Nov 17, Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37
Although the last parable was 3 chapters earlier in Luke’s Gospel, the theme of love and relationship continues. The disciples had just returned from their hands-on ministry experience. They celebrated with Jesus that even the demons were subject to them in His name. Jesus rejoices with them, but then cautions them in verse 20, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Your names are written in heaven. You are children of God.
Next, a test from the righteous Jewish leaders comes. What must I do to inherit eternal life? “What must I do…” may be an assumption that in order to inherit eternal life, I must do something. He could have asked, “How do I receive eternal life?” which would have meant something very different. Jesus turns the question back onto the expert in the law, but the teaching is still from Jesus. Both Mark 12:29-31 and Matthew 22:37-39 record Jesus answering the same question directly without the dialogue and parable.
What must I do? Love! Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus accepts this answer, claims it as His own, saying it is the correct answer. The expert wants to justify himself, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Before I make a comment on the parable, notice where the Luke takes us after the parable. Jesus goes to the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany. Martha is overworked and upset, but Mary is seated at the feet of Jesus. Here again, a relationship with Jesus is desired over all the cares and works of this world.
Who is my neighbor? The despised, half-breed Jew, the Samaritan is used as the hero of the parable. He is contrasted with the expert himself via a Jewish priest and a Levite. The one who showed mercy is a true neighbor. Jesus faced the self-righteous Jewish religious leaders before. In Matthew 9:13, He quotes Hosea 6:6, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus repeats this verse when rebuking the Pharisees for condemning He and His disciples for breaking the Sabbath by plucking too many heads of grain and healing a withered hand. Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Lessons from this famous parable: Love God and love neighbor. Show mercy to persons in need. Jesus said, “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 was attacked by 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.”—Luke 10:25-37
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