Yesterday we talked about the sin that we have committed. But there is another type of sin that often goes unnoticed and doesn't get dealt with - sins of omission. We see a description of this in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-28.

Jesus is talking primarily to a Jewish audience, and the one who addressed Him, is in fact, a Jewish expert in the Law. The expert knows the commandments. He even recites the correct summary of all of the laws.

The Jews in the day of Jesus were taught to love their neighbor, but they were also taught to hate their enemy. In this particular case, the man wants to test Jesus; he wants Jesus to specify the boundaries that distinguish who qualifies as a neighbor. That way, he will know if, in fact, he has perfectly held to the Law.

This is the way many of us approach God. We want to know exactly what to do, what God expects of us, because we are determined to try to check the right boxes. Rather than giving specific boundaries, though, Jesus is about to expand this Jewish leader's mindset.

The main point of the parable is that when we have an opportunity to help others and battle the injustices of this world, we are called to do so. Even if the "other person" isn't technically your neighbor or your ethnicity, when you see someone in need, God invites you into this opportunity to help. When you do not step into the opportunities to help that God puts in front of you, that is, in fact, a sin.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,