“House Rules”

When I was growing up, I loved to play games. Except, I preferred to play games at my house, because I could have what I call “HOUSE RULES”.

I would love to watch my older siblings when they would have company over. Whenever they would play a game that everyone would know, there would always come up.

That’s not how we play that game in our house.

Some of you might be judging me right now, but you still have house rules: Uno, Monopoly, Bones (Dominoes).

Not only would you have house rules for games. Your parents would say, your friends Parents might let your friends do that over their house, but don’t you try that in my house. We have rules in this house.

But, the rules seemed to change depending on who the guest is.

The Purpose of House rules for a family was to maintain the order you expect as a parent.

But, House rules for games were to gain advantage over others.

House rules also are made to make others work harder than the rule maker.

Our text identifies Three different representatives who represent a different house and each know the rules for obtaining eternal life.

You have the Expert in the Law (Scribes)

Priest (Job was to be holy and present sacrifices)

Levite (took care of the temple)

Expert in the Law asks Jesus, testing his knowledge, Can you go over the rules again?

Rules for Eternal Life

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, mind, strength

Love your neighbor as yourself

But, the Lawyer seeking to JUSTIFY himself, asks “Who is my Neighbor”

Priest - Descendant of Aaron - prepared sacrifices and maintained the care of the temple including tasks that only the priests could do.

Could not have contact with the dead

Possible Excuse 1,

Defilement - They left him for dead. So, I probably shouldn’t touch him so I don’t violate my house rules

Excuse 2

Fear - It might be a set up, other robbers might hurt me if I attempt to help this victim of robbery

While I attempted to interject some possible excuses for the Priest

Duties

20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.

21 “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. 

22 From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.

23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 

24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

Being a Priest was no excuse for helping a fellow human being who needed rescue

Luke does not provide an excuse

The Truth is It doesn’t matter What the Priests’ excuses were

Nevertheless, The Mention of being a priest insinuates there was something about His Group Rules as a Priest that prevented him from helping his neighbor

Don’t allow your holy position keep you from helping your neighbor

Levite was Group 2

Descendant of Levi

Assists the priests in temple duties

But, they couldn’t perform the sacrifices

Duties Include

They also took care of the courtyards and side rooms, helped perform the ceremonies of purification, and served in many other ways in the house of God. 

29

They were in charge of the sacred bread that was set out on the table, the choice flour for the grain offerings, the wafers made without yeast, the cakes cooked in olive oil, and the other mixed breads. They were also responsible to check all the weights and measures. 

30

And each morning and evening they stood before the 

Lord

 to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. 

31

They assisted with the burnt offerings that were presented to the 

Samaritan

Samaria was headquarter to the northern 10 tribes of Israel

Lord

 on Sabbath days, at new moon celebrations, and at all the appointed festivals. The required number of Levites served in the 

Lord

’s presence at all times, following all the procedures they had been given.

I don’t know anyone who likes to be wrong.

There’s something inside of us that