In Latin, modus operandi means “method of operation.” In our society law enforcement officers refer to these Latin words with the abbreviation M.O. I am sure that you have heard the terminology on a television program where a police officer referred to the M.O. of a particular criminal. Perhaps the M.O. of a bank robber was his dark sunglasses. Or maybe a serial killer was known for leaving notes made from letters cut from a newspaper. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), Jesus describes the M.O. which should characterize His followers.

The church of the Lord Jesus Christ, perhaps today as never before, needs to be reacquainted with, discipled in, and living out daily what Jesus demands in this passage. Notice four characteristics of a Good Samaritan: 

1. A Good Samaritan has eyes that see a need. Verse 33 reads, “But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him . . .” (emphasis added). Ministry does not begin until we look at matters through spiritual eyes. We have to look around and perceive people from God’s perspective.

My wife and I enjoy browsing through yard sales. When we go we look for bargains and treasures. Recently I purchased a Geoffrey Beene leather briefcase that had never been used, for $2. My senses were attuned and my eyes were pealed to find the bargain. Christians ought to go through life with senses attuned and eyes pealed for people with needs. We should be looking for ministry needs the way we look for bargains and treasures at yard sales. 

Look around. Ministry needs are everywhere. Visit a nursing home. Volunteer to help in a school. Buy lunch for the employees of your bank. Give away bottled water on a hot day. Be creative. Be a Good Samaritan. Be on the lookout for needs. 

2. A Good Samaritan has a heart that feels compassion. Notice the end of verse 33: “. . . when he saw him, he felt compassion.” The priest and the Levite both saw the man. But only the Samaritan did that which Jesus commended. The difference was not in their eyes but in their hearts.

The Samaritan probably had the least amount of theological training of the three. You can be theologically sharp and ministerially dull. It is not enough to see a need; we must also feel compassion. The Samaritan had a compassionate heart. He ministered to the needy man. 

It is important to note that the Samaritan’s ministry went against tradition, for John 4:9 tells us that the Jews had no dealing with Samaritans. But compassion caused him to think outside traditional boxes. His ministry also put him at risk. The Jewish man had been brutally beaten up by robbers. What if they were still lurking in the area? More significant still, his ministry was without condition. Did you notice how many questions the Samaritan asked before ministering to the man? None! He didn’t ask:

• Do you believe the Bible?  

• Do you not have any family that could help you?  

• Can I see your driver’s license?  

• Are you a Republican or a Democrat?  

• Do you attend church anywhere? If so, how often? Do you tithe? Do you smoke? Do you drink? Have you ever done time in jail?  

• Now, if I help you today, what will you do to insure that you will not be in this same ditch tomorrow?  

 

 

No, he simply met the need. Why? Because he had a heart of compassion. 

Paul exhorts us, “As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion” (Col. 3:12). J. C. Ryle wrote, “We should regard the whole world as our parish and the whole race of mankind as our neighbors. We should seek to be the friend of everyone who is oppressed, or neglected, or afflicted, or sick, or in prison, or poor, or an orphan, or a heathen, or a slave, or an idiot, or starving, or dying.”[1] The modus operandi of a Christian is to feel compassion.

3. A Good Samaritan has a schedule that affords time. Read verses 34-35: “And [he] came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the next day. . . .”

• He came to him (that took time).  

• He bandaged up his wounds (that took time).  

• He poured oil and wine on them (that took time).  

• He put him on his own beast (that took time).  

• He brought him to an inn (that took time).  

• He took care of him (that took time).  

• And on the next day (that took time—he spent the night with the injured man!).  

 

Ministry takes time! If we want to guard our hours after 5:00 p.m.—and if we want to not be bothered on the weekends—then we can forget having any kind of worthwhile ministry. People need time. Ministry to hurting people takes time. 

4. A Good Samaritan has a wallet that opens generously. Verse 35 says, “And on the next day he took two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’” Two denarii was the equivalent of two days’ wages. This would be like an American spending a couple of hundred dollars to feed and house a perfect stranger.

Christ measures our love for Him by the generosity we show to others: 

Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” And the King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:34-40). 

 

In the economy of Jesus (which is the only economy that matters in light of eternity), generosity shown to those in need is generosity shown to Him. 

We should be more like the Macedonian believers, whose great testimony of generosity is recorded in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5: 

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 

 

Notice that they gave generously only after they had first given themselves to God. We will have no difficulty giving to others if we have, in fact, first given ourselves in totality to Jesus. 

Concluding Challenge 

 

A Good Samaritan has eyes that see a need, a heart that feels compassion, a schedule that affords time, and a wallet that opens generously. This is the M.O. of a Christian. Jesus concluded His parable by saying, “Go and do the same” (verse 37). And so we must. 

Before the church today can effectively evangelize her community, she must get out of the sanctuary and into the streets. Our authenticity as followers of Jesus demands application of this to our lives. James said, “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). Paul said, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). 

What about you, Christian? What is your M.O.?