Parables: The Good Samaritan

Parables are stories that help explain a concept or situation :

- The Kingdom of God, the heart of the father for the lost, the celebration that is heaven, the importance of being ready, and doing good, and forgiveness

We have read a ton of these parables and today we get to one of my favorites.

English Standard Version (Chapter 10)

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.”

This Teacher of the Law, is an expert on the Law - The Torah, the old testament, he is proabably a scribe, who spennds most of his days copying the text word for word, he challeneges Jesus - and Jesus gives the correct response

Love God, Love others.

How many of the parables come down to these two concepts?

That has been my challenge for you is to love God by loving others.

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

I Brought someone special to explain parable to you:

This is the only one of JEsus parables where makes the setting a real place.

So from the place where the parable takes place: I’d like to introduce you to me from 2 years ago.

SHOW VIDEO

Church, Could you love your neighbor like that?

Know this church the way Jews and Samaritans saw each other is a lot like Israelis and Palestinans today

This is like Jesus saying that an israeli was attacked, and the only person who would help him is a member of Hamas.

The Samaritan is supposed to be the bad guy, but he’s not!

He is the one loving his neighbor.

Church can we love our neighbors like that?

Even if we do not like them

Even if we hate them?

Even if we think they are bad people?

Even if they are our enemy?

If they support a different political canidate or party

if they support things we know are wrong?

IT does not matter, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Church think of all the parables we have talked about:

PArable of the Sower

We are to share God’s word with Everyone

We share Gods word through showing God’s love

Parable of the weeds, or the net

God will sort who is in and who is out

We are called to reach everyone with the love of God

PArable of the mustard seed

God will grow the kingdom so long as we share his word

Parables of treasure

God loves us more than we could ever imagine

Parables of the Lost

God rejoices more for the lost than those who live righteous lives

Parables of the wedding

It is good to treat others as better than yourself,

The tenants and talents

the previous keepers of God’s word failed to show love and grow his kingdom

now he calls us to grow his kingdom

The Lamps and the faithful servant

We need to be ready for his return by doing good deeds.

The unforgiving servant

We need to show forgiveness

the Good samaritan

Love your neighbors and your enemies.

All of these deal with the idea of loving others, even those who do not deserve it.

This is not easy

but it becomes easier when we stop seeing it in terms of us and them.

Not Jew and samaritain

not Israeli and Palestinian

not Republican or democrat

Not liberal or conservative

We need to start seeing people as people. Individuals who need help, and we can put aside our differences and help them.

Church what can we do to love our neighbors?