The Good Samaritan - Love Your Neighbor

River Valley Church • Pastor Rob Ketterling •

Summary

Pastor Rob Ketterling kicks off a three-part series called "Love Your Neighbor" with the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10. The message celebrates River Valley Church's 30th anniversary and introduces a new core group called "The Commission" focused on discipleship and reaching neighbors with a biblical worldview. The sermon emphasizes that the Good Samaritan story is not merely about random acts of kindness but about showing mercy across enemy lines—loving those who are culturally, religiously, or socially opposed to you. The historical context reveals the deep-seated hatred between Jews and Samaritans, dating back centuries to when the northern kingdom intermarried with Assyrians and was considered polluted by the southern kingdom. Pastor Rob draws parallels to modern conflicts like the Rwanda genocide and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to help congregants understand the magnitude of what Jesus was teaching. The story shows that a Jewish man in need was passed by a priest and Levite (religious leaders) but was helped by a Samaritan—his enemy—who showed extraordinary compassion and generosity. The message challenges believers to examine their excuses for not showing mercy and to practice love without limits. Jesus calls His followers to love not just the "nice and near" but also the "naughty"—those who are difficult, different, or even hostile. Pastor Rob shares personal testimony about forgiving neighbors who opposed his property plans and choosing to love them anyway. The sermon concludes with a call to live out the gospel in our own neighborhoods before attempting to share it globally, demonstrating God's love to all people regardless of their relationship to us.

Key Takeaways

  • The Good Samaritan is about mercy across enemy lines, not random acts of kindness
  • Only Jesus can make people who tried to kill you your brother or sister in Christ
  • River Valley helped build 12 churches and a Bible college in Rwanda through Kingdom Builders
  • Jews and Samaritans had centuries-deep hatred - worst insult was calling a Jew a Samaritan
  • The priest and Levite (religious leaders) passed by, but the enemy showed mercy
  • Excuses don't matter when someone is in real need
  • Jesus calls us to love not just the nice and near, but also the naughty
  • The lawyer couldn't even say "Samaritan" - he said "the one who showed mercy"
  • When we love our enemies, it gives them a glimpse of the gospel
  • Love your neighbors on your own street before getting on a plane to the mission field

Outline

Introduction and Church Announcements

  • Welcome back from summer - 40% disappeared on first summer, but they came back
  • October 4-5: River Valley Church 30th anniversary celebration at all campuses
  • Introduction to "Love Your Neighbor" three-part series
  • Announcement of new core group: "The Commission" - focused on discipleship and biblical worldview
  • The Commission covers: biblical worldview, reaching neighbors, comparative religions, and the 42% who haven't heard

The Good Samaritan: More Than Random Kindness

  • Good Samaritan is universally recognized but often simplified
  • This is about mercy across enemy lines, not just helping grandma cross the street
  • Modern example: Rwanda genocide (1994) - Hutu and Tutsi tribes, 1 million killed in 100 days
  • River Valley helped build 12 churches in Rwanda through Kingdom Builders
  • Pastor who survived machete attack now pastors former enemies - 210 people worship together
  • Kingdom Builders also helped build Bible college in Rwanda (55 students training)
  • Only Jesus can make enemies into brothers and sisters

Context: The Lawyer's Challenge (Luke 10:25-29)

  • Lawyer stood up to test Jesus - standing was a challenge, not a student's posture
  • Asked: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
  • Lawyer correctly answers: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, mind; love your neighbor
  • Jesus says: "Do this and you will live"
  • Lawyer asks follow-up to justify himself: "Who is my neighbor?"
  • Luke 1-9 tells who Jesus is; Luke 9-18 tells what it means to follow Him
  • Chapter 10 focuses on discipleship and sending out the 72
  • Good Samaritan story sandwiched in - intentional placement about love while going

Historical Rivalry Between Jews and Samaritans

  • Centuries-deep hatred dating to 900s BC
  • Northern kingdom (Israel) vs Southern kingdom (Judah)
  • Assyrian occupation led to intermarriage - forbidden by law
  • Southern kingdom viewed Samaritans as polluted, impure, untouchable
  • Samaritans defiled Jerusalem temple with dead human bones during Passover
  • Jews believed if Samaritan touched bread, it was like eating pig (unclean)
  • Worst insult to a Jew: "You are a Samaritan"
  • Modern equivalent: Palestinian-Israeli conflict

The Parable Unfolds (Luke 10:30-37)

  • Man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho (18 miles, 3,300 ft descent)
  • Robbers stripped him, beat him, left him half dead
  • Priest came by - passed on the other side
  • Levite came by - also passed on the other side
  • Samaritan came, had compassion, bound wounds with oil and wine
  • Samaritan put man on his own animal, took him to inn, paid for care
  • Left two denarii (two days' wages) and promised to pay any additional costs
  • Jesus asks: "Which proved to be a neighbor?"
  • Lawyer can't even say "Samaritan" - says "the one who showed mercy"

Excuses Don't Matter (Charles Spurgeon's Commentary)

  • Priest and Levite had many possible excuses:
  • "I haven't seen my family for a month"
  • "I just served in God's presence - feeling especially holy"
  • "It's getting dark - not safe to stay"
  • "I promised my wife I'd be home on time"
  • "I don't have medical skills - that's my wife's thing"
  • "He's a hopeless case anyway"
  • "Thieves might come back and rob me too"
  • "I could be framed for this crime"
  • "I can just pray for him instead"
  • Spurgeon: "The devil will smile over your excuses - you'd better cry over them"

Jesus' Challenge: Love Without Limits

  • Samaritan showed God's covenant love (hesed) - mercy and loyalty
  • How sad to be close to God for a month but not look or act like Him
  • Jesus tells lawyer: "Go and do likewise"
  • First command: Practice what you know
  • Second command: Practice love and mercy without limits
  • Love not just the nice and near, but also the naughty
  • Love your enemies - live differently than the world
  • The victim probably was Jewish - imagine his shock that his enemy saved him
  • When we love enemies, it gives a glimpse of the gospel

Personal Application and Testimony

  • Pastor Rob's story: neighbors protested property split at city council
  • All neighbors voted against - cost him a free lot
  • Initial reaction: "I hate all my neighbors"
  • Considered revenge: parking oil tanker with graffiti on his property
  • God convicted him: "It's not about the money"
  • Chose to love neighbors despite their opposition
  • Didn't want to hinder the gospel message
  • Love neighbors in our own streets before getting on planes to mission fields

Closing Prayer and Call to Action

  • Pray to truly love our neighbors
  • Love the pleasant neighbors AND the difficult ones
  • Love people in our neighborhood, driving zone, community
  • Live out the message in our own streets before proclaiming it globally
  • Continue praying for hostages and end to conflicts (Israel-Palestine)

Scripture References

Luke 10:25-28
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?' he replied. 'How do you read it?' He answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and 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.'
Luke 10:29
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'
Luke 10:30-35
In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said, "and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."'
Luke 10:36-37
'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.' Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'