How to be a Good Samaritan!
Luke 10:30 - Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. Luke 10:31 - "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Luke 10:32 - "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Luke 10:33 - "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, Luke 10:34 - and 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. Luke 10:35 "On the next day he took out 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.’ (Luke 10:36 KJV) Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
(Luke 10:37 KJV) And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
I. a. Hospitals have been named after the person in this story
b. In the USA "Good Samaritan" laws have been passed to encourage passers-by to help those
in need
II. It has been common to apply symbolic interpretations to this parable; for example...
a. The traveler represents man, who has left the heavenly city (Jerusalem) for the worldly one (Jericho)
b. The robbers are representative of the devil and sin, who leave man dying in sin John 10:10
c. The priest and the Levite refer to the Law and its sacrifices, which are unable to help
d. But the Good Samaritan is Jesus, who provides the help needed
e. The wine represents the blood of Christ; the oil, the anointing of the Holy Spirit
f. The inn is the church, the innkeeper representative of the apostles; the two coins representing baptism and the Lord’s Supper
III. As interesting as such interpretations may be...
a. 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?
III. THE PARABLE AND ITS SETTING
A. THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS AND A LAWYER...
1. A lawyer stands up to "test" Jesus - Luke 10:25
a. A "lawyer" in this context would be one well-versed in the Law of Moses
b. The word "test" doesn’t have to imply negative; it may simply mean the man was seeking to
Ascertain Jesus’ faithfulness to the Law
c. But there are some implications that he was seeking to trick Jesus...
1) He "stood" up, perhaps to draw attention to himself
2) Later, he sought to "justify" himself with another question; implying he was interested in more than just a Simple answer to his question
d. His question was similar to that asked by the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18): "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit Eternal life?"
2. Jesus answers the question by pointing him back to the Law - Luke 10:26
a. In so doing, Jesus shows His own confidence in the Law
c. In a similar manner Jesus pointed the rich young ruler to the Law - Luke 18:20
b. Keep in mind that at this time the Law was still in force, so the answer was still to be found in it - cf. Mt 5:17-19
3. The lawyer replies with a proper understanding of what the Law taught concerning eternal life - Luke 10:27-28
a. He quotes from Deu 6:5 and Lev 19:18
b. Both which Jesus quoted to another lawyer on a later occasion - cf. Mt 22:34-40
c. Upon these two laws, one to love God, the other to love your neighbor...
1) The entire Law was based
2) Those living while the Law was still in force could live, be saved)
4. But the lawyer is not finished... - Luke 10:29
a. He desires to "justify" himself (was he embarrassed
Jesus answered him so easily?)
b. He asks the question that precipitates the parable: "And Who is my neighbor?"
B. THE PARABLE ITSELF...
1. A man travels from Jerusalem to Jericho, and is beaten - Luke10:30
a. A distance of about 20 miles 33 KM
b. A dangerous road, known as "The Way of Blood" because of the robbers
c. Stripped of his clothing and wounded by thieves, he is left half
dead
2. Two pass by, doing nothing - Luke 10:31-32 a. The first was a priest; the he second was a Levite
b. Both of these were of the religious elite in Israel at that time
3. A Samaritan comes by and shows compassion - Luke 10:33-35
a. Samaritans were despised by the Jews
b. (John 4:9 KJV) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
1. They were the descendants of those imported at the time of the Assyrian captivity (cf. 2 Ki 17:24-41)
c. Yet this Samaritan who would have been despised by the Jews shows compassion
1) He bandages the wounds, applying oil and wine (first aid in those days)
2) He puts the wounded man on his own animal and takes him to an inn
3) He gives the innkeeper two denarii (two days’ wages) to provide care
4) He tells the innkeeper to spend whatever it takes, and he will repay him when he comes again
C. JESUS’ FOLLOW-UP TO THE PARABLE...
1. He poses the question: Which of the three proved to be a neighbor? - Luke 10:36
2. The lawyer replies with the obvious answer: "He who showed mercy on
him."
3. Jesus then admonishes the lawyer to do likewise
4. Notice that Jesus turned the focus of the original question...
a. From "Who is my neighbor?" to "Who was the one that was neighbor to the one in need?"
b. This indicates that Jesus sought to draw attention to what it means to "Love your neighbor as yourself"
[The purpose of the parable, in view of the context and the manner in which Jesus applied it, is clear:
Jesus teaches who our neighbors really are, and what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
Here are some lessons that can be gleaned from the parable when its purpose is kept in mind...]
IV. LESSONS FROM THE
PARABLE
A. A NEIGHBOR IS ONE IN NEED WHOM WE CAN HELP...
1. One might think that a neighbor is one with whom we share similarity
a. Such as being of the same race, nationality, or religion
b. I.e., anyone who is not considered your enemy
2. Yet Jesus put such a concept to rest by using the Samaritan as an example
a. The
Samaritans were different in race, nationality and religion from the Jews
b. There was animosity between them - cf. (Luke 9:52 KJV) And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
(Luke 9:53 KJV) And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
c. Though considered enemies, the Samaritan was helping a Jew in need
3. And so it is that Christians are to show "hospitality" (lit., love of strangers") - cf. Ro 12:13; Mt 5:43-48; Gal 6:10
-- Your neighbor, then, is anyone in need whom you have the ability to help!
B. THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF DIVORCING NEIGHBORLINESS FROM RELIGION...
1. Of the three passers-by in the parable, the first two should have been the first to help
a. The priest and the Levite should have been
influenced by their religion to help
b. Indeed they were taught to love the stranger - (Deu 10:17 KJV) For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
(Deu 10:18 KJV) He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
(Deu 10:19 KJV) Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
2. When they separated neighborliness from their religion, they became hypocritical
a. For the priest would teach the Law, and the Levite would assist in the service
b. But failing to "practice what they preach" showed how shallow their devotion to their faith really was
3. As Christians, we need to be sure to practice "pure and undefiled religion", otherwise we deceive ourselves - (James 1:27 KJV) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
-- What kind of religion do we have?
C. THE COST OF COMPASSION...
1. A willingness to cross social barriers
a. As Jesus illustrated in using a Samaritan in this parable
b. There should be no religious, racial, or national barriers to showing compassion!
2. A willingness to take risks
a. The Samaritan took a great risk by stopping to
help
1) What if the robbers were still near by?
2) What if other thieves came by on this road known as "The Way Of Blood"?
b. So Christians are called upon to take risks (Luke 6:30 KJV) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
1) How do we know people won’t take advantage of our generosity?
2) Perhaps this is an area where we need to have faith in God
3. A willingness to set aside busy schedules
a. The Samaritan was on a journey, but took the time to stop and care for the man
b. Jesus taught us to take the time to show compassion even when forced - (Mat 5:41 KJV) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
1) The first mile may have been forced
2) But the second mile was one to be given out of
love
A willingness to make sacrifices
a. The Samaritan sacrificed more than just time and energy
1) He used some of his own provisions - Luke 10:34
2) He even offered an open-ended agreement to provide for his help - Luke 10:35
b. Jesus taught His disciples to be willing to make sacrifices Luke 6:29-30,34-35
c. In so doing, we are truly followers of God and walking in love - Ep 5:1-2
CONCLUSION
1. With the parable of "The Good Samaritan", we are challenged to a higher standard of love
a. Higher in that the definition of "neighbor" is more inclusive
b. Higher in that the definition of "compassion" is greater
2. This should not be surprising in light of what Jesus told His disciples earlier:
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 5:20)
c. Therefore let us heed the words of Jesus to the lawyer who tested Him:"Go and do likewise."
Of course, without the salvation that Jesus makes possible, no degree of righteousness is possible... -
cf. Ac 2:36-38; 22:16
1. Go To People Who Have A Need.
2. Truly Be Concerned For Hurting People
3. Put Action With Your Compassion
4. Use Your Resources To Minister
5. Always Go Beyond What Is Required To Meet A Need
God bless you and yours.
On behalf of this generation,
Your friends in the service of Christ,
Tony and Marge Abram
Abundant Life Crusades
