What Does It Take to Love? – Part 3: Compassion and Involvement

David W Palmer

(Luke 10:30–33 NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. … But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.”

In the previous two studies, we listened to a conversation between Jesus and an expert in Old Testament law (See: Luke 10:25–28). The lawyer posed the question: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Then after Jesus’s prompting, by his own understanding and confession, he stated that this came down to loving God and neighbour. However, wanting to justify himself—obviously not wanting to extend God’s type of love to the unlovely—he then asked, “Who is my neighbour?”

In answer to the lawyer’s question, Jesus began to tell the story of the Good Samaritan; in it, the Master clarifies what he means when he uses the word, “neighbour,” and how to love him in the way God wants (See: Luke 10:33–37). We are probably all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan (if not, please read it in your own Bible), so I will get down to the heart of the issue. In this story, Jesus not only tells us who our neighbour is, but he reveals what he believes it takes for us to “love” him. Are you ready for some truth from heaven? Here is what Jesus tells the lawyer it takes:

1. Compassionate

(Luke 10:34 NKJV) “So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” (See verse 33 above)

Jesus first reveals that the love God expects is compassionate and takes action. Did Jesus do this himself? Did he ever love practically? Yes! Jesus is our role model for living God’s way. He allowed compassion to move him—not only emotionally and spiritually—but also into the hands-on, loving actions of healing and meeting needs (See: Mark 14:14, Mat. 18:27, etc.). The Samaritan was compassionate and kind to the wounded man—a picture of Jesus reaching out, helping, and healing wounded humanity; he offered very practical help when the patient was in desperate need and simply couldn’t help himself.

1. Willing to Become Involved

(Luke 10:33–34 NLT) “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. {34} Going over to him …”

This translation of God’s word describes Jesus’s model altruist as a “despised Samaritan.” Although this was not stated in the original language, everyone who heard Jesus narrate this story would have known that the Jews despised the Samaritans at that time. This made what happened next seem even more impossible.

“Going over to him.” The compassionate benefactor was willing to become involved. What’s more, he took the initiative and made the effort to go from his comfort zone to the wounded man; he knew he should do something. The Samaritan chose to be vulnerable and engaged among people whom he knew despised him. This made it extra challenging for him. But for the kind traveller, compassion for the hurting man was a greater motivator than the self-protection of remaining uninterrupted, safe, and importantly, avoiding mixing with those who despised him.

For us, this is deeply challenging; our Lord Jesus is asking us, not only to reach out, become involved with, and love the unlovely—those we wouldn’t normally be drawn to or have anything in common with; he is actually implying that we should go to, reach out to, help, and be very generous towards those who even despise us.

This is a bit like trying to feed, calm, and pet a wounded or caged wild animal; it’s not easy, and it doesn’t “feel” nice. For example, Jesus may want us to lay our lives down to love and reach out to street kids, prisoners, outcasts, hermits, those who have been hurt in church—people who despise, reject, and denigrate us. Yet this is the exem