Shalom,
It is undeniable that the COVID-19 pandemic having hit almost all parts of the world for more than 1 year has multidimensional impacts ranging from health, economy, social, and even on marriage and household life. However, we should still be grateful that we still have the opportunity to worship wherever we are, even if it is online. Obviously, it proves how God loves us and is responsible for us, His children, who have been redeemed by the death of His only Son, Jesus.
It is important to know that love could not just be expressed by words, slogans or symbols but must be accompanied by actions. Love was clearly described in Luke 10:25-37.
At that time a certain scribe came to Jesus with the intention of testing Him. He asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus 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 neighbour as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live” (vv. 25-28).
It really sounds strange that a scribe, an expert in Mosaic Law who should have mastered the laws asked Jesus such a question he already knew the answer. It was clear that he was deliberately trying to tempt Him. The word "tempt" has the meanings: to test, to tempt in order to fall into sin, to trap. Usually, a teacher tests his student to know whether he has understood the explanation he explained but in this case, it was the opposite. But Jesus couldn't be tempted and he didn't want to tempt anyone either. Jesus asked wisely what this scribe knew and read in the law. Spontaneously without thinking, he answered correctly; indeed he had memorized all the laws of the Torah. So what is this scribe lacking and has not done yet in his life? Jesus firmly reminded him to practice the acts of love.
As a scribe, he should have known the history of the Israelites, how they went out from the bondage in Egypt and were led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). Then God gave the ten commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17) to be given to the Israelites as His firstborn and His people (Numbers 8:17). God also commanded the Israelites to teach their children about the law over and over again, while sitting at home, on their way, while lying down, or getting up (Deuteronomy 6:1-9). They even had to tie this law as a sign on their hands (at work) and as a symbol on their foreheads (mind) in preparation before they entered the land of Canaan because God knew what they were going to face in the promised-land.
Admittedly, the Jews had many privileges because the Word of God was first entrusted to them (Romans 3:1-2). Unfortunately, they who had been taught to remember and to do God's commandments always grumbled and did not live according to His Word. They were already familiar with the law, including these scribes. The problem is, this scribe knew about love but didn't practice it.
Introspection: Have we read all the books of the Old Testament and New Testament which consists of 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and 31,171 verses? Can we memorize all of them? Have we done His commandments that we may experience life’s transformation? Have we also taught God's Word to our children so that they know God and His truth?
Notice that God's Word that we have heard should not serve as mere knowledge (theory) but a way to have faith in Him (Romans 10:17) followed by works of faith; otherwise, faith will die (James 2:21-24). How was the condition of the scribe's faith? He only knew but didn't do it so his faith was dead and empty (vv. 17, 20, 26).
Application: We should listen, meditate, and do God's Word to avoid bad things happen as the result of violating His Word. Through the teaching of God's Word that we have read, believed, and practiced, we will be happy (Revelation 1:3) and even have eternal life.
What was the response of this scribe when Jesus reminded him to practice the acts of love towards God and neighbour? He still wanted to tempt Jesus by asking who the “fellow brother” was. Jesus answered with a parable of a man on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho who was robbed and beaten and left half dead. What happened then?
- A priest was passing by → The priest represents a servant in the temple of God or church. When he saw a man lying in the middle of the road, he passed by on the other side (v. 31).
A priest is a person who is chosen, set apart, and consecrated to spiritual services. He is the mediator between man and God. In the Old Testament, a priest was chosen from the tribe of Levi to serve in the Tabernacle (Numbers 3:6-8). In the New Testament, Jesus (a descendant of Judah) became the High Priest, not of the line of Levi but of Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Highest God (Hebrews 7:1, 17).
What about us as priests who are serving in church ministries (music players, choirs, caring team, speakers of God's Word, multimedia operators, etc.)? We too, become priests, not because we are of Jewish descendant, but because Jesus has chosen us (before the foundation of the world; Ephesians 1:4) after delivering us from sin through His death on the cross (Revelation 1:5-6). We were saved, justified, and sanctified, and made worthy doing spiritual services, and stand as intermediaries between man and God. Do you know that priests have a very high position because they will reign as kings on earth for 1,000 years with God (Revelation 5:10; 20:6)?
Application: As priests, we have to become the doers of God's Word and on the other hand we also have to obey our government regulations. One of the regulations issued by our government during this ongoing pandemic is to practice health protocol (washing hands, wearing masks, keeping a distance, staying away from crowds, reducing mobility). Opposing this health protocol means violating the government regulations; so it is nonsense to say we are able to carry out God's Word. The Word of God says, governments are appointed by God and represent God (Romans 13:1), thus violating our government regulations is the same as disobeying God’s Word. Do we also have empathy and feel burdened to help our neighbours who are facing the difficulties and sufferings of life?
- A Levite was passing by → A Levite represents a Christian from birth.
When a Levite came to the place and saw the person lying on the ground, he passed him from across the street (v. 32).
Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29:34). They were the ancestors entrusted and ordained to keep charge of the Tabernacle (Numbers 1:47-53). They were appointed from generation to generation to serve in spiritual ministries. It seems clear that this Levite (a hereditary Christian), although could memorize the whole Bible, had no love for others.
- A Samaritan was passing by → A Samaritan represents a pagan or non-Jew.
Who was this Samaritan? The Jews did not associate with the Samaritans (John 4:9b). When Jesus sent His 12 disciples, He told them not to enter the region of Samaria because they were assigned to look for the lost sheep (the people of Israel) (Matthew 10:5-6). Does this mean that God hated the Samaritans? Of course not. It was proven when on one occasion Jesus on His journey stopped by in the city of Samaria and met a Samaritan woman. After having a dialogue with her, this sinful woman believed in Him then went to the city and witnessed to many other Samaritans causing them to believe and meet Jesus (John 4:1-42).
When Jesus was about to go to Jerusalem, He still remembered the Samaritans and sent some people to the villages of the Samaritans to prepare everything for Him. However, the Samaritans rejected Jesus and yet He was not angry (Luke 9:51-56).
Surprisingly, Jesus in this parable, showed how a compassionate Samaritan seeing his fellow brother suffered, helped him and practiced love deeds on him. By telling this, seemingly, Jesus wanted to say that if the priests and Levites (Israelites or Jews) did not want to perform acts of love, He would turn to have mercy on the non-Israelites (non-Jews) (Romans 9:4-8, 15-16, 23-26 ) including us.
Introspection: What about us, as Christians from generation to generation, who are priests in God's work? Have we done the acts of love to others who need help? Let us realize that we have got the mercy to know God and to serve Him. If we don't want to do the acts of love, He will use other people, as it is written, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:30).
Men evidently do not have love because of the impact of sin, but at first they did have love because Adam and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God (Trinity). We can see the proof in the Bible how Adam admired Eve and recognized her as bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23) – which means they loved each other and became one flesh. But as soon as they obeyed the serpent's enticements, instead of obeying God's commands, they were blaming each other (they had no more love). Even their son, Cain, was jealous of his brother and murdered him. They were driven out by God from the Garden of Eden not because He hated them, as we see that He still made clothes of animal skin and clothed them (Genesis 3:21).
God is an example of how to practice the acts of love (not just lip service) by sending His only begotten Son into the world, so that we may live through Him (1 John 4:7-11). It is clear that love is not like an empty sounding gong without any content (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Did the scribes do what Jesus had commanded? In Jerusalem, Jesus was arrested on the charges of the scribes and chief priests (who knew the Law by heart), who were persistently trying to find fault on Him. They took Him to the Council (Luke 22:66), then brought Him before Pilate, who found no fault in Him. He was then sent to Herod who insulted and mocked Him, and finally was sent back to Pilate. These two witnesses—Pilate and Herod—did not find any fault in Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14-15), but did not have the ability to exonerate Jesus from the accusations. Finally, Jesus was crucified. Even on the cross He still loved the people who had crucified Him. In His broken body, He still asked His Father to forgive them (v. 34).
Knowing God's Word but not doing His commandments is the same as we have been very close to the Kingdom of God (Mark 12:34) but have not yet stepped into it to have eternal life. Let us do God’s command to love Him by helping others who are in need and willing to suffer for Him (1 John 3:16-18). By practicing the acts of love completely, we will surely have eternal life in God's Kingdom with Him forever. Amen.