Eternal Life and The Ten Commandments (Luke 10:25-37)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
12 September 2021
Self righteous people are defensive people especially when their hypocrisy is being exposed.
A Jewish lawyer tested Jesus with the question "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
This man was an expert in teaching the law of God, the Ten Commandments, but when he heard Jesus speaking about everlasting life he felt uneasy. Hence his question was designed to test Jesus.
Jesus asked him what was written in the law and what was his understanding of it. The man gave a summary (an excellent one at that) that the law taught to love God with all one's being and one's neighbour as oneself.
Note it is possible to quote the word of God and not have eternal life. Ability to quote the Bible does not give you eternal life.
Jesus told the man he had answered rightly and that if he loved God with all his being and his neighbour as himself he would live by which is understood he would have eternal life. The man then asked "And who is my neighbour?"
Observe that the Ten Commandments brought a conviction of sin. The man began to feel uneasy when Jesus applied the moral law to the man's conscience. The law exposes people's shortcomings.
In response to the man's question of who is his neighbour Jesus told a parable -- the parable of the Samaritan who went to the aid of a needy man.
After relating the parable Jesus challenged the lawyer to go forth and do as the Samaritan did.
The parable identifies who is our neighbour. A neighbour is not identified because of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age or social status. A neighbour is a fellow human being who is in need.
The parable highlights our duty to care for our neighbour. In the parable a priest and Levite saw the man but ignored him. It was the Samaritan who gave aid to the man in need.
We must help those who are in need. The Ten Commandments comes down to loving your neighbour as yourself and your neighbour is anyone who is in need.
Observe how the Samaritan points us to Jesus Christ.
The Samaritan was despised by the Jews yet he came to the aid of a needy person. Jesus also was despised and rejected yet he came into the world to save needy people.
The Samaritan showed compassion to a stranger. Jesus shows compassion to us who by nature are strangers to the kingdom of God.
The Samaritan gave himself to help this man. Jesus gave himself to help us. He died on the cross for people like us.
Be reminded again that eternal life comes through the perfect obedience to the Ten Commandments. But who can obey the Commandments to perfection? Only Jesus has done this. It is only through faith in Jesus that one can have eternal life. He is our substitute. Come to him today and receive everlasting life.
Abandon self righteousness. Put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life.