Deep & Wide: The Good Samaritan & Exit 19 (Luke 10:25-37)

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the True Good Samaritan Who Saves and Heals

Jesus is not merely a moral example in the parable of the Good Samaritan; He is the ultimate Good Samaritan who finds us in our brokenness, binds up our wounds, pays our debt, and promises to return. He enters into our pain, not because He needs us, but because He loves us, offering us healing, restoration, and a new identity as His beloved. When we recognize that we are the wounded on the road, unable to save ourselves, we see the depth of Christ’s compassion and the completeness of His rescue. He does not pass us by, but lifts us up, secures our place among His people, and commissions us to share in His mission. [04:41]

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to stop striving to be your own savior and instead receive Jesus’ healing and compassion for you today?

Day 2: We Are All the Wounded in Need of Grace

Before we can ever be the Good Samaritan to others, we must first recognize that we are the wounded, stripped and left for dead by sin, unable to save ourselves. No amount of religious effort, moral striving, or self-justification can rescue us; only Jesus can. When we see ourselves as the broken on the road, we are freed from pride and self-reliance, and we can receive the fullness of Christ’s mercy and grace. This humility is the foundation for true transformation and for extending genuine compassion to others. [19:22]

Romans 3:23 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:1 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.

Reflection: Where have you been trying to justify yourself or prove your worth to God or others, instead of admitting your need and receiving His grace?

Day 3: The Church as the Inn—A Community of Healing and Mission

The church is not just a building or a social club, but the living “inn” where the wounded are brought for healing, restoration, and purpose. As the people of God, we are called to embrace, equip, empower, and encourage one another, stewarding the mission of Christ together. Every act of service, hospitality, and care is a reflection of the heart of Jesus, and as we welcome others, we participate in the ongoing work of the Good Samaritan. Our homes, our gatherings, and our lives become sacred spaces where the gospel is lived out and shared with our city and beyond. [27:40]

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Reflection: How can you open your home, your time, or your resources this week to help make our church a place of healing and welcome for someone in need?

Day 4: Compassion Moves Us to Sacrificial Action

True compassion is more than empathy; it is a willingness to enter into the pain of others and be moved to action, even when it costs us. Jesus’ compassion led Him to the cross, and He calls us to follow Him in sacrificial love—not to earn salvation, but because we have been saved. Mercy always costs, but it is part of the joy of partnering with Christ in His mission. As we care for others, especially those who have hurt or neglected us, we reflect the heart of the Savior who paid our debt and promises to reward our faithfulness when He returns. [32:29]

Matthew 5:44-45 (ESV)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Reflection: Who is one person—perhaps even someone who has hurt you—that God is calling you to show compassion and sacrificial care to this week? What step can you take?

Day 5: We Are Commissioned as Innkeepers—Partners in Christ’s Mission

Having been healed and restored by Jesus, we are now commissioned as innkeepers—entrusted to care for others, steward the resources God gives, and welcome the wounded into the community of faith. This calling is not just for pastors or church staff, but for every believer. Our security and affirmation come from Christ, and out of that overflow, we serve, forgive, and give—not because others deserve it, but because Jesus deserves it. As we partner together in the greatest mission eternity has ever known, we become a people who bring heaven to earth, loving others as Christ has loved us, until He returns. [37:36]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Reflection: What is one way you can step into your role as an “innkeeper” this week—caring for, encouraging, or equipping someone God has brought into your path?

Sermon Summary

The parable of the Good Samaritan is more than a call to simple morality or random acts of kindness. It is a profound revelation of the gospel, showing us not just how to live, but who Jesus is and who we are in light of Him. Too often, this story is reduced to a lesson in being a “good person,” but Jesus is inviting us to see much deeper. The parable exposes our tendency to justify ourselves, to draw lines around who deserves our love, and to miss the heart of God in the process. The lawyer in the story is not seeking God’s heart, but rather looking for the minimum requirements for eternal life, missing the relational and communal nature of God’s kingdom.

At the heart of the parable, we are not the hero. We are the wounded, broken, and helpless on the side of the road—stripped by sin, unable to save ourselves. The priest and the Levite, representing religion and ritual, pass by, unable to heal or restore. But Jesus, the true Good Samaritan, is the outcast who draws near, moved by compassion. He binds our wounds, pays our debt, and brings us into the safety of His people. He anoints us with His Spirit, commissions us to care for others, and promises to return and reward what we spend in His name.

This is not just an individual story, but a communal one. The inn is the church—a place of healing, equipping, and mission. We are called to be innkeepers, welcoming the wounded, stewarding the grace we have received, and partnering with Christ in His ongoing work. Our city, our neighborhoods, and even our new facility are modern Jericho roads, filled with people in need of the gospel. Jesus does not see a problem; He sees a harvest. He calls us to compassion—not just empathy that sits in the pain, but compassion that moves to action, healing, and restoration.

The call is not to ask, “Who is my neighbor?” but “Who am I being a neighbor to?” We are to love as we have been loved, forgive as we have been forgiven, and serve not because others deserve it, but because Jesus deserves it. Our security, identity, and purpose are found in Him, and our mission is to overflow that love to each other, our city, and beyond.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is the true Good Samaritan Jesus is not merely an example to follow, but the Savior who finds us in our brokenness, binds our wounds, pays our debt, and brings us into His family. He does for us what we could never do for ourselves, and our hope is rooted in His compassion and sacrifice, not our own efforts. [04:41]
2. We are first the wounded, not the hero Before we can serve others, we must recognize our own need for rescue. Pride and self-justification blind us to our true condition, but humility opens us to receive Christ’s healing. Only when we see ourselves as the wounded can we truly appreciate the depth of His love and grace. [19:22]
3. The church is the inn, and we are innkeepers The church is not a building or a social club, but a community of healed and healing people, commissioned to welcome, care for, and disciple others. Our mission is to steward the grace we’ve received, creating spaces—both physical and relational—where the broken can encounter Christ’s love and restoration. [27:14]
4. Compassion moves us to sacrificial action Empathy alone is incomplete; true compassion enters into pain and is moved to act, even at personal cost. We are called to love, serve, and forgive not because others are worthy, but because Jesus is worthy and has loved us first. Our service is an overflow of gratitude, not obligation. [32:29]
5. Our mission is communal, not individualistic God’s call is not just for personal salvation, but for participation in His redemptive mission together. We are invited to partner with Christ and one another, embracing the wounded, raising up new laborers, and advancing the gospel in our city and beyond. Our identity and purpose are found in belonging to His people and His mission. [29:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - More Than a Morality Tale
[02:41] - Three Key Questions
[04:41] - Jesus as the Good Samaritan
[05:27] - The Lawyer’s Question
[07:12] - Missing God’s Heart in the Law
[11:17] - The Priest and the Levite
[14:05] - The Samaritan’s Compassion
[17:01] - Where Are You in the Parable?
[19:22] - We Are the Wounded
[20:27] - Jesus, the Outcast Savior
[24:19] - The Gospel in Action
[27:14] - The Church as the Inn
[29:04] - The Mission and the Harvest
[32:29] - Compassion vs. Empathy
[36:02] - Who Is My Neighbor?
[37:36] - The Priesthood of All Believers
[39:03] - Forgiveness and Overflow
[41:17] - Be the Innkeepers Until He Returns

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) — 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Romans 3:23 (ESV) — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:1 (ESV) — And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.

Observation Questions

In the parable, who are the main characters, and what does each one do when they see the wounded man? (Luke 10:30–35)
What question does the lawyer ask Jesus, and what is his motivation for asking it? ([09:52])
According to the sermon, what do the priest and the Levite represent, and why do they pass by the wounded man? ([26:24])
What does the Samaritan do differently from the others, and what word does Jesus use to describe his actions? ([14:05])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says we are not the hero in the story, but the wounded on the side of the road. Why is it important to see ourselves this way before we try to help others? ([19:22])
How does Jesus, as the Good Samaritan, go beyond being just a moral example? What does He actually do for us, according to the sermon? ([04:41])
The inn in the parable is described as a picture of the church. What does it mean for the church to be a place of healing and mission, not just a building or social club? ([27:14])
The sermon contrasts empathy and compassion. What is the difference between the two, and why does compassion matter for followers of Jesus? ([32:29])

Application Questions

The lawyer wanted to know the minimum he had to do to inherit eternal life. Are there areas in your faith where you find yourself asking, “What’s the least I have to do?” How can you move from minimum requirements to seeking God’s heart? ([09:52])
The sermon says we are first the wounded, not the hero. Can you share a time when you realized your own need for rescue or healing? How did that change the way you see Jesus and others? ([19:22])
The church is called to be the “inn” where the wounded are welcomed and cared for. What are some practical ways our group or church can be more like the inn for people who are hurting or searching? ([27:14])
Jesus commissions us as “innkeepers” to care for others. Is there someone in your life right now who needs you to step in and show compassion, not just empathy? What would it look like to move from feeling their pain to taking action? ([32:29])
The sermon says our service and forgiveness are not based on whether others deserve it, but because Jesus deserves it. Is there someone you find it hard to forgive or serve? What would it look like to serve or forgive them out of gratitude to Jesus? ([39:03])
Our city and neighborhoods are described as “modern Jericho roads” filled with people in need. What is one step you can take this week to be a neighbor to someone outside your usual circle? ([29:04])
The sermon challenges us to ask, “Who am I being a neighbor to?” instead of “Who is my neighbor?” Who has God placed in your path recently, and how might you respond differently in light of this parable? ([36:02])

Sermon Clips

Oftentimes, we live in a world that's so individualistic that we only think about how it pertains to us as individuals. And while God loves you as an individual and is intimately acquainted with absolutely everything going on in your individual life and your individual heart, he also wants to remind you that this life is not all about you or only about you, that you have been called and are a part of something bigger and greater than just yourself. [00:03:59] (28 seconds) #CalledToCommunity

Now, I want you to see that the implication here is that if God loves the people around you, then your love for God will be reflected in the way that you love those that he loves. Like in other words, your vertical relationship with God and your horizontal relationship with each other cannot be disconnected. Like it's why there's no such thing as Lone Ranger Christianity. Like it's why Jesus calls us to fulfill his great commission to make disciples as part of a body of believers. [00:08:45] (32 seconds) #LoveReflectsGod

My job is to point you to him, not to stand in between you and him. We are all, if you are in Christ, the priesthood of all believers. And so our job is to stand as intermediaries between God and those who don't know him, the lost. And to welcome them and say, come to the king, hear, see the gospel and live. That's what we're called to do. [00:12:33] (29 seconds) #PointingToJesus

``The sooner you see yourself as the man in need, the sooner you'll see Jesus as the Savior who loves you and did not pass you by. Like, listen, only then you realize that Christ, the Savior, he's the main character, not you. He's the king, not you. And when you realize that, you realize, wait a minute, the king of the universe sees me, cares for me, doesn't pass me by. He's not abandoned me. Like, when you realize this, you realize that you matter. [00:21:25] (34 seconds) #MainCharacterIsJesus

Whatever else you spend, it's a call to sacrifice. It's a call to generosity. It's a call to care the way that the great Samaritan cares. That's what he says to the innkeeper. Whatever else you spend, I'll repay when I return. That's a promise. The truth is, his mission is costly. Mercy always costs. It's part of the joy of this partnership in Christ. It's a reflection of our faith and our priority. [00:25:27] (28 seconds) #CallToSacrifice

Religion can't save you. Religion can't save us. Living up to the law and the prophets can't save us. And in so many ways, that's what the priests and the Levite also represent. Dry religion. They can't save you. They can't get down there in the pit. They can't meet you there. It's just gonna pass you by if you're trying to earn it. That's what that lawyer's trying to do. [00:26:25] (22 seconds) #ReligionCantSave

When Jesus sees a crowd like that, when Jesus sees a road like that, he doesn't see a problem, he sees a promise. Yes, he doesn't see a hardship, he sees a harvest. And when he sees that, he sees a harvest and says to us, his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to go into the fields, that we would go into those fields within the joy of the Father. It's not always gonna work out the way we want it to, but we get to do it with him. Amen? And that is life. [00:30:22] (39 seconds) #HarvestIsPlentiful

The question is not, who's my neighbor? The question is not, who deserves my help? The question is not, who's treating me well? Or what's the minimum I can get away with and still go to heaven? The question is, who am I being a good person, a good, excuse me, neighbor to? Who am I being a good neighbor to? Not just who's my neighbor, who am I being a good neighbor to? Who has God placed in my path? What brings him the most glory? [00:35:40] (33 seconds) #BringHeavenToEarth

God has designed this great commission to be fulfilled through gospel community, and the local church is his plan, A, to accomplish that mission. Like, we are healed people who heal people. This is where people who are forgiven, forgive, and commissioned people, commission people, all because Jesus deserves it. What sets the true Christian apart is in how they look first and foremost to how Christ has treated them, not how the world has treated them, or the reasons for why they should operate and love others. No, we look to Jesus as our place of affirmation and security, and overflow out of that. [00:37:48] (41 seconds) #FaithfulStewards

We don't serve and give and forgive. We don't show up because people deserve it. We do it because Jesus deserves it, because we're grateful, and we're alive in Christ, and we want to share that life in Christ with each other, our city, and beyond. That's what those commitment cards next week are all about. So let's be the inn. Let's be the innkeepers. Let's be the welcome. Let's be the hands of the good Samaritan until he returns. What an honor. [00:40:58] (25 seconds) #OverflowOfGrace

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