THE GOOD SAMARITAN—Luke 10:25-37
INTRODUCTION
The Good Samaritan’ is one of the better-known parables, (Luke 10:30-37) In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,’ he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise”
Even hospitals and charity organisations have been named after this story. In America, "Good Samaritan" laws have been passed to encourage passers-by to help those in need.
With a little knowledge it would be quite easy to draw an allegorical interpretation to this parable; for example. We could say that traveller represents man, who has left the heavenly city (Jerusalem) for the worldly one (Jericho). The robbers could represent the devil and sin, which leave man dying in sin We could also say that the priest and the Levite refer to the Law and its sacrifices, which are unable to help, the good Samaritan is Jesus, who provides the help needed, the wine represents the blood of Christ; the oil, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the inn is the church, the inn-keeper is representative of the apostles and the two coins represent baptism and the Lord’s Supper...
All this is quite interesting and we must remember it is only an interpretation of the parable that fits comfortably in our mind.
But is it really what Jesus is teaching in this parable? Or does Jesus have some other lesson that He wants us to glean from it? Things that I believe are more in keeping with his original purpose for telling it.
THE PARABLE AND ITS SETTING
Luke 10:25-29 on one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, Love your neighbour as yourself ’ "28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied, "Do this and you will live. "29 But he wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?"
A lawyer stands up to "test" Jesus - A "lawyer" in this context would be one well versed in the Law of Moses and the word "test" was not to ascertain Jesus’ ability but more His faithfulness to the Law. He was however trying to trick Jesus and there is no doubt that he was also trying to draw attention to himself as later he tried to justify himself with another question; implying he was interested in more than just a simple answer to his question. His question was similar to that asked by the rich young ruler Luke 18:18: A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answers the question by pointing him back to the Law - Luke 10:26 and in so doing, Jesus shows His own confidence in the Law. In a similar manner Jesus pointed the rich young ruler to the Law - Luke 18:20 you know the commandments: ’Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steel, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother” We need to keep in mind that at this time the Law was still in force, so the answer was still to be found in it - Mt 5:17-19 ’~Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The lawyer replies with a proper understanding of what the Law taught concerning eternal life - Luke 10:27-28 and he quotes from Deut 6:5 and Lev’ 19:18 [both of which Jesus quoted to another lawyer on a later occasion - Mt 22:34-40
Upon these two laws, one to love God, the other to love your neighbour, the entire law had been based and those living while the Law was still in force could "live" (i.e., be saved)... But the lawyer is not finished- Luke 10:29 Re wanted to justify himself even further, perhaps he was embarrassed by the ease in which Jesus answered his question so he asked yet another question, "And who is my neighbour?" and it was this question that precipitates the parable.
THE PARABLE ITSELF
A man travels from Jerusalem to Jericho, a distance of about 20 miles and is beaten up. -Luke 10: 30 it is a dangerous road and is known as "The Way of Blood" because of the robbers and their attacks. He was stripped of his clothes and wounded and is left half dead by the robbers. In - Luke 10:31-32 we are told that two people pass by, the first was a priest; and the second was a Levite both of whom were considered to be of the religious elite at that time in Israel. Finally a Samaritan comes by and shows compassion - Luke 10:33-35, but Samaritans were despised by the Jews - Jn 4:9 [Samaritans were the descendants of those imported at the time of the Assyrian captivity 2 Ki 1 7:24-41
The Samaritan bandages the wounds, applying oil and wine (first aid in those days), he then puts the wounded man on his own animal and takes him to an inn, gives the innkeeper two denarii (two days’ wages) to provide care and tells him that if it costs anymore he will pay him when he returns.
JESUS’ QUESTION
JESUS posses the question: Which of the three proved to be a neighbour? - Luke 10:36. The lawyer replies with the obvious answer: "He who showed mercy on him." So Jesus then admonishes the lawyer to do likewise. Notice that Jesus turned the focus of the original question from "Who is my neighbour?" to "Who was the one that was neighbour to the one in need?" Which would indicate that Jesus wanted to draw attention to what it means to "Love your neighbour as yourself"]
Jesus teaches who our neighbours really are, and what it means to love your neighbour as yourself.
LESSONS FROM THE PARABLE
So who is your neighbour? He is not simply the person that lives next door or across the street or the one you call a friend. He is not just someone of the same race, nationality, or religion or indeed anyone who is not considered your enemy.
Jesus put such a concept to rest by using the Samaritan as an example. The Samaritans were different in race, nationality and religion from the Jews and there was animosity between them - Jn 4:9; Luke 9:52-53 but this didn’t stop the Samaritan from helping the Jew and as Christians we also are to show love and hospitality Ro 12:13; ~ft 5:43-48~ Ga 6:10. Our neighbour, then, is anyone in need whom we have the ability to help!
Of the three passers-by in the parable, the first two should have been the first to help. The priest and the Levite should have been influenced by their religion to help, in fact they had been taught to love the stranger - Lev 19: 33-34; Deut 10:17-19. When they separated neighbourliness from their religion, they became hypocritical. But failing to "practice what they preach" showed how shallow their devotion to their faith really was. As Christians, we need to be sure to practice "pure and undefiled religion", otherwise we deceive ourselves -Jam 1: 22,26-27
THE COST TO A CHRISTIAN
A willingness to cross social barriers as Jesus illustrated in using a Samaritan in this parable and have no religious, racial, or national barriers that would prevent us from showing compassion, even if this would mean taking a risk... Think of the Samaritan he took a great risk by stopping to help, what if the robbers were still near by, And what if other thieves came by on this road known as "The Way Of Blood"?
So Christians are called upon to take risks - Luke 6:30, but how do we know people won’t take advantage of our generosity? I here people say; well my answer is where is your faith in God!!!
A Christian needs a willingness to set aside busy schedules. The Samaritan was on a journey, but took the time to stop and care for the man, and in Mt 5:41 Jesus taught us to take the time to show compassion even when forced
A Christian needs a willingness to make sacrifices. The Samaritan sacrificed more than just time and energy, he used some of his own provisions - Luke 10:34 and he even offered an open-ended agreement to provide for his keep - Luke 10:35
Jesus taught His disciples to be willing to make sacrifices Luke 6:29-30,34-35. We as Christians need to do likewise if we are to be true followers of God and walk in love Ep 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God
CONCLUSION
With the parable of "The Good Samaritan", we are challenged to a higher standard of love, higher in that the definition of "neighbour" is more inclusive, higher in that the definition of "compassion" is greater
Jesus told His disciples earlier: Matt 5:20 for I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is your righteousness like? Is it like that of the priest and Levite, or of the Samaritan? Only as we emulate the example of the Good Samaritan, can it be said that our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees! And only then do we have the assurance of entering the kingdom of heaven! Let us not forget the words of Jesus to the lawyer who tested him
"GO AND DO LIKEWISE"
