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Neighbor Day 2 The Neighbor Kids: Digging Deeper

April 21, 2020 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) What was the expert in the law possibly attempting to accomplish with his question?

2) Did Jesus answer the question, “What must we do to inherit eternal life”?

3) How does Jesus interpret for them what was written in the Law?

4) What proves we are a genuine neighbor (the Jesus kind) to those around us?

Luke 10:25-37

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

Original Intent

1) What was the “expert in the law” possibly attempting to accomplish with his question?
The “expert in the law” was not a court lawyer like we think of in the western culture of our present day. This was one who would have been considered an authority in the interpretation of the Jewish Mosaic and rabbinical law. In keeping with the traditional sign of respect, the learner stood and outwardly demonstrated a considerate posture. As a student of the law, it’s possible his question came as a serious thinker and seeker, though the phrasing of “he wanted to justify himself” gives us pause to consider his true motive. (verse 29) Though Bible scholars differ on the intention behind the question, the Greek word for “test” doesn’t necessarily imply evil intent. (enduringword.com) His question does, however, offer insight into the scribe’s belief system about securing eternal life. From the wording he uses, the inquiring man was revealing his assumption that humans must do something to gain eternal life. Unlike a payment obtained for services, receiving an inheritance does not typically require the receiver to do anything. Though the intent may not be completely cynical, the question certainly reveals his heart. Much like the wealthy ruler who approached Jesus (Matthew 19:16-22), there was a faulty assumption that doing good works was the way to receive salvation (right standing with God).

2) Did Jesus answer the question, “What must we do to inherit eternal life”?
This question seems to be a perfect setup for Jesus to discuss how salvation is not about good deeds. If I was to guess what the follow-up verse would say, I would have presumed Jesus would respond with “you don’t have to do anything!” Instead, He focused on what actions reveal about people’s motives. It’s interesting that Jesus agrees with the essence of the lawyer’s question. He said, “DO this and you will live.” Let’s pause and take that in for a moment. If we were presently in a setting where someone was teaching about salvation, we might let out a gasp at this response. Surely Jesus was not saying there was something required from them to receive eternal life. Were the local Jewish experts right about good works? The wisest teacher to ever walk the face of the earth, and the only perfect one, knew the heart of the one asking the questions. And as always, Jesus’ response exposed the deepest intentions of the scribe’s questions as well as his deeds. The man may have been an expert in the laws themselves, but sadly, he’d missed the meaning of them. And that was the answer to the question!

3) How does Jesus interpret for them what was written in the Law?
Dr. Kenneth Bailey taught in Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Cyprus. His insight into the cultural setting of this scene is extremely valuable to understand the context of Jesus’ answer and the parable He shares. “The Bible is an Eastern book. We see it through the colored glasses of Western culture. We do not understand the ingrained attitudes that illuminate a story or illustration. Christ spoke to a Middle Eastern people. What lies between the lines, what is felt and not spoken, is of deepest significance.” It was customary for Jewish children to attend school in the synagogue. Additionally, this expert had even further training in the teachings of the Old Testament. He may have thought he was going to prove his merits to Jesus by the discussion that would ensue. Jesus wanted to reveal the heart of God. The scribe thought he was going to justify himself to Jesus. Instead, Jesus told a story that would demonstrate how merciful love, not good works, is the only way to have eternal life. Jesus had not come to abolish the law the scribe was studying. He came to show that His life and death, which demonstrated loving God and others perfectly, fulfilled it completely. (Matthew 5:17-20)

4) What proves we are a genuine neighbor (the Jesus kind) to those around us?
Biblical parables were “stories that were cast alongside a truth in order to illustrate that truth.” (James Boice) There are approximately 36 parables in the Gospels. The parable in this passage is familiar to many. Even those who would not consider themselves to be adherents of Scripture use this story as an example of being a good neighbor. However, if someone wasn’t raised in a Palestinian culture, there are facets of this story we likely won’t fully grasp with a simple reading. We may not be as astonished as the first-century crowd when they heard Jesus tell it. It was unexpected in light of the answer the expert had given. In that culture, it stood directly opposed to everything the Jewish people had heard regarding their association with others. To make a Samaritan the hero of this story was nothing short of appalling. Jesus was declaring that the way to obey the words of Leviticus and Deuteronomy was to genuinely love God and also the person you least thought of as worthy. Jesus said of the Samaritan’s actions, “Go and do the same.” If this parable was a present-day meme it might read: “This is a Samaritan. The Samaritan was merciful. Be like the Samaritan.”

Everyday Application

1) What was the “expert in the law” possibly attempting to accomplish with his question?
Although we can’t be sure what the ultimate motive of the lawyer was, even if he wasn’t trying to trap Jesus into saying something that would indict Him, it doesn’t appear he was asking a question from a receptive heart. As the passage eventually exposes a man driven by his inward attitudes of superiority, this scene may reveal to us our own tendencies toward prejudice. In an effort to reassure ourselves of eternal life, it’s so tempting to question the validity of the gospel message of grace that is available to every sinner. Skepticism can cloud our thinking if we dwell on all the reasons God should withhold His mercy from someone. We may begin to believe the enemy’s foundational lie: Did God really say? (Genesis 3:1) The law expert thought he knew the answer to the question he posed. But he didn’t. If the gospel we preach doesn’t include our neighbor – whether that’s the people who live next door or our in-laws who live across the state – then we don’t understand the gospel at all.

2) Did Jesus answer the question, “What must we do to inherit eternal life”?
I can’t help but think of Jesus’ friend Martha. We don’t know the exact time frame, but just a few verses later in this same chapter, we find Jesus reminding His friend that “doing” isn’t the way to be right with God. (Luke 10:40-42) Sisters, we feel for Martha, and the expert’s question burns within us too, doesn’t it? Jesus, what must we do? I can sense Him stirring in my heart even now the words He spoke to His disciple Peter sitting by the fire after the resurrection. “He [Jesus] asked him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ ‘Feed my sheep,’ Jesus said.” (John 21:17) If we were to ask the question the lawyer asked, we’d get the same response from Jesus He gave to him and to Peter. “Do you love Me?” It’s true we cannot earn salvation, but we who are the recipients of the mercy of God will show mercy to those around us, our neighbors because of God’s love alive within us. By this, we convey a heart changed by the gospel of grace which provides us eternal life.

3) How does Jesus interpret for them what was written in the Law?
Jesus answered the inquirer by affirming the two commandments that were stated, but just like the law expert, we try to defend ourselves by rehearsing our obedience. Jesus’ response was not just for that self-righteous lawyer. It is the answer for our own hypocrisy. Even as women of the Word, we can get so consumed with knowing and sharing all the commands in Scripture that we become guilty of breaking the most important commandments of all. Paul said in his letter to the Corinthian church that we can “understand all mysteries and all knowledge, but [if we] do not have love, we are nothing.” Humbling ourselves and loving God with everything we are will naturally lead to a life spent loving others. The law set forth in the Old Testament was merely a shadow of the reality to come through the work of Christ we read about in the New Testament. The great theologian Charles Spurgeon said, “Let it never be forgotten that what the law demands of us, the gospel really produces in us.”

4) What proves we are a genuine neighbor (the Jesus kind) to those around us?
As followers of Christ, we are to demonstrate a changed life by the way we love God wholly with our heart, soul, strength and mind. As we are being sanctified and transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit inwardly, in our attitudes and motives, we begin to outwardly prove the love we possess by generosity, humility, and kindness toward those we meet. The parable of the noble Samaritan wasn’t about good works that produced right-standing with God. The story revealed that if we really love God from a heart that acknowledges the great mercy we’ve been shown, it will be evidenced in the mercy we give to those around us. Most of us have opportunities to extend mercy every day. As moms or grandmas, as sisters or aunts, as friends or acquaintances, as members of churches and community organizations, as foreign missionaries or assistants in local shelters … we have needy people everywhere all the time. Jesus asked the law expert who was truly the good neighbor. He may have mumbled it, but he finally had the right answer: “The one who showed mercy.” Go, sisters, and do the same!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Neighbor Day 1 The Neighbor Kids

April 20, 2020 by Briana Almengor 5 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Psalm 78:1-8
Luke 10:25-37
1 John 3:16-24

Neighbor, Day 1

“We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbor,” declared G.K. Chesterton. I believe the same truth applies to our families. Often, we subconsciously think of family as an entity apart from friend, foe, or neighbor.

For a LONG time in my life, family was in its own, separate category. I took family for granted, treating them in ways I would not treat anyone else. Familiarity can, indeed, breed contempt, and I was caught in its trap.

Something shifted, however, when I began to view my family as humans, and even more so when I applied the Biblical definition of neighbor to my loved ones. I believe we can and should view family as our neighbors, neighbors whose relational ties grant us access to their lives to show them Good Samaritan love.

I am both a mother and an aunt: mother to three, aunt to twenty nieces and nephews. There are 23 children in my life whom God chose for me to love like my neighbors.

Apart from my three children, most of my nieces and nephews do not actually live near me. Yet, they most certainly have been placed in my proverbial path, along with many other special kids from church and my neighborhood.

As Deuteronomy instructs, we can take on the mantle of responsibility and privilege to speak of Jesus not just to the children we bore from our own bodies, but the ones our brothers’ wives and sisters bore from theirs. We point them to God’s standard of holiness, while also and always reminding them of His promise to clothe us in His robes of righteousness when we fall short of that standard. (Colossians 2:13-15)

Whether it’s our nieces, nephews, or the kids down the street, we can demonstrate unconditional love both in word and deed.

A simple way to demonstrate love is to make eye contact when they are speaking or sharing something of import with us. We can forget how children, in particular, need that very sensory-oriented connection with us. Put the phone down to look at them. If your only interaction with them is when you greet them with a hug and say goodbye with another hug, be sure to look them in the eye. Giving them our whole attention in this manner declares both their value and our love for them.

Show interest in whatever interests them. This may involve a learning curve, especially as the age gap deepens. Even with my own children, I’ve had to posture myself as a student of their interests. We can sit with them and ask questions about the sport they play, the internet game they’re into, or the books they read. We might even do a little research ahead of time to know what questions to ask.

Another simple strategy is to recognize special days in their lives. Remember birthdays with a gift, card, or even just a phone call. We can request a heads-up for sporting events, fine arts performances, and any other extracurricular activity with which our nieces and nephews might be involved. Then, we can attend, if possible, or send a note of remembrance or encouragement to them ahead of their event. Celebrate championships, or even just a goal scored at their game.

As children grow older and have access to email or social media platforms, it’s easy to follow them and comment on their posts. This communicates that though we don’t see them daily, we think about them often. God has written them on your heart.

I encourage you to press in when you know they’re going through a challenging season. During a visit to my brother’s house, two of my nieces had a tough morning and simply couldn’t make themselves go to school that day. My brother and sister-in-law had to work, but I was still home visiting.

I took the opportunity to seek my nieces out in their pain, and asked if they wanted to talk. Surprisingly, they did. Both girls opened up to me about performance anxiety and hard social dynamics at school. Though they both had shared these troubles with their parents, there is something unique about being able to share it with an adult who is NOT one’s parent.

Being an aunt or uncle is an invitation to be a confidant, if we’re willing to press into the painful moments, too.

When we allow God to frame our view of neighbor to include our family, we ask God to give us a vision for demonstrating selfless love to our particular family, with its specific interests and needs. We can trust Him to guide and empower us to love our family like our neighbors.

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Day Eight
Desperate for Healing

August 3, 2016 by Rebecca Adams 2 Comments

Click & Read Desperate-Week2-Day2
Mark 5:21-34
Isaiah 61:1-3
Ezekiel 34:1-16
John 10:7-18

No mama likes having sick kids, but probably the only benefit is more snuggle time.
I was reminded of this again the other night as my 3-year-old woke up with a fever and made his way into our room. He came padding up to my side of the bed (always my side) and whispered in his sick little voice, “I just wanted to be with you. Will you hold my hand?”
My heart melted, despite my fatigue and I reached for his fevered little hand. Sharing sleeping space with our infant is one thing, but adding a sick toddler with flailing appendages is another, so I grabbed his pillow and blanket and suggested he sleep on a cushion right next to our bed. Again he groggily whispered, “But I want you to hold my hand.” So I sat on the floor rocking him a bit hoping he’d drift off, but he didn’t, so I moved him instead to the foot of our bed. I snuggled him up with his pillow and Curious George blanket as I held his hot little hand, hoping he’d fall asleep soon. After seemingly forever in a cramped position, I inched away to go back to my own pillow, but his little croaking whimper stopped me, “Will you still be able to reach my hand?”

He just wanted a touch.
He was tired and sick and weary.
He could have asked for a lot of things, but he only wanted one. My touch.
Sometimes it takes our desperation to point us to what we really need.

My 3 year old has no problem asking for a million things when he’s healthy; like candy and coffee and my phone and watching Curious George. But sickness changes him and makes him realize that he just needs me.

The same was true for a woman who lived centuries ago. She had been sick for 12 years….bleeding for over a decade! She had tried everything, spent everything, lost everyone, until she became so desperate that she only had one chance left.
“If I could just touch Him”
And so she got lost in a crowd of people pressing in on Jesus, with one secret motivation: “Touch Him.”
She pressed in, hiding in her shame, probably crawling around peoples’ feet until she saw it…the hem of His garment.
She reached out a shaky, desperate hand to touch Him.
Instantly she knew she was healed and in the next heartbeat, she was called out by the Healer.

“Who touched me?”, He called out. The crowd fell back and his disciples scoffed, “There’s people everywhere, Lord! Everyone is touching you!”

But Jesus had a plan. He wanted more for the woman than to simply stop her bleeding. He had seen this moment coming, intentionally healed her, and He wanted more.

The women froze, knowing she had been changed, but she was still so full of fear. What had she done?! She had been an outcast of society for a dozen years and now, here she was, on center stage before the Great Healer with every eye in the massive crowd on her.

Her body had been healed, but she was still desperate for healing.

She flung herself at the feet of Christ, shaking with fear as she managed to tell the Lord everything. As women generally do, she probably didn’t succinctly state, “I touched you and was healed.” Mark’s gospel hints that there was a more…an outpouring of her heart. She was an outcast, she was unclean, she was damaged, she was broken, she was desperate to be healed and so she told Him everything.
Graciously, the Healer does something unique next.
He calls her Daughter.

Unheard of! She who had groveled at the feet of the Messiah was now called “Daughter”?! Unthinkable!

Jesus goes even farther by telling the woman that her faith has healed her. This healing went much farther than physical; this healing was a faith thing, it was a healing of her heart. She wasn’t an object of shame anymore, she was “Daughter”, she was redeemed, she was whole in her heart.

The woman’s shame and her fear, her sickness, drove her to touch the Master and in return, she got much more than a healed body. Her desperation drove her to what she needed most, a wholly healed heart.

Like my son, and like this woman, I need to stop covering up my desperation with other stuff and let it draw me to what I need the most….simply to reach out and touch Him.