“The Good Samaritan"  < --- Click To Download the Speaker Notes.

Text: Gospel of Luke 10:25–37

I. The Question Behind the Question (Luke 10:25–29)

A. The Expert’s Test

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus redirects him to the Law.

The summary of the Law:

Love God fully.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

B. Self-Justification

“And who is my neighbor?”

We often justify ourselves by:

Prejudging who is worthy.

Limiting who qualifies for our compassion.

Key Insight: The issue is not defining neighbor — it’s becoming one.

II. The Parable: A Contrast of Responses (Luke 10:30–33)

A. The Situation

A man was attacked, stripped, beaten, and left half dead.

B. The Religious Passersby

Priest — saw and passed by.

Levite — saw and passed by.

Recognition of need ≠ response of compassion.

C. The Samaritan

Saw the man.

Had compassion.

Moved toward him.

Principle: Suspecting something is wrong is not spiritual. Compassion is.

The Four Compassionate Steps

III. Identify

A. Sense

Notice when something is wrong.

Pay attention instead of avoiding.

B. Choose

Compassion is a decision.

We choose whether to move toward or away.

Application Questions:

How is compassion a choice?

Where do you tend to pass by?

IV. Investigate

A. Ask Questions

Engage personally.

Seek understanding.

B. Get Details

Details shape how we help.

The Samaritan got closer.

Principle: Distance protects comfort. Closeness cultivates compassion.

Discussion:

Why are questions important?

How does nearness demonstrate care?

V. Involve

A. Get Messy

Bandaged wounds.

Used personal resources (oil, wine, and animal).

B. Be Vulnerable

Exposure to inconvenience.

Emotional investment.

C. Christ’s Example

Epistle to the Philippians 2:7 — Jesus “emptied himself.”

Compassion requires humility and self-emptying.

Principle: Submitting to others’ needs requires vulnerability.

VI. Invest

A. Sacrifice & Effort

Two denarii given.

Ongoing commitment: “I’ll reimburse you.”

B. Risk

Financial risk.

Personal safety risk.

Social risk (a Samaritan helping a Jew).

C. Broader Connection

Gospel of Matthew 9:36–38

Jesus had compassion on the crowds.

Compassion leads to labor.

Principle: Compassion is evidence-based and action-oriented.

VII. The Final Question (Luke 10:36–37)

A. Jesus Reframes It

Not “Who is my neighbor?”

But “Who proved to be a neighbor?”

B. The Reluctant Answer

“The one who showed mercy.”

C. The Command

“Go and do the same.”

Insight: Compassion softens hardened hearts. Even cynicism must bow to visible mercy.

VIII. Iterative Compassion

Compassion is not a one-time act but a pattern:

Identify

Investigate

Involve

Invest

Then repeat.

IX. Personal Application

Which step do you need to grow in?

What practical action can you take this week?

Where might God be inviting you to choose compassion?

Closing Thought:

Compassion is not theoretical. It is visible, costly, vulnerable love in motion.