The Good Samaritan
Notes
Transcript
Today we come to one of the most popular stories in the Bible. Like all parables, we are intended to see a reflection of ourselves in it. Jesus points us to our own calloused hearts. The scripture tells us.
17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.
The term “good Samaritan” has found its way into pop-culture. We often refer to unlikely heroes who help strangers by this same term. While we can undoubtedly draw this as an application. There is more going on in this story than just a lesson about helping people in need, I submit to you this morning that this passage of scriptures main point is our inability to follow God’s law.
In any good story there are always the same literary elements.
The first is the background.
I. The Background to the Story
I. The Background to the Story
the scene we are about to read is what prompted Jesus to tell this parable. Therefore the parable needs to be interpreted through the lens of the background information. Those who are going through our Wednesday morning bible study are becoming familiar with this idea. We call it the occasion. So let’s look at the occasion and why Jesus told this parable now.
25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Notice the insincerity if the “expert of the law”. First we see another thematic address. He referred to Jesus as teacher. I can imagine this expert using a snide tone as he addressed Jesus. Next we see that the expert of the law was not asking this question because he thought Jesus would have anything to offer in the way of knowledge but rather he was “testing” Him. Playing a game of words to trap him.
Instead of answering the question directly, Jesus forces the expert to answer the question himself.
26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”
Now at this point in the conversation is where we would expect Jesus to correct his thinking and tell him that the law cannot save you. Yet instead Jesus agrees with the expert in the law.
28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”
Why would Jesus agree with the man? Why would Jesus tell him that if he were to follow this he would inherit eternal life? These next two passages give us insight into the mind of Christ.
10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.
20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
Jesus was not telling this man that if from this point on he did what was right he would be given eternal life. Instead he was allowing the law to show this man his sin. If he were to have kept the law without a single infraction ever, than he would inherit eternal life.
This would mean that this man could have never has a cross word or thought with a family member or friend. He would have never been able to have taken the last piece of cake when he knew someone else wanted it. He would have always had God’s will on his mind and never veered from it.
Jesus was not saying this man could earn his salvation, but rather that if he was without sin, if he was perfect than he would indeed be saved.
We can see that this man understood by his reaction exactly what Jesus was doing. He knew he had broken The Law of Love.
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Instead of humbling himself due to his guilt, He tried to justify his actions by asking this question “and who is my neighbor?”
So Jesus answered this question by telling the following parable.
30 Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion.
34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
II. The Scene
II. The Scene
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known as “The Road of Blood”. It was known and still is known to be a dangerous road to travel. It is windy and narrow as it declines through the hills nearly 3000’ in 17 miles. It is the type of road that one cannot often see around the next bend. This allowed for bands of thieves to take advantage of the topography and use it as a way to ambush travelers. So Jesus picked the perfect setting for this Story. As you can see from the picture there would be ample places for thieves to hide.
Also Jericho was an itinerant city. It was a place where men would go to train for the priesthood and temple service. It was a normal occurrence for Priest and Levites to travel from Jerusalem to Jericho and then back again.
III. The Plot
III. The Plot
A man is traveling down the road that many priest and Levites would also be traveling. He of course is unfortunate as he come across a band of thieves that beat him, rob him of everything including his clothes. It seems weird to us that someone would steal his clothes but in the time of Jesus clothing was a large expense. So they took everything the man had and then left him for dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
The Priest Role -
All priests are defined primarily by their intercessory role. Priests acted as representatives of the divine to the people, and representatives of people to the divine. Priests of Yahweh performed sacrifices, maintained the holy sites and implements, and provided counsel and instruction.
I want you to see the Irony in this picture. The purpose of the priest were to intercede on the behalf of people and instruct them on how God wants them to live. Yet we see this disconnect between what is taught and believed and the everyday practical implication of how to live.
The priest saw this man in desperate need and for whatever reason did not see it necessary to help. A man called by God to point others to himself had no compassion or desire to help the very people he was called to serve.
Next we see a Levite.
32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Again we see irony. Levites were temple caretakers, worship leaders, teachers of the law, and helped with some of the sacrifices. They too were to be consecrated to God for the purpose of serving those who came to worship.
Both of these men were to be used in the service of God as representatives of God’s character and law. Yet both of these men passed by.
There was a disconnect between their religious beliefs and their responsibility to fulfill them outside of the temple.
A. I would argue there exist this same disconnect today with in God’s people as existed then
It isn't as though we are monsters like the Priest and Levite seem to be in this story. And I don’t think it’s that Christians don’t want to help, but rather I think it just never occurs to many that a-leaving human suffering in the name of Jesus is a responsibility of God’s people. It is part of our calling. Its part of our gospel ministry.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’
44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’
15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Do you see how the gospel is connected to compassion and action? Do you see how God’s people are to be connected to the same.
Trans: But if we fail to take up the cause of compassion another will and I would argue already has.
33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion.
Notice the phrase “but a Samaritan”. This is where the story take a turn for the better at least for the inured man
34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
Notice how a heart of compassion moved this unlikely hero.
It was well known that the Jews and Samaritans hated each other. As David explained a few weeks ago, these guys would just assume never run into each other. Both Jew and Samaritan would avoid each others cities, traveling great distances to avoid one another. Yet compassion for this man moved him into action.
2. Notice the level of inconvenience the Samaritan was willing to endure for the sake of the injured man.
A. The first inconvenience was his own safety.
This Jew had just been beaten and robbed in this place.
B. The inconvenience of time spent.
C. The inconvenience of finances.
A Denari was a day’s wage for a skilled worker.
He gave two days wages + his own supplies and the use of his animal.
Then when he returned undoubtedly he would have had to give more.
We live in a world today where many Millennial’s and younger are taking up causes at great risk, inconvenience, and cost to themselves.
In fact, I read a statistic that 42% of charities are secular, no religious affiliation. This number makes sense because Churches are considered charities. The study also found that by in large secular charities extend their reach farther than the church due to the fact that many churches do not serve the general public ,but largely only their membership. This study suggest that the samaritans of the world are doing better at caring for the general public than the church.
If this study is true, it begs the question. When did we lose our compassion?
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The term “good works” means to toil or quite literally work hard at doing Good.
Do you see how are light and testimony are directly related to our Good works? So Jesus asked this question:
36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
Jesus reminded this man that although he had religious zeal he failed to obey the greatest commandment ,The Law of Love. He stood guilty before God.
The Law of love is at the very foundation of our faith. It is why we are to do all that we are commanded. It begins and ends with love. The purpose of this parable was not that the expert in the law never did good, but rather Israel had forgotten its mission of being light to the world. In this way, this man although many would consider upright and righteous, had failed to keep The Law of Love.
Application:
So my question for you this morning is this. Are you obeying the Law of Love? Would Jesus consider you a “good neighbor”?
Today, I submit to you that all of us in some way have failed to keep the greatest commandment. For those of us in Christ, there is mercy, forgiveness and grace. Turn from our coldness and embrace the Love that God freely gives to us.
To those who have not yet chosen to follow Christ. No matter how good you are at helping people, there if you have violated this law at anytime you too stand guilty but there is the hope of forgiveness found in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He will forgive all those who repent and turn to him in faith and trust.