Lesson 34- The Favorites, Luke 10:25- 42

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37.

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 (Jesus) 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.”

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.”

The following verses contain true stories from the Bible that most of us have heard many times over. The first one on the “Good Samaritan” grows out of a conversation Jesus had with a lawyer. It was the lawyers intent to listen so as to put to scrutiny everything Jesus was saying so that everything and anything will be used against Him. Interesting, the lawyer believed he had the stuff to argue with the Son of God on eternal life. Jesus gets him involved in the discussion by asking, “What does the Law(their Bible) say and how do you read it? The Lawyer answered correctly with:

“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.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 10:27.

The lawyer was probably a man who really did know the law of God, the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These five books are what makes up “The Law.” Before tangling with Jesus verbally, he had to be pretty sure of himself. The caveat to what Jesus was saying is that in his correct answer he must back it up with the “doing.” Then he will live.

But being on a mission from those who were on a mission to discredit Jesus, he would not leave the subject alone and to “justify himself” he presses in and says, “who is my neighbor?” That sets Jesus up for a story about the kindness of a man that the Jews hated: a Samaritan. Jesus then shares a story about a man who was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, and assuming he was a Jew, was overcome by the bad guys who beat him, stripped, and robbed him and left him on the road to die.

But as he lay dying in the road, some people passed by. The first was a priest of the temple who passed by and kept right on going and world not even acknowledge one of his own. This was a religious professional (a priest) who had temple duty, and, did not even stop to pray with the man. He did not even give him a drink of water, probably not wanting to make himself unfit for temple service.

The next to pass by was a Levite. Though a Levite from this time frame of the life of Jesus, probably did not have any temple service to perform. Let’s say the first guy, the priest, would have been like John the Baptist’s dad who saw the angel while doing service in the temple. The Levites did have a proud heritage from the time of Moses, as they were the “go to” guys around the tabernacle in the wilderness. Get what I’m saying? They were proud of their Bible heritage, maybe so much so this Levite would not be seen stopping to help this poor beaten man by the roadside. What would my people think?

Jesus continues the story with the entrance of a “Good Samaritan.” A good Jewish person might think there is not any such thing as a “Good Samaritan.” The Samaritans were a mixture of of the Jews and Gentiles. Mixtures are usually called in the slang term “half breeds.” They married and had children outside of their faith and the offspring was considered polluted.

Thus, they were down upon. Of all people, this Good Sam guy had compassion when the two religious guys did not. He went up to the man who lay injured, bound up his wounds, and poured oil and wine on the wounds. Then he put the guy on his animal and brought hi m to a Holiday Inn where he could be cared for. This was a man of means. He had ability to make a difference in the life of another human, and he did. Sam was a man even we would want to find us in our time of need. He went so far as to pay his room and board and said whatever you spend taking care of him, I will repay you when I come back. He was not a fly by night angel. He was a real man who helped in a time of need. Probably Sam saved this guys life.

Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer, “Which man proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” Notice, the lawyer does not acknowledge the Samaritan, but he does say “ the one who showed him mercy.” Jesus then tells him to go and be like the Samaritan. This was what we would call today, a “mic drop” moment. Jesus closed the conversation with truth: Go and do this yourself!

Mary and Martha Luke 10:38- 43

English Standard Version (Chapter 10)

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Since this is a passage about two women we are going to skip over this since we are guys. Actually no, we are going to see what is here, because the story has been told over and over since so many people can identify with it. We are not going to be the insensitive priests or Levites. As we get up real close to the Mary and Martha’s, we can see that the “Martha’s” of the church age are everywhere. They are anxious and troubled about doing many things because they are trying to please someone. but perhaps, they have chosen the wrong thing. Though the busyness part is good, it can get overwhelming, if you do not take time out for your personal time with Jesus and sit at His feet.

Also, Don’t ever take for granted someones service to the Lord Jesus, because they may need a break today also. They may need to take a chill pill. Otherwise, the work of God can become lonely, worrisome, troubling, and maybe unsatisfying when time is not well spent with our Lord Jesus Christ. Martha felt all of the bad stuff and Mary did not seem to care about that. She was going to learn from the Master, her Lord. Mary’s and Martha’s are best served by choosing a good balance or portion between duty and devotions. Where do you need to choose for this dilemma?