Go And Do Likewise

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. A Certain: Priest Saw Him

2. A Certain: Levite Looked on Him

3. A Certain: Samaritan Helped Him

Remarks.

1. In our lesson today, we are going to be discussing the theme: "Go and do likewise." This sermon will address three men that came upon a certain man; that was beaten, robbed, and left for dead; on the roadside, going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. This story was presented to a particular lawyer who asked Jesus: "What must he do to inherit eternal life?" The Lord responded: "What is written in the Law? How readest thou?" And he answering said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... And thy neighbor as thyself." And Jesus said unto him: "Thou hast answered right: do this, and thou shalt live." But he, willing to justify himself: "Said unto Jesus, who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:25-29. In response to his question, our Lord presents a story that we commonly refer to as: "The Good Samaritan." We will consider each of these three men's behavior towards their neighbor, who they found in extreme peril.

2. First, we will consider the Priest's actions, who came by the incident scene by chance. The Lord says: "And when he saw him (the victim), he passed by on the other side," Luke 10:31. I use this word victim because the Priest's duties were to offer sacrifices for the people's sins. He must have been too busy with the duties and rites of the altar of God; in offering (the blood of bulls and goats), on behalf of the people, to allot any time on behalf of this stranger. Can we become so harden and callous in the performance of our duties; we forget why it is we are doing them? How many victims have we seen, and we too just "passed by on the other side?"

3. Second, we will discuss the behavior of the Levite, who looked on him, and also passed by on the other side," Luke 10:32. The Levites were those who, not being of Aaron's family, for whom alone the priesthood was reserved, served as assistants to the priests. It was their duty to keep the sacred utensils and the temple clean, provide the holy loaves, open and shut the temple's gates, sing the sacred hymns in the temple, and do many other things. He, too, was so busy with his duties; he could not justify the time to help this stranger. Can we become too busy in our religion, ignore our final mission in life, rescue the perishing, or give aid to a stranger in need?

4. Lastly, we will investigate the behavior of the Samaritan, who: "Came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his beast, and brought him to an inn (the Holiday Inn), and took care of him... I will repay thee," Luke 10:33-35. We now see the real meaning of the story. Everyone in the story was identified by the Lord, except the "man left in peril" or our "neighbor." Jesus asks the Lawyer and us this question: "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He that shewed mercy on him." Hear the Lord's charge: "Then said Jesus unto him (and us), Go, and do thou likewise," Luke 10:34-37. With this brief introduction, let's consider the first point in this lesson.

BODY OF LESSON

I A CERTAIN: PRIEST SAW HIM

A. Setting of the lesson. Before the Lord describes the three men who came by; to help the stranger in this story. He paints for the Lawyer and us, a victim at a crime scene, with great clarity. Recall, this story was being shared immediately after the Lord's answer to the Lawyer's request on how: "He might inherit eternal life," Luke 10:25. That he might be perfect!

1. The Lord said unto him: "What is written in the law? How readest thou?" Luke 10:26. Consider--

2. And he answering said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," Luke 10:26.

3. The Lord's response: "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."

4. The Lawyer willing to justify himself: "Said...who is my neighbor?" Jesus answering said, in presenting an explanation to his question...

B. A certain man. "Went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead," Luke 10:30. Most likely, a Jew of Jerusalem, whose identity is not given by the Lord in this story, fell among thieves and robbers. Consider--

1. The road to Jericho. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was dark, lonely, mountain pass, and dangerous to sojourners who traveler it alone; and without a guard. He was stripped of all his clothing, beaten, robbed, and left stunned, bleeding, unconscious, and nearly dead. The Lord paints a graphic picture of the man traveling to Jericho. Notice: