Showing Compassion
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Luke 10:33-35
Read Matthew 5:43-48
After the priest and Levite a third individual traveled the road leading to Jericho. The Lord introduced him to the lawyer as a Samaritan. Those who first heard the parable would not have expected much from such an individual. Samaritans and Jews were not exactly friends—quite the opposite! So when the Lord Jesus related that a Samaritan saw the injured Jew on the side of the road, his audience would not have expected any help to come from him.
However, things turned out very differently. This Samaritan showed compassion to the Jew who was in need; he took special pains to bring him to an inn, leaving money to ensure that the injured man would receive further care. What an amazingly different response we see here than we saw yesterday concerning the priest and the Levite! The Samaritan did not cross to the other side of the road, but went to the injured man, attending to his injuries with compassion. His heart was filled with love and concern for his fellowman. He could have thought to himself: A Jew! Forget it! I’m not getting involved! But no, he could not respond in that way because the Lord had begun to work in his heart.
When the Lord begins to work in you, then you begin to see that God had every reason to pass you by. Yet He did not do so; out of compassion for sinners He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world. Whoever receives that love with a believing heart will also display love for his fellow man. This will also include those whom it may be difficult to get along with. This is not always easy, but the rewards are great.
Thought: Are you willing to help foreigners settle into your neighbourhood?
Psalter 193:1,3 (based on Psalm 71) O God, to Thy anointed King Give truth and righteousness; Thy people He will rightly justly judge And give the poor redress. The poor man’s cause He will maintain, The needy He will bless, And He will break the strength of those Who would the poor oppress.