Looking For A Loophole

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

25 Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” 26 He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?” 27 He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” 28 “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.” 29 Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?” 30 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. 32 Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. 33 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. 34 He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. 35 In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’ 36 “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” 37 “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:25-37 MSG)

The religion scholar asked a question, not to learn from Jesus, but to check if Jesus agreed with his pre-determined opinion. Jesus’ response was another question, “What do you think?” Jesus told the man that his answer, “Love God and Love People” was the right answer and that if he would simply do it, he was on the right track.

Then the man asked, “What people am I supposed to love?”, not because he wanted to know the heart of God, but because there were people he didn’t want to love and he was “looking for a loophole” to excuse himself from simply living the law of love.

If I want to know more to understand God’s heart, that’s good. If I want to know more to be proud of my knowledge, or reinforce my own opinion, or find a loophole to avoid simply living the law of love, I’ve missed the point. Jesus said the law of love is simple – Love God and Love People. If I’m looking for ways to do that better, I’m on track. If I’m looking for loopholes, I’ve missed the point.

Prayer:

Father, I don’t want loopholes, I want to understand your heart of love. Forgive me when I look for loopholes and miss the simplicity of the law of love. I purpose to live by the law of love. For Jesus’ Sake! Amen.