Jump Start # 1160

Luke 10:28 “And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

Our verse today follows the great parable that we know as “The Good Samaritan.” It was used to answer a question. Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” This verbal exchange involved a lawyer who wished to justify himself. His attitude was his problem. When asked what the Law says, he responded, “Love the Lord…love your neighbor.” Do that, is what Jesus said. Looking for a loophole, Mr. Smarty Pants asked, “Who is my neighbor?” I expect Jesus could have smacked him for being a jerk, but Jesus never did. He told the parable of the good Samaritan. That parable answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” It isn’t someone that just lives besides me. The “neighbor” did not know the hurt man. He did not know the circumstances. He did not know many things. What he did know was that a fellow human was hurting and he could do something about it. He offered more than “I hope you get better.” He offered more than, “I’ll pray for you.” He got involved. He put oil on the wounds, bandaged them up, took him on his donkey to an inn and left money and a promise for more. It wasn’t his problem. It wasn’t his responsibility. The man should not have been walking alone on that road. He should have been more careful. Those things didn’t matter. The Samaritan got involved and did what he could.

When Jesus asked the lawyer, which of the three, the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan, proved to be a neighbor, he was asking him the same question he had asked Jesus. Now the lawyer must answer. Now it was his turn. Who is the neighbor? He said, “The one who showed mercy.” Jesus said, “You have answered correctly.”

You have answered correctly. That’s what I want to think about. The correct answer.

Sometimes we give the wrong answer. I did that the other day. Someone in our congregation recently had a kidney transplant. His wife donated one of her kidneys for her husband. A true act of love and sacrifice. My wife told me that she would do the same for me. She asked me if I would do it for her. I said, “We have different blood types, it wouldn’t work.” That was not the right answer!

We can give the wrong answer Biblically sometimes. This happens when we do not know the Bible as we should. Guessing for God doesn’t cut it. We need to know. If you don’t know, say that and then find the answer. Peter said to “speak as the oracles of God.” Be Biblical in our answers. God is not like us. He doesn’t think like us. He never makes a mistake. We do. So when an answer is sought, show it from the Bible. The Bible is always right.

We can give the wrong answer when we think the right answer is too hard to state. Instead of telling the truth, we bend the rules a bit and dance around what we ought to say. Sometimes the truth hurts. Now this is not an excuse for being rude, offensive and “in-your-face” and then arrogantly proclaim, “All I did was tell the truth.” Jesus wasn’t like that. However, truth needs to be spoken. Too many are looking the other way when it comes to sensitive subjects such as same-sex marriage, divorce, discipline. Fudging the truth doesn’t help a person be right with God. When Paul told the truth about the coming resurrection, some “sneered” him. He didn’t change the message. When the disciples told Jesus that some were offended by His message, He didn’t soften it nor apologize for it. Saying “No,” is hard for some people. It’s hard for some parents. Kids realize that. They wear parents down, whining for this and that. Instead of saying “No,” some parents cave in. Bad. The kids have you now. All they have to do is whine and you’ll grant what they want. You must say NO. There is always some who want to change what God says. They are never satisfied. Out with the old and in with the new. The new is too often not Biblical. What’s people to do? They may whine. They may threaten to leave. What do you do? Say “No.” We stand with God and Hs word. That’s it. Tell the truth in kindness.

Another thought: I fear that too many view judgment and the entrance into Heaven as a test. Get the right answers and you get in. They are hoping God will say, “You have answered correctly.” So in too many places we have gained an intellectual knowledge of God’s word but we don’t know the Lord. We’ve failed to walk, live and do the core principles of godly living. Our faith is knowledge and only knowledge. We know the right answers. We know what’s wrong with others. We know where the verses are. We know. We know. We know. We need to know. However, knowing isn’t the end of the street. This Biblical knowledge ought to shape us, mold us, change us and help us become. When a guy spouts off the right answers but is sharp and abrasive towards his wife, he missed something. We a guy knows the right answers, but at work he is known to be dishonest, he missed something. All this knowledge leads to a better us. Without a better us, this knowledge doesn’t and hasn’t helped us.

The judgment scene from Matthew 25 gives us two pictures—one of the talents where the servants did something with what was given to them; and the other picture of the disciples taking care of others when they were hungry, thirsty, naked and in prison. They fed, clothed, visited and did things. More than right answers. It was right actions. I don’t find the entrance to Heaven being based upon passing a test. I see it based upon a real and living faith in Christ. That faith comes from knowing but it causes a person to do things. It’s a living word in a living faith that leads to living results. Righteous living. Compassionate hearts. The hands of a servant. These all come from learning about Jesus.

You’ll notice in this passage two times Jesus said “go and do.” It’s not enough to know it. It’s not enough to be able to repeat the story. Now, live it. Show it. Do it. There’s an old saying, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.” That’s it. That’s what Jesus did. He showed. His words were put into actions.

How about you? You got the right answers? Great. Now what? What are you doing with those right answers? That’s the key. That’s where we really start learning. Becoming like Jesus is doing. Doing the right stuff that you have learned.

You answered correctly. Now…

Roger