Sunday 24th January

Sunday 24th January 2010
Cadet Henry Chinye
“Love in our Neighbourhood”

Luke 10:21-37

The Priests: are descendants of Aaron. The priesthood belongs to them. They are the priests of the Lord. They are also Levites from lineage of Levi’s first son, Kohath. Aaron was of the family of Kohath. All priests are Levites but not all Levites are Priests.

Levites are the descendants of Levi, one of the Tribes of Israel, the Children of Jacob(Genesis 29:34). They were set apart for the secondary duties of the sanctuary service (1 Kings 8:4, Ezra 2:70), as assistants to the priests, who were also Levite

Priests and Levites, by Mosaic Law must not touch a dead body, otherwise they would be ceremoniously rendered unclean But they can carry out certain rituals required by law in order to be clean again (Lev.22;n! Number19).

Who is our neighbour? Love to our neighbour is the focus for this morning.
7 characters in the story

Victim of the robbers was vulnerable, half dead, says nothing throughout but we assume he was a Jew

The Samaritan was from Samaria
Jews had no dealings with Samaritans – they were considered outcasts, polluted, unclean

A Jew asked Jesus a question; Jesus asked a question in return: “Who is your neighbour?”
Jesus showed us how to love

Position, rank or career does not matter before God

Levites and priests were meant to be close to God – physically in the Temple and spiritually, but they did not show love to the Samaritan
They did not show compassion, care of mercy

It is your relationship to your neighbour that is important, how you show love to them
Your neighbour is whoever God presents to you at that time in your vicinity

“Go and do likewise!” Application for ourselves?
By loving our neighbour, we please God and receive blessing from God

Matthew 25: 35-46
“When you did this for your neighbour, you did it for me…”
Joy will fill your soul from doing the simple little kindness

Look around in our environment for places where we can let “this little light of mine” shine