One day a legal expert stood up to test Jesus, “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” At first, his question seems sincere, but his ulterior motive soon becomes clear. He isn’t asking because he genuinely seeks the answer—he is trying to justify himself. Yet Jesus, in his wisdom, turns this into a teaching moment.
Instead of answering directly, Jesus asks, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” The lawyer confidently replies, quoting the Scripture with ease: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus affirms his answer, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the legal expert, still seeking to prove himself, asks, “Who is my neighbor?” And so, Jesus tells a story – a story that gently reveals the lawyer’s blind spot and answers the deeper question: Who is God’s neighbor? Who is the kind of person God is looking for?
Doers, Not Just Hearers
First, God is looking for “doers,” not just hearers. The lawyer is obsessed with being right. The priest and Levite in Jesus’ parable are also obsessed with being right. They feared becoming ceremonially “unclean” by touching a possibly dead body, so they chose to maintain their purity at the cost of showing God's mercy. But Jesus teaches that being loving is more important than being right.
In Jesus’ day, the Jews and the Samaritans hated each other. The hatred centered around racial purity. The Jews prided themselves on maintaining racial purity during the Babylonian captivity, while the Samaritans intermarried with Assyrian invaders. To the Jews, Samaritans were half-breeds and heretics, lacking proper scriptural knowledge. Yet in this parable, it is the Samaritan heretic who shows God’s mercy, while the knowledgeable priest and Levite walk away. The lawyer’s problem wasn’t ignorance of Scripture—it was failure to live it out. He knew exactly who his neighbor was, yet he kept asking more questions, postponing obedience. But the Bible says, “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:22, NRSV).
Others passed by, perhaps offering thoughts and prayers, but the Samaritan stopped. He didn’t just feel compassion—he acted on it. He bandaged wounds, carried the man, and paid for his care. He was a doer, not just a hearer.
Beginners, Not Professionals
Second, God is looking for beginners, not professionals. The lawyer was a professional. The priest and the Levite were all religious professionals. They believed they had everything figured out. But that can be a dangerous place to be. Pastor John Piper, in his book Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, emphasizes that pastors and all Christians should avoid a cold, professional approach to ministry and instead cultivate a deep, heartfelt passion for all God’s people.
Similarly, Steve Jobs famously said in his 2005 Stanford commencement speech, “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” In other words, never lose the eagerness to learn, to grow, to take risks—especially in love and compassion. The priest, Levite, and law expert were 'professionals'—they had it all figured out, and in doing so, they lost their compassion. But the Samaritan? He was an amateur, a beginner in love. He was unafraid to be 'foolish' in the world's eyes. He didn't let religious duty get in the way of mercy. He stayed hungry for righteousness and foolish enough to stop, risk, and help.
Personally, I once thought that the sermon preparation and church ministry would get easier with time – that I would figure it all out. But the reality is the opposite. It gets more and more difficult and complicated. Especially, nowadays as our church enters a new season of transition, I often feel uncertain, anxious, vulnerable. But because of that, I find myself on my knees more than ever, asking God for guidance. Every morning as soon as I get up, I run to the sanctuary, getting on my knees and ask God for help. There is no room for complacency. Though it’s challenging, I believe it’s a good place to be. Being a beginner keeps us humble, dependent, and teachable. We are always beginners in the school of faith.
Ordinary Angels, Not Superheroes
Third, God is looking for ordinary angels, not superheroes. In Jesus’ parable, the priest, Levite, and legal expert were important people—leaders, professionals, people in power. But when faced with a hurting man, they all walked away. The Samaritan? He wasn’t important. He wasn’t powerful. But he had compassion. He was willing. And notice—he didn’t act like a superhero. He didn’t do everything alone. He bandaged the man’s wounds, but then he brought him to an innkeeper and asked for help. He understood his limits. He knew he couldn’t do it all. That’s what we need today—not solo heroes, but an army of ordinary angels. People willing to be good neighbors, to do what they can, to lift each other up.
The recent movie Ordinary Angels, based on a true story, captures this beautifully. We see a small-town hairdresser, Sharon, who isn’t a doctor, a politician, or a powerful figure. She’s just an ordinary woman. She struggles with her own brokenness – alcohol addiction. But when she hears about a struggling widower, Ed, whose daughter needs a life-saving liver transplant, she decides to help. She doesn’t have all the resources or power, but she is willing. She has compassion—and that makes all the difference. She begins by simply showing up – attending the funeral for Ed’s wife and offering help. Then she rallies a whole community to step in. This story reminds us that helping others isn’t about being a hero; it’s about being available. The miracle comes through the collective effort of many ordinary angels: Sharon, her hair salon co-owner, members of her AA support group, Ed’s mother, his pastor, the church community, neighbors who shovel snow, a courageous helicopter pilot, skilled medical professionals, TV anchors, and even a CEO who offers his private jet. Each person plays a role in this tapestry of grace. It’s a story of “one beggar helping another beggar.”
Conclusion
This is the kind of person God is looking for:
- Not just hearers, but doers of the Word.
- Not professionals, but humble beginners.
- Not superheroes, but ordinary angels.