Intro: Beloved, your mindset will dictate your attitude. The Lord summarized the whole law of the Lord in Mark 12:30-31. Our passage is rich in fine analogy. Read Luke 10:30. The victim represents our lost and unsaved neighbors who in God’s sight are spiritually naked, beaten, wounded, and in a helpless condition. Today I want us to see who the THIEF, the PRIEST, the LEVITE, and the SAMARITAN are, and what kind of attitude they had. Now in the passage I see three kinds of mindsets and three attitudes.
I. THE MIND OF A THIEF (v.30) – HIS ATITUDE: WHAT IS YOURS IS MINE, AND I WILL TAKE IT!!
Perhaps this was a true story. The Jerusalem-Jericho road was the most public and well-traveled road in Judea. At that time Jericho is said to be a residence of 12,000 Levites. This highway was much infested with hordes of bandits and many robberies have been committed on that very road to which our Lord refers.
The thief is a type of SATAN (John 10:10a) who invades your life and privacy to STEAL your joy, faith, love and usefulness for the Lord; KILL your body and bring your soul in hell; DESTROY your sanity, character, testimony, and family! I beseech you beloved brethren, don’t let that happen to you! Let’s get the devil and his influence out of – our life, our family, our business, and our church! If so, God will bless us beyond our expectation!
II. THE MIND OF A PRIEST & A LEVITE (vv. 31-32) – THEIR ATTITUDE: WHAT IS MINE IS MINE, AND I WILL KEEP IT!!
A priest and a Levite were mentioned here because they were the most frequent travelers on this road, and to show that they of all people, from the nature of their job and ministry, were the most obliged and expected to do works of goodness and mercy. A priest was whom a person in distress had the right to call for immediate help and encouragement. His indifferent conduct here was a direct breach of the law of Moses (cf. Deut. 22:4).
Spiritually, the N.T. believer in Christ is a priest (I Pet. 2:5, 9). As such, he is most obliged to be zealous of good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:14)). Alas, like the priest and Levite here, we often play “blind” to the cries and need of our neighbors for help, esp. the lost and perishing. We “mind our own business” and go about our daily interests with no thought of concern for others who are hurting and almost ready to perish!
III. THE MIND OF A SAMARITAN (vv. 33-35) – HIS ATTITUDE: WHAT IS MINE IS YOURS, AND I WILL SHARE IT!!
A Samaritan is mentioned in verse 33 merely to show that he was a person from whom a Jew had no right to expect any help or relief because of the enmity which existed between the two nations (John 4:7-9). Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.
Verse 34 is a perfect picture of soul winning. “And went to him” (Matt. 28:19). “Bound up his wounds” implies love and concern for the hurting, poor, sick, forsaken, broken hearted, etc. “Pouring in oil and wine” was a form of first aid but is a type of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 1:9; Eph. 5:18). “Set him on his own beast” obviously meant the Samaritan denied himself comfort and convenience and walked the extra miles (Matt. 5:41-42).
“Brought him to an inn” The “inn” is a picture of the local church where those tormented by the devil find rest and comfort. It is a place where the sick find healing; the hungry and thirsty-food and water; the empty-fulfillment; the lonely-gladness; the confused-enlightenment, and the lost-salvation!
See II Cor. 8:9; John 10:10b. The Samaritan is a type of the Lord Jesus who came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly. He became poor so we may be rich; suffered so we may be comforted; died on the cross so we may live; and humbled so we may be exalted! That’s the amazing and wonderful grace of God!
Christian, whatever good you had in the past, whatever prosperity you have now, and whatever blessings you shall have in the future is all but the fruit of the grace and mercy of God to you! May the goodness of God lead you to repentance. May the grace of God lead us to walk worthy of the Lord, leaving an example to our children and those who will come behind us in this life! See Phil. 2:5-11.
CONCLUSION: Which mindset and attitude do you have at this hour? Christian, remember that you were saved because one day God sent a Good Samaritan in your life! It is time to pay back and return the favor to others. See what Paul said in Rom. 1:14-16.
