Bible ReadingLuke 10:25-37 “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, 'Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?' So he answered and said, '‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’' And He said to him, 'You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.' But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?' 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. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 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. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?' And he said, 'He who showed mercy on him.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'”
[09:17]Mark 10:17-22 “Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?' So Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’' And he answered and said to Him, 'Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.' Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.' But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
[33:17]Matthew 22:34-40 “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, '‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'”
[14:31]Genesis 4:9 “Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' He said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?'”
[18:00]Observation questions- In Luke 10, what question did the lawyer ask first, and what second question did he ask when he wanted to justify himself? [16:56]
- In the parable, what did the priest do, what did the Levite do, and what specific actions did the Samaritan take for the wounded man? [24:39]
- According to Matthew 22, what are the two commandments that hold together “all the Law and the Prophets”? [16:28]
- In Mark 10, what was the “one thing” the rich young ruler lacked, and how did he respond when Jesus told him to let go of his possessions? [37:28]
Interpretation questions- The lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” was really an attempt to justify himself. Why does the human heart often look for a smaller, safer definition of obedience instead of simply loving God and loving others? [16:28]
- The Levite came close enough to see the wounded man, but still walked away. What does that show about the difference between feeling sympathy and actually showing mercy? [24:39]
- Jesus made the Samaritan the true neighbor in the story. What does that reveal about the kind of love God desires, especially toward people who are not familiar, easy, or naturally welcome in someone’s life? [27:44]
- Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and loved him, yet still put His finger on the idol in his heart. What does that show about the relationship between Christ’s love and His call to surrender? [40:14]
Application questions- It is possible to ask spiritual questions while still trying to stay in control. Where is there a temptation right now to look for a loophole instead of simple obedience to love God and love a neighbor? [16:56]
- Mercy moves toward people, not just around them. Who in daily life has become easy to notice but avoid—a hurting family member, a lonely person at church, a struggling coworker, a neighbor, or someone in need—and what might moving toward them look like this week? [24:39]
- Neighbor love crosses old hatred, discomfort, and distance. Is there anyone who feels hard to love because of past hurt, difference, tension, or mistrust? What would it look like to show practical mercy instead of keeping that person at arm’s length? [27:44]
- The Samaritan gave time, care, resources, and inconvenience. Which of those costs feels hardest right now—time, money, energy, reputation, or comfort—and why? [30:55]
- The rich young ruler was moral and serious, but one thing still had his heart. What “one thing” might be hardest to release right now—possessions, status, plans, security, work, or something else? How can that grip be recognized honestly? [37:28]
- Taking up the cross means following Christ even when it brings loss, humility, or shame. In what area of life does following Jesus feel costly right now, and what would faithful surrender look like there? [39:10]
- Bondage can come through oppression, but it can also come through success, pressure, and the rat race. Where does life feel overdriven or shackled right now, and how could love for God and love for others begin to reorder those pressures? [42:44]
