The Good Samaritan
Rev. Joey Crisostomo
Director for Central Operations
March 14, 2010
Key Scripture
Luke 10:25-37
28″You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?“
37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The parable and its setting
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
* A lawyer stands up to “test” Jesus – Luke10:25
Question 1 # Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
* Jesus answers the question by pointing him back to the Law – Luke 10:26
* The lawyer replies with a proper understanding of what the Law taught concerning eternal life – Luke 10:27-28 Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18
Question 2 # Who is my neighbor?
The problem addressed
* The narrow view of the word “neighbor.”
* The word neighbor in the Greek means someone who is near, and in the Hebrew it means someone that you have an association with. This interprets the word in a limited sense, referring to a fellow Jew and would have excluded Samaritans, Romans, and other foreigners.
* What does the command to love one’s neighbor really mean?
* How far should we carry this business of love to fulfill God’s law?
The central truth
* A neighbor is anyone in need to whom we are able to minister.
* A true neighbor ministers to such a person without regard for compensation.
* Three Distinct Attitude
1. The Thieves … “What’s yours is mine, and I’m going to get it.’
2. The Priest and The Levites …”What’s mine is mine, and I’m going to keep it.”
3. The Samaritan …” What’s mine is yours, and I’m going to share it.”
The details interpreted
30In 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
The Traveler
* A foolish and reckless traveler
* Traveler never journeyed there alone. They always traveled with caravans.
* It was called the ‘Way of Blood”
* He was robbed, assaulted and left-half-dead.
The details interpreted
31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side g down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
The Two Religious Leaders
The Priest – He passed on the other side which means he rushed away. The priest was not about to sacrifice his primary work and privilege for the man
The Levite – So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Who place safety before compassion
The details interpreted
33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him
Each step is significant in showing how we love our neighbors:
* He reach out personally… 34He went to him
* Eased his pain… bandaged his wounds,
* Gave his own goods… pouring on oil and wine
* Sacrificed his own comfort… Then he put the man on his own donkey
* Look after him personally… took him to an inn and took care of him
* Did all he could… 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,…’
Lessons for us today
1. We are challenged to a higher standard of love.
2. Showing love requires time, energy and money.
3. There should be no religious, racial, or national barriers to showing compassion!
4. Our neighbor is anyone we encounter, we are all creatures of the creator and we are to love all of mankind as Jesus has taught.
5. Mercy is required of us (Isaiah 58:6-7; Hosea 6:6). Jesus commands his disciples very specifically: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” – Luke 6:36
6. But our motivation for doing good must be love, an interest in meeting their basic needs, a heart of mercy that is moved by compassion.