The Wrong Question

About this message

In this message, Phil explores a powerful encounter in Luke 10 where an expert in religious law asks Jesus the right question—“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”—but then asks the wrong follow-up question: “Who is my neighbour?” through the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Phil reveals that the expert was trying to justify himself by finding a low enough bar to meet God’s standards, when in reality, Jesus is showing that perfecting the law is impossible for any of us because no one can love God perfectly and love every person they encounter with sacrificial love day in and day out. The profound truth of the parable is that we are not the Good Samaritan called to save ourselves through good works—we are the helpless man left for dead by the roadside, and Jesus is our Good Samaritan who shows us undeserved mercy and compassion, paying the full price for our spiritual healing whilst we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10). As you listen, hear Phil’s beautiful invitation: once you receive the gospel’s undeserved love and mercy of Christ, you will be compelled to love your neighbour not to earn your salvation, but out of gratitude for Him who first loved you—and that is when the law becomes not a burden, but a fruit of the gospel working in your life.