The Good Samaritan Series

Message

Luke 10:25-37

The Good Samaritan

Today we are going to look at a parable which – probably – is the most well-known of all of Jesus parables.

Why do I say this?

Well in Clarence Town, which is the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, there is an organisation which rescues donkeys from ill treatment or neglect. The organisation has 300 acres and cares for up to 130 donkeys. It is called the Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary

There are so many organisations, who focus on the down and out, which have “Good Samaritan” or “Samaritan” in their name – even some which are not Christian organisations.

Which is actually a bit of a problem.

Because it fixes into our mind that the parable is all about helping those who are down and out … those who can’t help themselves … these are our neighbours.

Now I am not saying we shouldn’t care for neglect people … or even neglected donkeys. But we also can’t allow a popular application … namely “be a good Samaritan to our neighbours” … to cause us to miss the key focus of the parable.

So, just before we read the parable, I want us to hear this point.

It is not the main purpose of this parable to teach us who is our neighbour.

I’ll say it again. It is not the main purpose of this parable to teach us who is our neighbour.

Now let’s read Luke 10:25-37.

As we have consistently seen, the context of the parables … the circumstances that were in place when they were being told … knowing the context is an important aspect of understanding the parable.

It starts with a question from an expert in the law who stood up to test Jesus.

He is an expert in Biblical law … the Word of God.

He thinks he can test Jesus. Now remember Jesus is the one who “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.”

No expert in the Word of God, no matter how good they are, can test Jesus who is The Word.

Indeed Jesus doesn’t even answer the first question. Instead it is the lawyer who finds himself being tested. When it comes to doing what is needed to inherit eternal life how do you read the Scripture?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.

That is a direct quote of Deuteronomy 6:5

Love your neighbour as yourself.

That is a quote from Leviticus 19:18

In Mark 12 we have a similar discussion.

There one of the teachers asks Jesus “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”. In his answer Jesus uses these same verses … love God … love your neighbour.

Let me read what happens next … Mark 10:32-34.

32 ‘Well said, teacher,’ the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

The expert on the law in on the right track – a track where he is not so far from the kingdom of God. Jesus acknowledges his correct answer.

But having the correct answer from Scripture …

And living the Scripture as the answer for your life …

Well that is two separate actions. That was the downfall of this expert … he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”.

The question is reflective of a reality.

We know that the Word of God says love your neighbour as yourself. But we don’t have enough resources, or enough time, or enough capacity.

We don’t have enough to help everybody who needs help.

We know that. The lawyer knows that as well.

So how do you know you are loving God and loving your neighbour if you are not helping everyone?

That is what the lawyer is wrestling with. He wants a rule … a boundary. He wants to justify the fact that he hasn’t helped everyone. He wants to justify his lack of action.

Jesus doesn’t give him a rule … instead Jesus tells a parable.

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. The original language says "a certain man" or, to put it in modern terms, "some guy". Some guy. An anonymous man of unknown age, of unspecified ethnicity, and of unknown origins was taking a trip. He could be anybody … which is exactly the point.