We live in a world where it’s easy to stay within our comfort zones, surrounding ourselves with people who think like us, act like us, and believe what we believe. But Jesus presents us with a radical challenge: to love beyond our natural boundaries. The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is more than just a lesson in kindness—it’s a direct call to expand our "circle of love" and embrace the people we might otherwise overlook or avoid.

This message isn't just about helping strangers in need; it’s about transforming the way we see people, the way we define love, and the way we live out our faith. The question is—who is in your circle?

A lawyer approached Jesus with a question:
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus, as He often did, responded with a question of His own:
“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

The lawyer correctly answered, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus affirmed his answer, saying, “Do this, and you will live.”

But the lawyer, like so many of us, wanted a loophole—a way to justify loving only certain people while ignoring others. So he pressed further:

“And who is my neighbor?”

With that single question, Jesus launched into one of the most powerful and challenging parables of all time: The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Most of us like to believe we are doing well in our relationships. We love our family, friends, and maybe even colleagues. But Jesus exposes a deeper issue—we tend to limit our love to those like us. We unconsciously draw circles around certain people while excluding others. The parable of the Good Samaritan shatters this mindset, forcing us to redefine who our neighbor really is.

1. Loving Those Who Have Made Foolish Decisions
The man in Jesus’ parable, who robbers attacked, made an unwise decision by traveling alone on a dangerous road. The Jericho Road was infamous for its bandits, earning the nickname "The Bloody Pass." Traveling this road alone with valuables was reckless, yet Jesus never says, “He got what he deserved.”

It’s easy for us to think that way when people suffer because of bad choices. “They made their bed, now they have to lie in it.” But Jesus calls us to extend grace instead of judgment. Whether it’s someone struggling with addiction, financial ruin, or a broken relationship, we are called to love them where they are—not where we think they should be.

2. Loving the Undesirables
The victim in Jesus’ parable was bloody, broken, and left for dead—an unpleasant sight. The priest and Levite likely saw him as an inconvenience, an interruption to their religious duties. But the Samaritan saw a person in need.

In our world, the undesirables might be:
•The homeless person on the street.
•The elderly man who has no one to visit him.
•The teenager struggling with self-worth.
•The refugee who has lost everything.
•The person battling mental illness or addiction.

Engaging with people who make us feel uneasy is uncomfortable, but Jesus went straight to the broken, the rejected, and the forgotten. Are we willing to do the same?

3. Loving Those Who Are Different from Us
The biggest shock of the story is that the hero is a Samaritan—a group hated by Jews. The hostility between Jews and Samaritans was deeply ingrained; they avoided contact at all costs. Yet, the Samaritan—not the Jewish priest or Levite—stopped to help.
In today’s world, we divide ourselves based on:

•Race
•Nationality
•Political views
•Socioeconomic status
•Religious beliefs

But Jesus makes it clear: love knows no boundaries. If we only love people who look like us, vote like us, or agree with us, we aren’t living out the Gospel—we’re living out our preferences. Who in your life have you excluded because they’re different?

4. Loving Even Our Enemies
Perhaps the hardest challenge of all—loving those who have wronged us.
The Samaritan had every reason to despise the wounded man but chose mercy. Who has hurt you? A former friend? A family member? A coworker? Loving them doesn’t mean enabling them—it means refusing to let bitterness rule your heart.

Jesus calls us to forgive, pray for, and show kindness to our enemies. It’s one of the hardest things we can do, but it’s also one of the most Christlike.

Loving beyond our natural inclinations isn’t easy, but the Good Samaritan gives us a blueprint for how to do it:

1. See the Need – Instead of looking away, open your eyes to the brokenness around you.
2. Feel Compassion – True love begins in the heart; we must allow ourselves to be moved by the pain of others.
3. Take Action – Love is not just words; it’s stepping in to help, even when it’s inconvenient or costly.
4. Make it a Lifestyle – Jesus commands us to "go and do likewise"—not just once, but continually.

Jesus ends His story with a command:

“Go and do likewise.”

This isn’t a suggestion or an occasional good deed—it’s a lifestyle. We are called to continuously expand our circle of love, just as Jesus did when He rescued us from our brokenness.

Think about it—we were once the wounded traveler, lying helpless in sin. And Jesus, our Good Samaritan, came to heal, restore, and bring us into His Kingdom. He didn’t pass us by. He saw us, had compassion, and made us His own.

So, how can we exclude others if Jesus didn’t exclude us?

Loving like Jesus is messy, uncomfortable, and often inconvenient. But it’s what we’re called to do.

So, who is outside your circle today?

• A family member you’ve written off?
• A coworker you can’t stand?
• A person whose lifestyle makes you uncomfortable?
• Someone you’ve judged for their past mistakes?

Jesus expanded His circle to include us.  


Now, He calls us to do the same.

Are you ready?

Go and do likewise.