Luke 10:25-37 – The Good Samaritan
This story is so familiar to us that we have to be careful when we read it, because if we go to the Bible knowing what God is going to say we effectively keep ourselves from hearing God speak. So read this passage over again carefully and see what you find. Pay attention to Jesus interacting with the expert in the law and what happens around the parable. What do you think that expert in the law was like? Put yourself in the story of the Good Samaritan and remember times where you have played the different parts. Have you ever played the part of the Good Samaritan and what effect did that experience have on your life? How often do you think we are the people who pass by and why do we do it? What does the last thing Jesus says to the expert in the law mean to you? After reading the passage over a few times and thinking about these questions, please add your comments to the blog so others can benefit from what God teaches you and so that they can respond and so that it will help me listen for God’s Word as I prepare the sermon this week. Thanks, Pastor Eric.
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
1 comments:
The story is familiar. The characters are familiar. At some time or anoather all of us have been either the Levite or the Priest. Our society is such that we have become hardened to the needs of the world and often to the needs of our neighbors because we see so much of it on TV and other media. We tend to think that it is our of our reach to do much other than throw another dollar in to the collection plate or give a monetary amount to some charity thus salving our conscience. We some one do a charitable deed and often say, "I could never do that." We become so interested in our own wants, not needs, that our assumed priorities take precedent over the needs of the widow and the orphans who suffer from needs, not wants. We recognize the significance of the deed of the Samaritan, but say, "I have never been put into a position where I could do such a deed."
We have in our congregation those who are the good Samaritans, the quilters, those who take care of the little things without recognition, those who give of their evenings and vacation to work at DVBS or Haven of Hope, who will fill the empty slots for our coffee fellowship,etc.
There is one situation in the story that I have heard little about. That is the trust of the innkeeper. He took the injured man in with the willingness to care for him. He was given a sum of money with which to do so, but also was trusting of the Samaritan that he would return and pay any extra cost that may arise. The trust of the Samaritan that the innkeeper would not scam him for costs not incurred. Do we have that kind of trust in the Body of Christ? Do we have full confidence in the consistory? Do we wish that things were done differently, but refuse to serve in a leadership capacity, because doing so will cut into our time and prevent us from fulfilling our wants? Do we nitpick at things because we would have done them differently but refuse to do them ourselves? The Good Samaritan could return and refuse to pay any additional costs because the innkeeper did not do it the way that he would have done it. They trusted each other unconditionally to do what is right. Who is our neighbor? The one who assists me in a time of need. How am I a neighbor? Recognizing what the Father has done for me through Jesus, I never say, "I can't" but say, " How can I not."
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