January 30, 2020

It's Time for a Heart Check

Luke 10:25–42

Missy Leventhal
Thursday's Devo

January 30, 2020

Thursday's Devo

January 30, 2020

Central Truth

Loving God and experiencing the fullness of His grace is not about completing a task list. God is more concerned with our motives and the condition of our HEART. It's time for a heart check. Are you choosing "the good portion which will not be taken away"?

Key Verse | Luke 10:36-37, 39

"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."
. . . 
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

Luke 10:25–42

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

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 1 10:35 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer 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.”

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus 2 10:38 Greek he entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. 3 10:42 Some manuscripts few things are necessary, or only one Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Footnotes

[1] 10:35 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
[2] 10:38 Greek he
[3] 10:42 Some manuscripts few things are necessary, or only one

Dive Deeper | Luke 10:25–42

You likely know today's passage all too well. When something is familiar, it's easy to gloss over, skim through, or simply say, "I know that one!" and turn the page. But don't! Please don't! These verses are so rich with wisdom. I bet if you take a few minutes to sit with the people in this passage, the messages taught will challenge you.

This passage opens with a lawyer—a scholar who would have been well versed in Scripture—inquiring about the requirements for gaining eternal life. Luke 10:25 gives us the insight that the lawyer is seeking to test Jesus. After answering Jesus' question, the lawyer desires to be justified and asks, "[W]ho is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29), rather than asking, "How can I love my neighbor as myself?" Instead of recognizing that he cannot achieve that expectation, the expert tries to justify himself by asking Jesus to define who is a neighbor. Surely Jesus can't expect that the lawyer shows mercy to all who are in need, right?

But look at what Jesus does next! After telling the parable, Jesus asks, "Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor . . . ?" (Luke 10:36) Did you catch that? Jesus flips the question from "who IS my neighbor?" to "who proved to BE a neighbor?" Jesus is not concerned with putting parameters around who qualifies as a neighbor; rather, He is concerned with the heart! Who is actually being a neighbor? 

Later, Jesus enters the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary sits at the Lord's feet while Martha works. Martha goes to Jesus and points out that she is doing all the work. Then she does what any of my children might do; she asks Him to make her sister help! That seems like a reasonable request, right? But Jesus gently answers her, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42) Jesus is not trying to say that serving is bad, but again He is more concerned with the heart, and a heart that is listening to Him is best!  

Discussion Questions

1. In an effort to slow down and really see this passage with fresh eyes, read it several times and then make a list of as many observations as you can. What did you observe about each person in this passage? What did you observe about their actions and their responses to circumstances in their lives? What did you notice about Jesus' responses?   

2. Have there been times in your life when you have sought "to justify" yourself? Why did you feel you needed to justify yourself? After reading this passage, can you see a better way to respond the next time that feeling arises?

3. How are you doing at being a neighbor? What are some practical things you can do to be a better neighbor?

4. To whom do you relate more easily, Mary or Martha? What are some practical things you can do today to choose "the good portion"?