Luke 10:25-37
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.”
Reflection
The lawyer asks Jesus what must be done in order to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25). Jesus’ response is summed up by the first and second greatest commandments (v. 27; cf. Matt. 22:37), both of which are matters of the heart. This man, who wishes to “justify himself” (Luke 10:29), seems to believe that he has loved God and others well enough to merit eternal life. Jesus, however, uses this story of the “good Samaritan” to reveal the lawyer’s defective heart.
Jesus is not interested in our attempts to earn eternal life. Sinful human beings are incapable of living up to the requirements of God’s perfect standard, and therefore our only hope is to put our faith in the Son of God who lived a perfect life on our behalf. Once we have tasted the kindness of God’s mercy to us, we will be transformed so that we become the kind of people who show that same mercy to our neighbors (vv. 36–37).
Philippians 3:12-21
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Reflection
Paul turns our eyes away from “earthly things” (Phil. 3:19) by reminding us that our citizenship is in heaven (v. 20). This future glory is something that Paul is “straining forward” to obtain (vv. 13–14). He wants the Philippians to imitate him (v. 17) as he forgets about what lies behind and strives toward what lies ahead, pressing toward the prize in heaven (v. 13).
Tearfully, however, Paul points out that many are enemies of the cross (v. 18). They set their minds on earthly things (v. 19) and do not look forward to the return of Christ (v. 21). Their end is destruction (v. 19). This is the destiny of all those whose hearts are not transformed by the gospel. As those who belong to Christ, we must not become enslaved by our appetite for the pleasures of this world (v. 19). Our citizenship is in heaven, where Christ has been exalted (2:9–11). With Paul, we eagerly strain toward our heavenly prize.
Psalm 16:11
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Realize that all of us have a natural appetite for sin. Only Christ can change our hearts and empower us so that we do not satisfy every craving that arises. Pray for those in your life who are self-destructing because of their sinful indulgence, and ask God to give them a hunger for eternally satisfying delights.