Doing Good in a World Gone Bad
Parables of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 8 viewsThis sermon is an exposition of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Notes
Transcript
19th century British Methodist preacher William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army, was greatly stirred by the needs of the poor of London. He realized that most churches were doing nothing to reach the “undesirables”—drunkards, morphine addicts, prostitutes, and the poor.
He set out to reach them with what he called the 3 S’s: soup, soap and salvation. Thousands were saved among those that most churches had no interest in reaching. Booth gave his life for the cause of reaching others.
In his 80s, Booth’s work began to be hindered by blindness. He briefly lost his sight and then recovered it, but later he lost his vision permanently. His son Bramwell came to bring him the bad news that he would never see again.
Booth replied, “God must know best, Bramwell. I have done what I could for God and the people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God and the people without my eyes.”
Booth had a sense of mission that is rare by today’s standards. He perceived a different sort of calling upon his life; a calling that went beyond his ability to see.
Christians should be known for the good we do for others. There is not a greater story to illustrate this mandate than what Jesus told in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
In it, we see several points to consider; some disappointing; some surprising. It is an invaluable lesson about compassion and service.
Jesus was often approached by antagonistic opposition.
Jesus was often approached by antagonistic opposition.
In Luke 10:25, Jesus is approached by a lawyer. This is one who was skilled in interpreting the law of Moses; one who knew his Old Testament theology and ethics. He comes to Jesus, with a desire to test him.
Ibin al Tayyib, who was an 11th century Eastern church theologian, argues that Jesus’ refusal to give a direct answer to the lawyer’s question indicates that He knows what the lawyer is trying to do. He speaks of inheriting eternal life, but we all know that that which is inherited cannot be purchased.
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.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
This man that approaches Jesus is not operating with pure motives. He’s wanting to catch Jesus in some type of lie or point of dispute. He also wants to justify himself, or prove himself worthy.
Jesus commissions the lawyer to consistently practice unqualified love for God and love for neighbor. But there is an apparent problem: not with God’s law, but with our ability to keep it.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
It is my understanding that hills surround Jerusalem. It is not easy terrain to traverse. And one took some risk in traveling through the hills in either leaving or approaching the city.
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.
You will notice from the story that those who were most familiar with the Old Testament were the very people that intentionally avoided the young man that was beaten and left to die. Priests were assisted by Levites, so the first two men may have known each other and worked together.
But then a Samaritan walked up on the man and helped him.
The Samaritans were those that lived in the north. The area was located between Galilee and Judea. The Samaritans were descendants of the people of the northern kingdom (the more wicked kingdom that was captured by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.). After their return from exile, those Jews that settled there intermarried with Gentiles. As a result, Samaritans were hated by the Jews.
Things were often tense between Jews and Samaritans. After clashes between the two groups, the Roman Emperor Claudius (mid first century) sent troops there to squelch the fighting and crucify several.
That's why the story of the Good Samaritan is so powerful. To Jews, a Good Samaritan was an oxymoron.
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.’
What does the Samaritan do?
He has compassion on the man (denotes a heart motivation)
He treats his wounds, spending of his own supplies.
He brings the wounded to an inn.
He pays for his stay, at least two days wages (generous again)The Samaritan is expected to unload the wounded man at the edge of Jericho and disappear. In contrast, he risked his own life for the Jewish man. He used his resources to treat his wounds and pay for his stay at the inn. One commentator notes: “Two denarii would have covered the bill for food and lodging for at least a week and perhaps two.”
In an American context around 1850, suppose a Native American found a cowboy with two arrows in his back, placed the cowboy on his horse and rode into Dodge City. The Indian would have undoubtedly been killed, if he made it to the next morning.
Kenneth Bailey notes:
The Samaritan extends a costly demonstration of unexpected love to the wounded man, and in the process Jesus interprets the life changing power of costly love that would climax at the cross.” (Bailey, 296).
This passage is interesting. One of the more popular passages in the New Testament. “The Good Samaritan” has become a title synonomous with good deeds, altruism and doing good to others. Jesus asks a powerful question to the lawyer in Luke 10:36-37
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.”
Questions to consider:
How often are we quick to protect the club, choosing who’s in and who’s out?
When is the last time you gave of your resources without expecting anything in return?
Why is it that convenience wins over generosity?
Here’s a quick summary of the parable by Kenneth Baliey:
Eternal life is a gracious gift. This is a standard that the lawyer cannot meet. The gospel is summed up in God, reaching out to man and doing everything necessary to restore our relationship with the Father. Only those who see their need for Him, take advantage of such a gracious offer.
Your neighbor is anyone in need, regardless of language, religion or ethnicity. Let us not be so parochial as to ignore those different than we are, who are in great need. Live your Christian life as if you are a light in a dark place. Your willingness to bring healing is what is needed in this world.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Compassion reaches beyond the requirements of any law. Nothing speaks of Christlikeness greater than simply being compassionate. God was compassionate. We need more Good Samaritans in the world today. Christians should be known for such actions. We are admonished by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:10:
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
You must check your religious and racial attitudes towards your community. There are lines drawn every day. Being kind is not synonomous with agreeing with another person.
Christology: in the parable, Jesus is the ultimate good Samaritan.
The good Samaritan offers a costly demonstration of unexpected love.
J. Ellsworth Kalas sums up the parable pretty well:
“It’s easy to see the point of Jesus’ story. I’m sure the lawyer saw it and was pained by it. Jesus wants us to realize the responsibility we have to our fellow human beings, and he wants us to understand that we are neighbors to the whole human race.
It doesn’t matter whether we know the other person, or whether his race or style of life is like our own; it doesn’t even matter whether the person appeals to us or repulses us. Because someone is human and inhabits this planet with us, he or she is our neighbor. That’s the point of the story.” (Ellsworth, Parables from the Back Side, 13).
I want to conclude our time this morning with a five minute video that shows a handful of good Samaritans, to an elderly couple none of them knew.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HFXBZbATU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
