christ for you. Such self-sacrifice, which risks looking wrong even when you're trying to do the right thing, often shouldering unjust blame for a time in order to bring God's life-changing love into the equation, that's a gracious love that really changes things. You see, when you read the Bible, you can see that those are the exact charges that Jesus often faced when trying to do what people needed from God's point of view. In fact, he was even crucified as a criminal. Jesus carried the sin of the world, was given the death penalty on earth, and received the complete wrath of God as he hung on the cross. Why? In order to give the gift of forgiveness, God's forgiveness, to the world. Jesus looked completely wrong so he could make your life and mine completely right by his grace. It was a risk. It was selfless. It was counterintuitive. It was the compassionate way of God in Jesus. Sometimes the world understands extreme neighborliness more than we do. Well, that's what we hear as Jesus continued the parable of the Good Samaritan. Remember, a man was robbed and beaten and was left for dead on the side of the road. Law-abiding religious officials steered themselves to the opposite side of the road when they saw the bleeding heap of naked flesh on the other side. But something shocking happened next.

Jesus said, but a Samaritan. See let's put the brakes on right here. Jesus brought a Samaritan into the picture. The Jewish listeners must have nearly fainted. Samaritans then were despised by Jews. They would rather kill a Samaritan than shake his hand. Jesus might as well have said a terrorist stopped by. The very mention was repulsive. This was mind boggling. But Jesus continued, but a Samaritan. As he journeyed, came to where the injured man was and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper saying, take care of him and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return. A despised Samaritan, an unholy messed up heretic from their point of view, showed kindness. He was neighborly. He was probably helping an arch enemy, a Jew, but he let love prevail. Jesus then asked, which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? Well, the expert in the law replied, the one who showed him mercy. He probably couldn't even say the word Samaritan, but he had to admit that the Samaritan proved to be a neighbor. Well, how did Jesus reply? Jesus said to the expert in the law, you go and you do likewise. Jesus didn't only teach him who his neighbor was, he taught him how to be a neighbor to someone else. Extreme neighborliness. Do you know how to be a neighbor? Well, Jesus, of course, was not merely talking about helping the people who live next door.

He was addressing the issue of extreme neighborliness for all. Actually this is where the Christian faith begins, with kindness and self-sacrifice. In verse 33, the phrase took pity on him is a verb connected to Jesus over and over again in the gospels. I love it in Greek, splang nitsomai. You might have heard the word before. It sounds like what it is, overflowing compassion. Compassion-filled. from deep within. It's a word that refers to a deep and sincere outpouring of the heart for someone manifested in gracious and generous action. It's a Jesus word, a God word. You can't do this on your own, no matter how hard you try. But you can receive this mercy from God as a gift by grace through faith, and you can share it with others. You see, we could look at this parable in a different way and see how it can also teach us about Jesus. Although Jesus does tell us to go and do likewise, take a moment and picture Jesus as the Samaritan. Then imagine that you're the beat up guy in the side of the road, dying and injured because of your wounds, your struggles, your sin, your imperfection. You're the undesirable he, beat up and traumatized by this broken world and by your own failures. And Jesus is the Samaritan, the most unlikely savior from your point of view. He stopped for you. He came to heal your wounds.

He picked you up and carried you to safety. He paid the price for you when he gave his life for you on the cross. Hear the extreme neighborly words from Titus chapter three that describe what this Christmas, Good Friday, Easter Sunday Jesus is all about. He says, when the kindness and love of God, our savior appeared, he saved us. Not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ, our savior. Now that sounds like a good Samaritan type of grace, doesn't it? Kindness through the cross, a washing and pouring out through baptism, generously a new life given by the grace of God. Jesus is the extreme neighbor to you, to me, to all people. And by faith through his word, he lives in you. By his spirit, he teaches you and gives you everything you need. Mercied by the good Samaritan, or even better, by the in the flesh servant Messiah, Jesus, go and do likewise. If you've received that kind of mercy in your life, then what might extreme neighborliness look like through your life today to others? How might the love of God in Jesus Christ spill over through you to your family, or to the person in the cubicle next to you, or to the person who just caught you off in traffic?

Do you feel humility? Do you see how you don't have to be right about everything anymore? Do you see how you can say, I'm sorry, and carry the load of someone else's foul up when you show them undeserved love? You understand that your job in life is not to criticize everyone. Your calling in life is to generously show compassion to people who may not deserve it at all. But when you do, that's when people will see how distinct and amazing Jesus is. Jesus said, by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. This isn't mushy, milk toast love. It's strong, courageous, risk-taking, faith-filled confidence in the life-transforming work of God through the counterintuitive work of Jesus Christ. It is extreme neighborliness that defeats hatred, prejudice, selfishness, grudges, and infighting. It heals relationships, and it mends souls. It builds people up, and it opens the door to the good news of eternal life for them. It will change your life and point everyone to the miraculous compassion of Jesus. It's extreme neighborliness flowing from the cross of Christ as you take up your cross and follow him, and it works, dear friend, it works. Bernard Haar was a student living north of London in the early 1980s when his father sent him

an urgent message, get home, son, get home. His mother was in the hospital and was not expected to survive the night. Bernard immediately rushed to the train station only to find out he missed the last train. He spent all of his money to board a train to another town but would miss the connection. He went anyway, wondering what he would do. As he sat despondent and crying on the train, he contemplated hitchhiking, stealing a car, or stealing some money to make it the rest of the way home. That's when the conductor sat down next to him and said, are you okay? Bernard brushed him off and told him to leave. Well, the conductor persisted, you look awful, is there anything I can do? Get lost, Bernard said. Bernard was a big guy and the conductor was smaller in stature, but he didn't give up. Listen, if there's a problem, I'm here to help, he said. That's what I'm paid for. Finally, Bernard relented. He told him the story my mom She's in the hospital dying She won't survive the night and I'm gonna miss the train connection in the next town And I don't know how I'll make it home. It's tonight or never. I won't get another chance I'd be grateful if you just leave me alone Okay Well, I'm sorry to hear that son the conductor said I'll leave you alone then I hope you make it home in time The conductor got up and he made his way to the back of the train after about 10 minutes the conductor was back

Bernard was irritated But the conductor said listen when we get to your stop go to platform one as quickly as possible To catch your train to your hometown. It will be waiting for you Bernard was confused. What do you mean? Is it late or something? No, it isn't late. I've just radioed ahead They're gonna hold the train for you as soon as you get on it goes Everyone will be complaining about how late it is. Let's not worry about that this time. You'll get home and that's the main thing Good luck and God bless All Bernard could do through tears and surprise was to say Thank you. Thank you Well Bernard made it home that evening He was at his mother's side when she died in the early morning hours The conductor and his colleagues took all the complaints that night for the sake of a boy in need Bernard said later my meeting with the good conductor changed me from a selfish Potentially violent hedonist into a decent human being but it took time Having been blessed so generously and so graciously Bernard became a social worker to serve young people in need You see when someone is an extreme neighbor to you it's difficult not to share that love with the world Well when God in Christ is that extreme neighbor to you Forgiving you serving you blessing you by grace. There's power to go and do likewise Try me try me and see in Jesus. Amen Amen You're listening to the Lutheran hour for free online resources archived audio our mobile app and more go to Lutheran hour org, that's Lutheran hour org Joining us now. Here's Lutheran hour speaker. Dr. Michael Ziegler Thank you, Mark, I am back here in the studio with my friend and teacher. Dr. David Schmidt We're talking about parables. Thanks for being back. Oh, thank you, Michael so we just heard this sermon about the Good Samaritan a very familiar parable and last week we Mentioned a definition. What is a parable? So there are three parts of that definition. It's the Simile or metaphor something drawn from everyday life. Mm-hmm. And then that's a setup that's just so we call it that that's the setup and then there's a

Surprise something arresting and that's like an event and and then the third part is that the teaching What what is what is the story trying to get you to think on right? All right, so this week We're just gonna talk about that setup part that metaphor. So What is a metaphor what is a simile let's talk about that what's what that metaphor is when you talk about one thing in terms Of another okay. So Jesus is the light of the world, right? So we're talking about Jesus, but we're using light So light is familiar and it's helping us think about qualities of Jesus So there's there's something that we know and it's helping us learn more about something. We don't know as well and So there's a transfer of meaning from the known to the unknown simile usually is a very clear point and Metaphor is much broader metaphors. You're looking for what we would call a degree of correspondence What's the degree of correspondence? So you could kind of draw a circle and name all of the things, you know about light Light enables you to see things light illuminates light gives you sunburn if you're out in the Sun too long, right? And so you name all the things about light and then you take the other thing that's being talked about So it talks about one thing in terms of another Jesus and you let them overlap and you try to find what's in that sweet spot that overlaps And so obviously Jesus doesn't give us sunburn, right? So that does not count. So that's out but Jesus does Illuminate our life. He shows us our path, right? And so that's kind of what you're doing with metaphors. You're trying to find out which items are Important and which items are just there as part of that metaphorical world Okay So now with a parable a parable is doing that as a story and so there are elements in the story that are going to help us discover meaning about about the kingdom of God and how God works in our lives. And then there are elements in the story that are just there because that's what life is like. So for example, the Good Samaritan story, you might try to take every element of that and find its correspondence, but that might not be the right thing to do.

So remember your first sermon, you talked about the sower and the seed. There we had a very clear allegory, right? The sower is this, the seed is the word, this type of land is this, this type of land is this. So every item had a corresponding point. And Jesus gave us those. Right, and sometimes Jesus works with allegories. And in this one, I don't think you have an allegory, though there are church fathers who have read this allegorically. The oil that he gives to the guy is the sacraments and the inn is the church. But Jesus doesn't give us those correspondence points like he did in the parable of the sower. Doesn't at all. And so we probably wanna limit ourselves there. So thinking about some guidelines to help us make that discovery or transfer the meaning. So one would be if Jesus does it and gives us, that's a good guideline. If it helps us understand our own status or standing before God as sinners who need forgiveness, then that's probably a good thing that it serves that. What would be some other guidelines to help us? Well, I mean, I think the problem is you have to figure out what the teaching is, right? Because you're looking at one thing in terms of another. And so we're looking at a teaching in terms of the parable. But if we don't know the teaching,

then we don't know which details of the parable are important and which are not. And that's always the art of studying a parable is trying to figure out what that teaching is. And I think one of the most helpful things you can do with parables is to make sure that whatever the teaching is, it's found elsewhere in scripture. Probably should consider the historical context. Pastor Seltz gave us the details about how Samaritans were despised. And this trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was a common trip that people made. And if we can understand some of that, it'll help us figure out what that teaching is. And I think he also filled in the gaps as to a Levite and a priest and why they wouldn't help somebody, right? So he's kind of giving us, you know, you've got the question, is this road from Jerusalem to Jericho, is this a common well-traveled road? Is this a very odd way to go? Would somebody say, well, you would never go to Jericho from Jerusalem that way. I mean, you know, so these are all kinds of questions that help us see the story as a real life event. And we're filling in gaps on characters and places and all that type of stuff. But that's really just to get a sense of the story

so that we see what is so surprising. And that's what was good about the sermon where he kind of emphasized the but, a Samaritan came, right? And so that was a helpful thing. And then of course, prayer, right? I like how you keep bringing it back to this mystery that we're not just dissecting stories, we're engaging with God through these stories. I know, and that's what I loved about, it was the first sermon, your imagery of the butterfly. This is not kind of, let's take this apart. And now we've got a dictionary definition and that's all that we need. No, these parables are part of life and they shape the way we live. And there's a wonder to them. There's a mystery to them that we're always gonna be experiencing as we meditate on them. So we've talked about this setup of a parable, the metaphor and transfer of meaning and discovery meaning. And come back again next week, we're gonna talk about that shocking or arresting event. ♪ Forth in your name, O Lord, I go ♪ ♪ My daily labor to pursue ♪ ♪ You, only you, who resolve to know ♪ ♪ In all I think, or speak, or do ♪ ♪ But ask your wisdom as a sign ♪ ♪ O let me cheerfully fulfill ♪

♪ In all my works, your presence find ♪ ♪ And prove your good and perfect will ♪ ♪ Who may I find at my right hand ♪ ♪ Whose I see truly what I do ♪ ♪ And labor on at your command ♪ ♪ And offer all my works to you ♪ ♪ You ♪ ♪ Give me to bear your easy yoke ♪ ♪ And every moment watch and pray ♪ ♪ And still to things eternal look ♪ ♪ And descend to your glorious day ♪ ♪ For you I joyously employ ♪ ♪ Whatever you in grace have giv'n ♪ ♪ I run my course with deepened joy ♪ ♪ I closely walk with you to end ♪ Now, Dr. Ziegler leads us in praying the Lord's Prayer. Taught by Jesus and trusting in his promises, we are bold to pray. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever, amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace, amen. The Lutheran Hour is made possible through the support of faithful listeners like you. To learn how your prayers and gifts can extend the worldwide outreach of the Lutheran Hour, go to lutheranhour.org. Archives August continues next week with a message by Dr. Michael Ziegler. I'm Mark Eicher. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Someone, dig it, dig it! Dig it, dug it! Dr. Michael Ziegler here's a message to those who are apprehensive on the truth and that those who disagree with the truth are not perpetual. Still, we think the truth and you are, are people now who are not impossible to Old Testament. And not living souls, not people who have fallen into hell or divine, not people who are unfortunate or those