• We see people in trouble as we drive down the highways
• We see people in trouble in their marriages
• We see people in trouble in our neighborhoods
• We see people in trouble financially
• We see people in trouble physically
• We see people in trouble spiritually
As I said, you do not have to look very far to find people in trouble. In fact, it is easier to find people in trouble than to find people who are not in trouble these days.
This parable tells us about a man that was in trouble in a big way. As he was traveling, he was robbed and almost beaten to death.
The Lord told us this parable because He wants us to examine ourselves. We need to ask, “WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE IN TROUBLE?”
Illus: In Florida, an elderly gentlemen and his wife were near a lake. He was going to take his foot and push the brake to stop his car, but instead, his foot hit the accelerator, and the car went into the lake. An elderly lady saw what happened, and made a dash to swim out and try to rescue the lady, who later died. That does not take away from the woman’s effort who sought to save her by putting her own life at risk.
Most of us would have done the same thing if we had been there. But what about those times in our lives when we see people in trouble, and it is not life threatening, then WHAT DO WE DO ?
• Generally, when it is our family and friends, we automatically want to help them
• The question is, when we find someone WE DO NOT SOCIALIZE WITH, AND WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT SOCIALIZING WITH, WHAT DO WE DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT?
It is this kind of scenario that the Lord gives us in this parable.
This parable came about due to a question that was asked of the Lord. The Lawyer here is an interpreter of the Mosaic law, this is why he is referred to as a lawyer.
In Luke 10:25, we see this smart alec lawyer trying to put the Lord on the witness stand by asking him the question, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
The Lord turns around and puts him on the witness stand by asking him a question.
Look at Luke 10:26, we read, “He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?”
The Lord knew he knew the Mosaic law, and we see his response in Luke 10: 27-28, we read, “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”
But notice, he felt the pressure the Lord was applying to him, and in Luke 10:29, we read, “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?”
To answer the question, “Who is my neighbor”, Jesus gives us the actions of three different kinds of people who saw a man on the side of the road, almost beaten to death.
In this parable, He tells us how each one responded.
I. THE SPIRITUAL RESPONSE TO THIS MAN’S NEEDS
We get a picture of this pitiful man in Luke 10:30, we read, “And Jesus answering said, 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.”
We need to get a mental picture of the condition of this man. He is in bad shape. After being robbed and beaten, look what happens in verse 31, we read, “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.”
When the priest saw him, he should have run to him, but notice he did just the opposite, the Bible tells us, “…he passed by on the other side.”
This priest reminds me of some of the Christians driving on the highway. For example:
• You can have a flat tire, and as you try to replace your flat tire, it seems like they want to see how close they can come without hitting you with their cars as they pass by.
• You can be on the side of the road, trying to get back into the traffic flow, and they will not be merciful and let you move your car into the traffic flow.
Why is it that many Christians act one way in the church, and another way on the highway?
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger was at church one Sunday, and he was greeting some folks that just drove up. At the other end of the parking lot were some visitors that had just driven up, and he commented to the folks he was talking to about them. The man said, “Pastor, let me tell you about those folks. As my wife and I were coming to church this morning, we tried to pass them several times because they were driving slow, but every time, they would pull out in front of us to keep us from passing them, and they would all be laughing.” He said, “Then we got to the church, and they pulled into the church parking lot, and it surprised them when we pulled in to the same church. Needless to say, they were embarrassed once they saw we were going to the same church they were going to.”
Many folks would be surprised to find out that some people act like devils all week, but once they come through those magical church doors, they turn into angels.
Well, the priest might have acted like an angel in church, but he certainly was not acting like a child of God when he saw this pitiful man who was almost beaten to death, and he walked by on the other side of the road.
This is a SPIRITUAL RESPONSE. It is not very spiritual, but if this priest was spiritual, he would have helped this dear man.
But next, let’s look at-
II. THE SOCIAL RESPONSE TO THIS MAN’S NEEDS
Look at verse 32, we read, “And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.”
Notice, the word “Likewise”. That means he responded the same way the priest responded.
The Levites were servants of the temple. The Priesthood was selected from the Levites.
Did you know that, “AS GO THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS, SO GOES THE PEOPLE.”
This was proven to be true in the Old Testament. That is, when they had bad kings like Manasseh, the bad kings corrupted the people. When they had good kings, the kings caused the people to turn to God.
Illus: Dr. Lee Robertson was right when he said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
• When you have bad leadership in the church, it will sift right on down to the members
• When you have good strong leadership in a church, it will also affect the church in a positive way
About all the problems in the church could be straightened out, if good leaders were installed, rather than bad leaders that set bad examples over and over again.
As a pastor, I have an awesome responsibility. But so do the deacons and the church officers. Why? Because we are leaders, and people are following our leadership for good or for bad.
The Priest was the SPIRITUAL LEADER, and the Bible says this Levite is doing basically the same thing he did.
III. THE SAMARITAN’S RESPONSE TO THIS MAN’S NEEDS
Look at verse 33-35, we read, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, 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 own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
The Samaritan’s were half-breeds. Socially, they were on the bottom of the totem pole.
But notice, of all the people to help this pitiful man who had been robbed and beaten, it was a Samaritan.
WHY DO YOU THINK HE HELPED HIM?
This man knew what it was to be beaten down. Many had looked at him with their despicable eyes, and he had felt their hatred and rejection over and over again.
Illus: If you get stranded on the side of the road, do you know who most likely will help you? It is one of these truckers who has been stranded on the side of the road before, and when they see you on the side of the road, they know the predicament you are in.
Illus: We have politicians who will say, “I feel the pain of the taxpayers”, and then turn right around and impose a tax hike.
This Samaritan was a rejected half-breed, but when he saw this man on the side of the road, he did not run from him, he ran to him.
WHY WON’T PEOPLE HELP SOMEONE IN TROUBLE?
Because they do not know what it is like to go through what some people have had to go through.
We live in a world of imaginary pain. For example:
WE ALL WATCH MOVIES THAT PORTRAY IMAGINARY PAIN.
For example, we have all seen someone on television almost get beaten to death, and while we sat there breathless, reality sets in, and we are able to sit there because we know that this stuff is not real.
Illus: Some people watch wrestling. I am not sure that they should, because of the filthy language and indecent clothing. But we all have seen people almost beaten to death. And as we sat there, we began to get excited because this fellow is taking a beating. But then reality sets in and we know this stuff is not real, they are only acting like they are hurt.
We live in a world that is filled with imaginary pain, and we can deal with it because we know it is not real.
But while much of the pain that we see each day is imaginary, there are some who are really going through painful situations.
In this parable, the Lord is trying to get us to understand this.
This Samaritan knew something about pain, because when he saw this man, the Bible tells us he had COMPASSION and MERCY on him.
Look at verses 34-35, we read, “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
The priest probably didn't want to risk the possibility of ritual impurity. His piety got in the way of charity.
The Levite approached close to the victim, but stopped short of actually helping him. Perhaps he feared that bandits might be waiting to ambush him. The Levite put personal safety ahead of saving his neighbor.
It was the Good Samaritan that stopped and helped him.
Conclusion:
The question was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” It is the person that you see in need.
Illus: A Sunday School teacher asked this question, “Who is my neighbor?” Then she said, “Would you consider the people in China your neighbor?” One little boy said, “I believe our neighbor is where our land joins to someone else’s, they are our neighbors.” The Sunday School teacher took a globe and showed the class where we are located on one side of the globe, and China on the other side of the globe, and said, “Our land does connect to their land.”
Who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is anyone that we come into contact with!
We looked at:
I. THE SPIRITUAL RESPONSE TO THIS MAN’S NEEDS
II. THE SOCIAL RESPONSE TO THIS MAN’S NEEDS
III. THE SAMARITAN’S RESPONSE TO THIS MAN’S NEEDS
But the question is, “WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THOSE THAT YOU SEE IN NEED EACH DAY?”
After speaking of the Good Samaritan, He said in verses 36-37, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
Are you willing and ready to do good for others, even to those you do not want to associate with?
