Luke 10:25-37
Jesus used parables to teach great religious principles. Parables are so effective they help you to remember the teaching long after. The parable in our passage today is commonly called the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is so popular that many hospitals and charity organisations have adopted that name.
Our passage today illustrates the place and importance of love, mercy and compassion. It also exposes the error of self-righteousness, bigotry and prejudice. The use of the Samaritan in this story would have shocked Christ's audience. Other shocking things Christ did was e.g. going to the house of Zachaeus or Matthew the publican to eat, or telling his heares that there was more faith in a Cananite woman than in all of Israel.
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notoriously dangerous. by the time you do the 20 mile journey you would have descended from about 2000 feet above sea level to 800 feet below sea level, with big boulders dotting and forming hiding places for robbers. It was truely a bloody road. many innocent lives were lost on that road. We are told that that road has changed very little since the time of Christ.
it was on this road the man in the story was attacked and left helpless. the priest and the levite passing that way, ignored him, but the Samaritan helped him. Martin Luther King analysed the action of the priest, levite and samaritan this way: The Levite said, If I help this man, what will happen to me?", while the Samaritan said, "If I don't help this man, what will happen to him"
Jesus used this story to teach that if anyone wishes to have eternal life, they must accept God's own standard. The best of human effort cannot bring salvation and life. Eternal life is given from God and that life is in the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (1John 5:11). We also see the place of love, mercy and compassion in God's plan of salvation and eternal life.
Our passage today illustrates the place and importance of love, mercy and compassion. It also exposes the error of self-righteousness, bigotry and prejudice. The use of the Samaritan in this story would have shocked Christ's audience. Other shocking things Christ did was e.g. going to the house of Zachaeus or Matthew the publican to eat, or telling his heares that there was more faith in a Cananite woman than in all of Israel.
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notoriously dangerous. by the time you do the 20 mile journey you would have descended from about 2000 feet above sea level to 800 feet below sea level, with big boulders dotting and forming hiding places for robbers. It was truely a bloody road. many innocent lives were lost on that road. We are told that that road has changed very little since the time of Christ.
it was on this road the man in the story was attacked and left helpless. the priest and the levite passing that way, ignored him, but the Samaritan helped him. Martin Luther King analysed the action of the priest, levite and samaritan this way: The Levite said, If I help this man, what will happen to me?", while the Samaritan said, "If I don't help this man, what will happen to him"
Jesus used this story to teach that if anyone wishes to have eternal life, they must accept God's own standard. The best of human effort cannot bring salvation and life. Eternal life is given from God and that life is in the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (1John 5:11). We also see the place of love, mercy and compassion in God's plan of salvation and eternal life.
WHY CHRIST TAUGHT THIS PARABLE
Luke 10:25-28; John 1:12-13; 17:1-3; Matthew 19:16-24, 27-30
There was a question from the lawyer asking Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life. It is very striking that it came from a lawyer, one of those charged with the interpretation of the Law. This man really did not want to know anything he did not know before. He was tempting Christ. He simply wanted to trap Jesus into saying something that he would call blasphemy.
If he really wanted to know about eternal life, the very Source of it was standing right before him.
God gives eternal life through His Son, Jesus.
What is eternal life? (John 17:1-3; 1John 5:11). To have eternal life you must know God and Jesus Christ His Son (1John 2:3-11; 3:14-16). To know God is to love Him and to love is to keep His comandments (Deuteronomy 6:4; Leviticus 19:18; John 14:21-24). These bible passages will help us appreciate the meaning of eternal life (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 10:9-11; John 10:9; Acts 4:12)
Another person asked Jesus a similar question. Jesus gave a similar answer - keep the commandments (Mat. 19:16-24). The man claimed to be have kept all since his youth. but the Lord struck him at his weak point. he had great possession. He was attached to his wealth. Jesus said to to him, "Sell what you have and give to the poor and come follow me". He went away sorrowful! He rejected the offer of eternal life and walked away! Only the Lord knows where he is now.
You see God knows everyone of us, young and old, great and small. You may say you are a Christian, you may say you are saved if your claim is true. You better make sure that yourclaim is true. Be like David. Pray to God and tell Him to search you (Psalm 139:23-24). If you discover you are not saved yet, pray today for salvation . Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.
God gives eternal life through His Son, Jesus.
What is eternal life? (John 17:1-3; 1John 5:11). To have eternal life you must know God and Jesus Christ His Son (1John 2:3-11; 3:14-16). To know God is to love Him and to love is to keep His comandments (Deuteronomy 6:4; Leviticus 19:18; John 14:21-24). These bible passages will help us appreciate the meaning of eternal life (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 10:9-11; John 10:9; Acts 4:12)
Another person asked Jesus a similar question. Jesus gave a similar answer - keep the commandments (Mat. 19:16-24). The man claimed to be have kept all since his youth. but the Lord struck him at his weak point. he had great possession. He was attached to his wealth. Jesus said to to him, "Sell what you have and give to the poor and come follow me". He went away sorrowful! He rejected the offer of eternal life and walked away! Only the Lord knows where he is now.
You see God knows everyone of us, young and old, great and small. You may say you are a Christian, you may say you are saved if your claim is true. You better make sure that yourclaim is true. Be like David. Pray to God and tell Him to search you (Psalm 139:23-24). If you discover you are not saved yet, pray today for salvation . Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS EXPOSED
Luke 10:25-29; 18:11-14; 5:30-39
It is clear that the lawyer was self-righteous. And the Lord exposed that self-righteousness by using the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate the aceepted form of righteous living. Historically, Jew and Samaritans were sworn enemies. They had nothing in common and Jews would not accept any favours from Samaritans (John 4:7-10).
But who were the samaritans (2Kings 17:24-28, 32-34)? In the Old Testament we do not hear much about them, but they featured prominently during the time of Christ. They had their own worship place on Mount Gerizim as opposed to Jerusalem. Jesus, dismissed this claim by telling the woman of Samaria what true worship of God entailed (John 4:19-24). Jewish sources describe them as the descendants of the colonists that King Shalmanasher brought to Samaria, who intermaried with the Jewish population. However their theology does not show much sign of pagan influence. Whatever their origin, they were sworn enemies with the Jews. Jesus in the parable showed that eternal life is available to all including Samaritans. The Jews did not believe Samaritans would receive eternal life!
Let's ask a few questions relevant to our time.
(i) Would Jesus approve racial, colour or ethnic prejudice?
(2) Would Jesus approve religious, sectarian or denominational prejudice?
The Jews were prejudices against the Samaritans. The Pharisees were prejudiced against the publican and sinners. Unfortunately there are some Christians who exhibit these. If we must act like Christ, we must point men of all races, all denominations, all colours to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.
But who were the samaritans (2Kings 17:24-28, 32-34)? In the Old Testament we do not hear much about them, but they featured prominently during the time of Christ. They had their own worship place on Mount Gerizim as opposed to Jerusalem. Jesus, dismissed this claim by telling the woman of Samaria what true worship of God entailed (John 4:19-24). Jewish sources describe them as the descendants of the colonists that King Shalmanasher brought to Samaria, who intermaried with the Jewish population. However their theology does not show much sign of pagan influence. Whatever their origin, they were sworn enemies with the Jews. Jesus in the parable showed that eternal life is available to all including Samaritans. The Jews did not believe Samaritans would receive eternal life!
Let's ask a few questions relevant to our time.
(i) Would Jesus approve racial, colour or ethnic prejudice?
(2) Would Jesus approve religious, sectarian or denominational prejudice?
The Jews were prejudices against the Samaritans. The Pharisees were prejudiced against the publican and sinners. Unfortunately there are some Christians who exhibit these. If we must act like Christ, we must point men of all races, all denominations, all colours to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.
LOVE! MERCY AND COMPASSION, GOD'S STANDARD
Luke 10:30-37; John 13:34-35; Matthew 9:13; 12:7
One of the early fathers of the Church, Origen, interpreted the parable this way, "The man who was going down is Adam. Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord’s body, the [inn], which accepts all who wish to enter, is the Church The manager of the [inn] is the head of the Church, to whom its care has been entrusted. And the fact that the Samaritan promises he will return represents the Savior’s second coming" This is allegorical. But we find out what the parable means to us today.
Jesus said He would have mercy rather than sacrifice. Man wants to give sacrifice, to try to sort himself out. But the Law has proved that that is not possible. The Law only exposes our weaknesses and inability to do right, to qualify for eternal life by our own effort. The Law only acts as our school master, to point us to Christ (Galatians 3:23-25). The lawer thought that by his observance of the law he would inherit eternal life. Jesus said no. Isntead He instructed the lawer to go and do like the Samaritan!
Once we are saved, we receive eternal life, and then begin to manifest, love. mercy and compassion. Anyone in need becomes our neighbour. We leave aside the identity of the person and move with Christ's love, mercy and compassion to help them. Notice that these virtues are divine attributes. When the Lord saves you, you receive that power to become a child of God and all these virtues will begin to operate in you.
Love is a commandment of Christ to all His disciples (John 13:34-35). It is the proof that we have become disciples of Christ as we said earlier. We are to love the Lord and love one another as He loved us (Luke 10:27; John 13:34-35). Keeping the commandments of Christ shows that we love him. loving Christ and the brethren and our neighbours has great blessings (John 14:21-24)
May we be filled with the love of God and of Christ and of the brethren. May we love our neighbours as ourselves. Amen
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