based on the sermon prepared and preached by Jeff Jantzi, February 9, 2025
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” But He didn’t stop there. He continued, “The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31). To Jesus, these were not separate commands but two expressions of the same love. Loving God wholly and loving others with equal fervor are two sides of the same coin—one cannot exist without the other.
Over the last several posts, we have explored what it means to love God with all that we are. In this final part of the series, we dive into what it looks like to love our neighbours as an outflow of loving God.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan: A Story of Radical Love
Jesus illustrates this commandment through the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). When we move beyond a surface-level reading of this story, we begin to see why the original audience was so shocked when they heard it and the radical implications of His command to “Love God and love others.” (Paraphrase).
Jesus redefines our understanding of love; His definition goes far beyond cultural norms. This parable challenges our understanding and self-imposed limits on how we love, who we love, and the cost of loving others.
Summary of the Parable:
A man from a hated minority group finds another man—belonging to the oppressive majority—severely injured after a violent mugging. Two others from the religious elite of the same tribe as the victim have already passed by, leaving him for dead. The Samaritan—the hated one—chooses instead to rescue his enemy.
The “Sunday School” application of this story is that God wants us to help those in need. However, this parable teaches much more than that. It challenges us to reflect on what true love looks like, how it acts, and the excuses we make for not showing love.
Look Again at the Actions of the Good Samaritan
- Compelled by radical compassion, he moved toward his enemy.
- He made himself vulnerable, stopping on a notoriously dangerous road patrolled by bandits.
- He risked his personal safety to help someone who likely despised him.
- He used his resources—time, medicine, transport, money, and connections—to care for the injured man.
- He committed to ongoing care, ensuring the man’s continued healing at his own expense.
This is radical love—inseparable from action. It goes far beyond simply “being a good person.”
How Do We Love Our Neighbors Like This?
- Be Compelled by Radical Compassion – Like the Good Samaritan, we should be moved to action, not just sympathy. Compassion means stepping into the mess of others’ lives, regardless of personal risk.
- Move Toward, Not Away From, Those in Need – True love isn’t convenient. It requires intentional action. Who are the people we avoid because they are different, difficult, or inconvenient?
- Make Yourself Vulnerable – Loving others means exposing ourselves to discomfort, loss, and even rejection. Jesus risked everything for us—can we do the same for others?
- Love Even When It Costs You – The Samaritan gave his time, money, and safety to care for his enemy. Jesus gave His life. Loving our neighbours will always cost something, but it is a reflection of the love we have received from God.
What Excuses Do We Use to Avoid Practicing This Kind of Love?
- Too Busy – Work, family, church, and other responsibilities often become excuses to ignore suffering.
- Too Risky – Helping others may put us in dangerous or uncomfortable situations.
- Too Different – The person in need might not share our background, beliefs, or values.
- Too Helpless – Some problems seem so overwhelming that we feel powerless to help.
- Too Costly – True love demands sacrifice—of time, money, and comfort.
Jesus as the True Good Samaritan
Ultimately, this story is about Jesus. We are the ones who have been beaten and broken by sin, left for dead. While we were still enemies of God, He sent Jesus to rescue us at great cost to Himself—with no guarantee that we would reciprocate His love.
Jesus moved toward His enemies—toward us—making Himself vulnerable, risking everything, and paying the ultimate price for our redemption.
In our broken human state, we cannot love anyone—let alone our enemies—to the level that God calls us to. The standard set in the parable of the Good Samaritan and exemplified in the sacrifice of Jesus is unattainable without divine transformation. This is why loving others is an outflow of loving God. We can only offer what we have first experienced. As the love of God redefines who we are and transforms us, only then can we begin to offer true love to the people around us, even those who would call us their enemies.
A Question to Reflect On
Understanding that we were first loved by Jesus compels us to love others—however different they may be, whatever the cost, even if they hate us.
How can you extend this kind of radical love in your daily life? Who in your world is in need of compassion, action, and grace?
Loving our neighbors isn’t just about kindness—it’s about demonstrating the same sacrificial love that God has shown us. May we live each day open to loving others fully, just as we have been fully loved by Him.
