The 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?
[In this study I want to offer some lessons that I believe are
more in keeping with Jesus'
Original purpose in telling 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
If we could be
of more help or if you want more information please visit:
www.tonyabram.com or
www.abundantlifecrusades.com
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