Trinity 13 (Good Sam)

Introduction

Notes on the text

3 Major Thrusts: The questions from the lawyer, the parable, and the command

The Question: Luke 10:25–28

[25] And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” [26] He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” [27] And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” [28] And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (ESV)

Jesus’ ministry at this point has just gone beyond him and beyond the 12 and they are experiencing the high from the 72s return. And as jesus become more successful he takes more and more credibility out of the hands of the elite. Not only is this wandering itinerant preacher lighting the countryside on fire. He is now sending-out other people of a low estate and they are having success that the elites are not having. So there is this series of tests and back and forth that the elites are having with Jesus trying to degrade his credibility.

In this section the lawyer is asking a debate question that is a regular debate amongst the upper crust. Basically they want to know what is the most essential part of the Torah, what do I need to know for the most basic salvation experience. Jesus seeing the challenge asks them to go first…what do you see in the Torah? And the answer is for the most part the basics that people are used to hearing is the non controversial answer. And we still use this trope. I used to say what does it take to be a good evangelist…love God love people. Jesus gives the man a passing grade.

But the Lawyer wants more…this is too easy he is thinking now lets get into the good stuff…who is my neighbor. Again a little context here is helpful. The ancient rabbis since the writing of this verse would argue the point…who is my neighbor. There is of course fellow Israelites. we cannot ignore them. Every one agreed that this is a neighbor. The Torah does tell the people to treat strangers among them as neighbors. So the first contentious bit was this mean? Does it mean that non ethnic Israelites in the land are beneficiaries of the Lev 19 command? Then you have Jesus once saying that we have to love our enemies…how is he going to interpret Lev 19. THE QUESTION HE IS ASKING IS WHO QUALIFIES AS A NEIGHBOR TO ME????? Jesus answers this in a Parable.

[30] Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ (ESV)

Look, I fully intend to give some contextual notes on this parable knowing full well this is like the second or third one explored in every Sunday School curriculum. But I find when I assume that everyone is bored with the details of well known and beloved parable, instead people come up and tell me that they were hearing much of it for the first time. So if you find redundancy in my words know that it is helpful to review things to keep them top of mind.

So a man traveling Jerusalem to Jericho. A 17 mile trip through a rocky wilderness where you descend 3300 feet (2500 above to 800 below). There were often bandits on the road and it was recommended that people traveled in packs for safety. So on this dangerous highway this assault takes place. Not unexpected.

First a priest goes by. He is leaving Jerusalem so he is not on his way to fill a ceremonial function but still he does not want to become unclean by touching blood and upper crust priests did not often go about with commoners. So this would not have been a huge surprise especially when you realize how unsafe this area is.

Then a Levites. All priest where from the tribe of Levi but a priest was a Levi who was descended from Arrons family. So Levites assisted the Priests kind of like Deacons in our tradition. They has no need to avoid the situation described, but he does. This person with a calling of service refusing to serve. Still it is a dangerous road so the Parable begs…can you blame him?

The real shock is the help the man receives from the Samaritan. Samaritans and Jews really hated each-other…they where enemies. On this side of Jesus ministry we think warmly of Samaritans bc of this Parable…but it would be like in our modern time I wrote a children's book called the virtuous cannibal. The book title would shock us and maybe in 2000 years people would get used to it and think of cannibals as virtuous.

Well what are the described virtuous act of the this Samaritan…He has compassion, he bound up the wounds, cleaning them, walked to the man could ride on his animal. And after all that was done…then he took on financial hardship giving 2 days wage to the inn keeper.

Jesus answers the questions of who should I define as neighbor to to whom can I go and be a neighbor to. Who around me made in the image of God is in need of compassion.

So the Parable ends with the command go and do likewise.

Main Point: Those whom have the compassion of God’s eternal life will show compassion to others.

I am of two minds this morning as I want to celebrate the church but I do want to offer a rebuke…I promise I am not gonna yell or send out pledge cards or disfellowship anyone...

I celebrate the church because around the world the church has bee the hand and feet of Jesus. Hospitals, Malaria clinics, water wells, schools. The church around the world continues the great work of helping people on the margins…even right here in our own city, the City Gospel Mission and other ministries like it.

The rebuke is this…we here at trinity are not part of any of it…we dont even send money…and if you respond with “Hey Andrew…you first.” That would be perfectly fair. I am convicted even as I deliver this message that I am not fulfilling Christ command to go and do likewise. What ministry is happening right here among us that we can partner with. Who are the forgotten people among us here in Mason, West Chester and Cincinnati. What thing can we do, not to change the whole world, but to change the world for one person. The answer…I dont know. but I hope we could walk through this together.

In the mean time lets remember that the Samaritan took personal risk. Gave of his energy first then of his money. The goal here is not to fix the other person or the world around us, but to reflect the generosity shown to us by Jesus. No act of love is ever wasted. As mother Theresa said small acts with great love will change the world.

Main Point: Those whom have the compassion of God’s eternal life will show compassion to others.

There is hope for those of us who fail in this call. Remember that this morning we said the 10 commandments and asked God’s mercy but the other 3 mornings a month we say this summery of the Law and sing asking for God to be merciful, knowing God will be merciful as he has promised.

God has proven his mercy. He has taken sinner that have failed the test of compassion and passed the test for them. Like the Samaritan he suffers on behalf of the helpless…unlike the Samaritan he suffers to the point of death.

Spiritually we all begin dead to sin, metaphorically out side Jerusalem, unclean, but instead of a priest who ignores, Jesus is the priest who acts. On the cross we are given the righteous compassion of Jesus and he takes our disinterest in our fellow man.

This is why we will pray today like we pray every week :We do not presume to come to this thy table (O merciful Lord) trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies: we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table: but thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, [in these holy Mysteries,] that we may continually dwell in him, and he in us, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood. Amen.

Let us not stop there, let us be transformed from Mercy givers to mercy receivers.