What Shall I do to Inherit Eternal Life?
Notes
Transcript
Opening Comments:
Opening Comments:
Please turn with me in your copy of God’s Word to Luke 10:25-37. If you’re using one of our church Bibles, you will find our passage on pg.816.
I’ve titled my message this morning:
“What Shall I do to Inherit Eternal Life?”
We are not going to read the entirety of the passage at the out start so keep your bible open as we will be looking at it all along the way.
Prayer:
Prayer:
Father,
As we gather to explore the parable of the Good Samaritan, we come before you with open hearts and minds. May your Word speak to us today, as we probe it to find the answer to one of life’s greatest questions.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Introduction:
Introduction:
Last week in our examination of Jesus prayer in 10:21-24 we observed Jesus thanking his father for hiding the things of salvation from the “wise and understanding” and instead choosing to reveal the truths of salvation to “little children”.
Meaning that salvation is so simple that the wise of this world think it is beneath them.
Luke 10:21 (ESV)
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Now Luke gives an illustration to his readers of an interaction Jesus had with one of the so called “wise of this world.” We do not know the exact date or time of this interaction and it doesn't matter because Luke is not writing chronologically he writes thematically. So this conversation fits perfectly where Luke has placed it.
The Bible tells us this man was a lawyer
A lawyer (nomikos), or scribe, was an expert in the interpretation and application of the Mosaic Law and the rabbinical traditions that had been formed over the centuries. Scribes are frequently seen in the Gospels accompanying the Pharisees and seeking ways to discredit Jesus
John MacArthur, Luke 6–10, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2011), 352–353.
However, this particular lawyer/scribe seems to be engaging with Jesus of his own accord. As he ask a question regarding a hotly debated topic at this time.
If you’re taking notes we are going to divide the text this morning by examining:
A probing question. (v.25-29)
A problematic parable. (v.30-35)
A purposeful application. (v.36-37)
1.) A probing question. (v.25-29)
1.) A probing question. (v.25-29)
In this time it was common place for rabbis to teach and discuss theological matters in public. So when this lawyer stood to ask Jesus his question, it was not necessarily a sign of disrespect.
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
A.) A good question but a bad motive.
This man was hoping to trip Jesus up in his asking the question. It was meant a a “gotcha question.” He wasn’t really seeking an answer, because he already knew the answer.
Notice he doesn't ask “How do I inherit eternal life” but, “what shall I do”. This is important because this man thinks that eternal life is inherited by doing.
The way his question reads in the greek is “By having done what”. He knows he has to do something but he is uncertain as to what that something is.
He is hoping Jesus will give a contrary answer to what he thinks is right, so that a debate can ensue.
B.) Jesus’ response.
Jesus answered this man’s question by asking him another question.
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
It’s interesting that the Scribes and Pharisees always accused Jesus of violating the law and here he is referring back to it by essentially asking this man how he “recites” or publically reads the law of God regarding this question.
Jesus was referring here to something called the “Shema” which was the jewish profession of faith that they would recite twice daily as a pious act.
The “Shema” was Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and He then adds a second verse to it by quoting Leviticus 19:18.
Listen to his response:
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.”
These two portions of scripture would sometimes even be worn by devout jewish men inside of small wooden boxes called phylacteries strapped to their foreheads or arms by leather straps as a direct observance to Deuteronomy 6:9
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Observant jewish men still do this today starting at the age of 13 during morning prayer services.
The “Shema” and Lev 19:18 form a summary of the ten commandments. The first four having to do with loving God and the second 6 with loving your neighbor.
The idea is meant to convey that if we love God like we should then we will love others like we should.
This is what the man quoted back to Jesus and in v.28 Jesus tells him
28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
C.) The dilemma
When we know what God’s word says, then we instantly become accountable to it. God’s word declares that if we keep God’s law perfectly, then we can inherit the eternal life that is promised if we do.
But, like all mankind who has ever walked the face of the earth, we are not capable of perfectly loving God and perfectly loving our fellow man.
It is a human impossibility.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
26 “ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
To violate God’s law is sin and we all do it.
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
This man knew he had not perfectly kept God’s law, which is why he asked his follow up question:
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
This man knew he had not unconditionally loved all of his fellow men, so he was searching for a loophole in the law. He was trying to justify himself and declare he had kept the law by narrowing the focus of who was his neighbor.
In the Old Testament “neighbor” typically meant a member of your own community. A fellow Israelite.
It appears, this man was thinking “I’ve got this one”.
2.) A problematic parable. (v.30-35)
2.) A problematic parable. (v.30-35)
Jesus responds to this man asking “who is my neighbor” by sharing what is probably the most well known parable Jesus ever told.
The parable of the good Samaritan.
A.) A desperate man.
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.
While this was a parable, this sort of thing happened regularly along the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. It was a seventeen-mile journey through the desolate Judean wilderness. Travelers went down to Jericho because the elevation drops approximately 3,300 feet.
It was a well known habitat for thieves and violent robbers and was actually called “The Way of Blood.” Travelers never went through that area alone, they always traveled in caravans for safety. The traveler Jesus spoke of apparently was foolish and irresponsible enough to travel alone. Now, here he is beaten, bloodied, left for dead and alone.
If he was going to survive, he needed help desperately.
B.) A priest and a Levite.
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
Surely a priest would help, right? After all, as a servant of God, he was obligated too because he knew what God’s law said. The only problem, he didn't even stop to look, he just went to the other side of the road and kept walking.
(Why? Doesn’t matter, he’s not real!)
Then,
32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Levites assisted the priest at the work of the temple. He also would have been very familiar with God’s commands in the law regarding helping those in need. But, he did the same thing, took a quick look and kept walking.
The very two people who were representatives of the religious system, who knew all that God commanded and should have stopped to administer aid, didn’t.
Here were two people who claimed to love God, but didn’t because they did not keep his commandments. Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for people. Genuine love for God will produce a love for others.
In that day, many were unhappy with the leaders of the religious system. They probably expected Jesus to say that the next person to pass by was just an average jew who was a good guy and would make the religious elite look bad.
Jesus, though went a total different direction.
C.) The problematic part.
33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
Explain the relationship between Jews and Samaritans and the racism that permeated.
This would have been the last guy they would have expected to hear about. To the jews, a good and compassionate Samaritan didn't exist.
When he saw the beaten and bloodied Jew, he had compassion, stopped and helped.
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.
This man didnt just administer first aid, he went above and beyond by taking the man to an inn, and covering all of the cost associated with his care as he recovered.
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.’
Depending on the quality of the inn, that amount would have paid for the injured man’s room and board for anywhere from three weeks to two months. Here was still another example of the Samaritan’s generous, compassionate love.
John MacArthur, Luke 6–10, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2011), 358.
He also went as far to basically give the inn a blank check for the man’s care.
3.) A purposeful application. (v.36-37)
3.) A purposeful application. (v.36-37)
In an effort to drive home what Jesus was conveying through this parable he asked the lawyer a question:
36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
You can almost hear the man’s disdain leap off of the pages can’t you? He couldn’t even bring himself to say “the samaritan”. He instead replies
Luke 10:37 (ESV)
He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”…
It wasn’t the supposed religious ones who claimed to keep the law but the hated Samaritan was the keeper of the law to its fullest extent. He truly loved others as much as he loved himself.
The implication being, this man wasn’t as righteous as he thought he was. He may have obeyed God’s law in the letter, but not in the spirit.
So, Jesus commands him
Luke 10:37 (ESV)
…And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
This was the answer to the lawyers questions, “how do i inherit eternal life?” and “who is my neighbor?”
Keep the law in every aspect to the letter and the spirit continuously, without ever failing. Perfectly love God and every person you ever come in contact with. You are the neighbor to everyone you meet. So perfectly love them too.
But, that is utterly impossible and that was Christ whole point.
This man couldn't do anything to inherit eternal life because no human is capable of that kind of perfect love.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
This event is so important to us today. Too often we as christians are like this lawyer. Our phylacteries come in the form of Christian T-shirts, bumper stickers, and tattoos. We claim that we have Christ and that he has us. But, as we have seen from this parable if we really have Jesus like we say we do, we will demonstrate it by our merciful and loving actions to our neighbors.
Having mercy is evidence that we have received mercy. Our relationship with other people either validates or invalidates our claims to know and love God.
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
If you are calloused and cold hearted to the needs of those around you who are desperate, hurting and broken then that may be evidence that you are not in Christ.
Love is not just an idea or a feeling toward God. It is practical acts and commitment to help any who need help.