Good Samaritan
Introduction: This passage is found only in Luke's gospel, and it is commonly referred to as the “Good Samaritan” for the parable used by Jesus to expand his answer to the two questions asked by the lawyer. But there are also important things to consider about the manner in which the lawyer posed his questions. The Samaritans from the northern kingdom were not at all respected by the Jews in the south, and the Samaritans were well aware of the contempt held for them.
NOTE: Bible verses are taken from the 1833 Webster Bible.
A — What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?
Luke 10 “25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said to him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?”
Comments: Among the Jews a lawyer was a well-educated interpreter and teacher of the law of Moses. This man stood up to gain attention, addressed Jesus with the respectful term of master, and asked him a question about how to inherit eternal life. In the context of the passage, the Greek word translated as “tempted” characterized his question as a test or challenge to try to discredit the teaching of Jesus. This was an approach by many of the religious leaders who did not believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and did not understand that complete faith in him as God was the only way they could receive eternal life.
B — Do This and Live
Luke 10 “27 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 neighbor as thyself. 28 And he said to him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”
Comments: Jesus had turned this lawyer's question back to him when he asked the man to give his own answer from his understanding of the law. Many of the Jewish leaders, such as this lawyer, would not acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. Therefore they could not fulfill the first great command to love him. Without the love of God abiding within themselves, they likewise could not live out the second great command to love others as themselves. This lawyer could not do those two things to inherit eternal life unless he would do them by faith and not by works.
C — This Lawyer Still Wanted to Justify Himself
Luke 10 “29 But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.”
Comments: This lawyer did not realize how foolish it was to consider that he could ever justify himself before a Holy God. Jesus began this parable with two categories of individuals to illustrate that a position of religious piety might prevent application of scripture from the heart, if there was failure to show compassion to someone in need. Because of the positions both the priest and the Levite held among the Jews, they should have been very desirous to follow the law of scripture. Jesus did not need to point this out to the lawyer, who knew priests and Levites were considered as models of careful observance of the law.
D — A Samaritan Was Moved with Compassion
Luke 10 “33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 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. 35 And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said to him, Take care of him: and whatever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
Comments: The Samaritans were strongly disliked by Jews for many years before the time of Jesus, because they were considered to be defiled through mixed marriages with non-Jews. However some of them knew about Jewish law and traditions, and about the promise of a Messiah, despite being considered as outcasts. The Samaritan treated the wounds of the robbery victim, used his own animal to transport him to an inn, took care of him overnight, and promised to pay any other expenses when he returned. Apparently the inn keeper trusted this Samaritan to keep his word.
E — Which One Was a Neighbor to the Man?
Luke 10 “36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers? 37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus to him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
Comments: Jesus asked which one of the three was a neighbor, and the lawyer said the one who showed mercy. When Jesus told him to go and do likewise, the lawyer knew he was being told to follow the example of the Samaritan, and not that of the priest or the Levite. Israel so many times over the centuries failed to recognize the essence of the law which could lead them to humbly have faith in God alone. Paul wrote that we inherit eternal life through the mercy of God, not by anything we could accomplish by our own resources: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, after many years of believing that I am a Christian, I wanted to carefully and prayerfully consider how the exchange between you and this lawyer might apply to me. I didn't want it to be too easy to think that I was nothing like him, but to remember that my old nature can only be overcome when I truly submit to your Holy Spirit. I did not already have a thorough knowledge of scripture when I came to my personal point of surrender to trust in the only way to inherit eternal life by your grace through faith. I thank you LORD for this passage which helped me to realize that I need to be careful not to “tempt” your grace toward me. Help me to consider this summary of the law that can be lived out if I continually read the written Word of God, so I will grow in my relationship to the Living Word: my Savior and my God, Christ Jesus. Amen.
Published 17 October 2016