What the Samaritan Teaches Us

Introduction

1-2: Series Introduction

3-7: Christ Before Bethlehem - pt.1-6 (The Pre-Incarnate Christ)

9-10: The Incarnate Christ - pt.1-2 (The Birth of Christ)

11. Learning from a 12 Year Old

12. The Jesus We Know Not (Years of Silence)

13. The Baptism of Christ

14. Having Victory Over Temptation (The Temptation of Christ)

15. The Call to Follow (Calling the First Apostles)

The TEACHINGS OF CHRIST - The Sermon on the Mount

16. A Disciples Progression (The Beatitudes)

I. Their Inward Conflict (v3-6); II. Their Outward Charity (v7-9): III. The Inevitable Cost (v10-12)

17. The Salt of the Earth (Mat. 5:13)

I. The Preamble (Mat. 5:1-12); II. Purposes for Salt; III. Pictures of Salt: IV. The Production of Salt; V. A Precaution Given

18. The Light of the World (Mat. 5:14-16):

I. The Facts of Light; II. The Function of Light; III. The Focus of the Light (v15-16)

19. The Correct View of the Law by Christ (Mat. 5:17-48)

I. The Satisfaction of the Law: II. The Strengthening of the Law: III. A Summary of Christ’s Teachings on the Law: Christ Has Satisfied the Law for Us; We are Subject to a Higher Standard; We should Live More Righteous, not Less

20. Standards to Pursue - pt.1 (Mat. 6:1-18)

I. Secretive Philanthropy (v1-4); II. A Sincere and Submissive Prayer Life (v5-15) III. Subdue the Flesh (v16-18)

21. Standards to Pursue - pt.2 (Mat. 6:19-34)

I. Seek Heavenly Treasures (v19-24); II. Submit Yourselves to God (v25-34)

22. Kingdom Mindedness - (Mat. 7:1-12)

I. Sound Judgments; II. Seeking God’s Guidance; III. A “Self” Centered Attitude

23. The Conclusion - (Mat. 7:13-29)

I. Behold the Choice (v13-14); II. Beware of False Guides (v15-20); III. Beware of False Assurance (v21-23); IV. Be Mindful of your Foundation (v24-27)

The PARABLES of Christ

24: The Sower, the Seed and the Soil

I. The Sower: Casts Faithfully; Casts Indiscriminately; Casts Expectantly; Casts Because Duty Demands It

II. The Seed: It is Good Seed; It is the Same Seed; It is Plentiful Seed; It Holds Limitless Possibilities

III. The Soil: It Varied Greatly; It Determined the Production

25: Recovering the Lost

The Meaning of Being Lost: Lost Defined; Lost Described

I. The Manner of Becoming Lost: Through Wandering; Through Wanton Neglect; Through Willful Disobedience

II. The Method of Recovery: The Shepherd Seeks; The Owner Sweeps; The Father Waits, the Son Repents

III. Morals to Remember: There was Joy in the Recovery of All; The Prompt of the Parables; A Point to Consider

Introduction

Today we're going to examine what is known as the parable of the Good Samaritan.

This is a story that has inspired millions over the years.

It's a story that has inspired charitable businesses.

It is a story that has been the basis for laws in Western civilization.

And I pray it is a story that will bless us and give us understanding about our responsibilities today.

Church, that's the thing we here in America always speak about: our rights. We're concerned about our rights but know this: with rights come responsibilities.

Before we begin into the parable itself, we need to look at number one, the preamble.

I. The Preamble

Right Question, Wrong Reason (v25)

The Bible calls him a certain lawyer. The reference to his occupation has a different understanding than you and I have today.

When we see the word "lawyer" we think of someone who argues law and cases before a judge.

This man was a lawyer in the sense that he was an expert in the Mosaic Law.

What we see is that he asks Christ a question.

In church I want to be clear: there's nothing wrong with asking questions. Many have questions.

And he was right in where he went to find the answer to that question.

You and I, when we have questions, we should go to the Word of God to find the answers.

You may come to your pastor, your parents, your friends & neighbors - but ultimately, the answer must come from the Word of God - and if it doesn’t, then don’t take that for an answer!

But the problem was, he wasn’t asking for the right reasons. (“…tempting Him…”)

(Ill.) I've spoken with many people over the years and there are some that will ask me questions as to why I believe what I believe. But instead of asking for the reason of knowledge or understanding, they ask so as to try to attack the answer to defend what they believe instead.

When I say there's nothing wrong with asking questions, what I mean is as long as you are asking them for the right reasons.

It was the right question with the wrong reason.

Interpretation Matters (v26)

Notice how Jesus asks him, "How readest thou?" In other words people can read the same thing and come up with different ideas as to what it means.

This lawyer ultimately would give him the right answer, as Jesus said, but he was misconstruing the meaning of the passage. This is why Jesus gives the parable in the first place.

Now understand this: Jesus was not promoting a works-based salvation but rather when one's heart is right with God, loving God and loving your neighbor will be the fruit thereof, as once again he explains in the parable.

I say that to say this: it's not enough to simply know what something says but it's equally important to know what it means.

There's a reason why we have different denominations today and we have such different views throughout what is known as Christianity on various topics. GUESS WHAT - NOT ALL OF THEM ARE RIGHT! (Ill.) We believe that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law - Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” However, there’s many other churches / denominations that teach otherwise. Who is right?

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Interpretation matters - you’d better make sure you’re right!

How Are You Justified? (v29)

Notice he was wanting to justify himself. This goes back to the point which I was making of not wanting to know the truth but wanting to solidify their own belief set.

I want to take this opportunity and say that there are two types of people in the world - those who attempt to justify themselves, and those whom God justifies.

Atheists justify themselves by saying there is no God.

Muslims, Buddhists justify themselves by the work of their hands.

Many Christian denominations justify themselves just like the Pharisees by trusting in their works and keeping the law.

Those of us who have been born again are justified by the faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins.

What are you justified by today?

II. The Parable

Today as we look in this parable, there were various different things that I wanted to point out but could not settle on a standard layout. Therefore I have in this parable given you three different applications.

A Principled Application

This is simply a principle that we all can learn from this parable.

There’s a Cost Associated with Our Decisions

When we look at the Samaritan we see that he goes through a lot of cost and trouble to take care of this victim.

He Sacrificed:

Time: “He went to him”

He stopped - which was more than the others did.

All too often we go through life paying attention only to ourselves, our wants and wishes. We're unwilling to sacrifice time for the benefit of others.

Effort: “Bound up his wounds”

This was not a pleasant chore. (This is one thing that I lack tolerance to do).

Comfort: “set him on his own beast”

What this meant, was that he walked. He didn’t make up a stretcher & such, he walked so that the victim could ride.

Money: “two pence”

Two pence represented 2 days wages. That’s a lot of money, plus the promise to pay more if required.

By the way you slice it, it was a sizable cost to the Samaritan to do good.

But church, one thing we must understand is there's also a cost associated with the decisions of the priest and the Levite.

Let's consider for a moment what those costs might have been.

Reputation:

To both he and his God

Societal Expectations:

They could have been a good influence in a bad world and raised the standard for society around him.

Lost opportunity:

To become better men & good stewards of what God had given them.

This good Samaritans sacrifice has sparked worldwide charity for 2,000 years!

Church, there’s always a cost for our decisions - the question is, what is the cost we’re willing to pay?

We have a Principled Application

A Personal Application

Next I want to look at a few ways this parable reflects upon us personally, individually.

Religious ≠ Righteous

When we examine both the priest and the Levite, it's in order. We need to understand the function that they performed.

The priests were descendants of Aaron. They were in charge of the temple. They were, in essence, the highest authority in the religion.

The Levites were workers as well but next in line, if you will.

In today's lingo you would call them the pastors and the associate pastors.

These were the religious bunch and many people equate religion with righteousness but church, let me just say, that simply is not the case.

The Pharisees & Saducees were religious

Jezebel was religious

Jim Jones & David Koresh were religious

Marshall Applewhite (Heaven’s gate)

Warren Jeffs

Charles Manson was religious

Just because someone is religious does not make them righteous.

Now let's bring it down to you and me.

You can go to church every time the doors open.

You can tithe and do good works - all in the name of Jesus.

But just because you're religious, it doesn't make you righteous. The only way for one to become righteous is through the salvation found in Jesus Christ.

Religious does not equate to righteous.

Our Actions Reveal Our Nature

This is what would be known as the fruit test.

The priest & the levite were religious

The Samaritan was good because his works proved him so.

Jesus said: Matthew 7:16–20 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

What we do when no one is watching is a good indicator of who we are. The Samaritan didn’t help because one was watching, but because of who he was.

Our Actions Reveal our Nature. So what does your actions when no one is watching, say about you?

A Pictured Application

Lastly I wanted to give you a pictured application. Through picturing the story like this we can see things spiritually a little more clearly.

The Victim = Me

The victim of the story is me. (Use that word - for it’s truly each one of us).

We are the ones destitute, wounded and half-dead.

We are half dead for we are two-fold beings. We are a physical and a spiritual being. And in our natural state we may be physically alive but spiritually dead if we are without Christ.

The victim is me.

The Priest & Levite = The Law & Sacrifice

The priests, as mentioned, were the ones that had charge of the interpretation and application of the law. The Levites were the ones that were offering the sacrifices there at the temple.

So in these we see the law and our works.

Most importantly is what these represent and what they can do.

The laws and sacrifices can identify the problem but cannot help.

They Identify the Problem, but Cannot Help

Read Gal. 3:21-24.

The law guides us to the truth that we are sinners. But the law itself cannot save. (v21)

And so they looked at the situation, yet passed by.

Romans 3:19–20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

But then we see this: Romans 5:20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

They identify the problem, but cannot help. But there came along one that could!

The Samaritan = Jesus

He was a Hated Outsider

The Samaritans were hated by the Jews. They were “half-breed’s” essentially. They were mixed Jewish & Assyrian lineage.

Jesus had a distinct split in His personage - He was both man and God.

John 1:11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

Isaiah 53:3 “He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Mark 6:3–4 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”

John 7:5 “For neither did his brethren believe in him.”

Jesus was the hated outsider

His Compassion Causes Action

Jesus didn’t save us because we’re some prize. He saved us because He had compassion upon us!

We see Jesus’ compassion multiple times in Scripture:

Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”

The victim in this story had nothing to give the Samaritan. The Samaritan had nothing to gain by blessing, sacrificing, and taking care of him but he did so because of his compassion towards him.

His compassion causes action.

He Sacrifices to Heal the Hurting

We spoke of how this Samaritan was willing to sacrifice for this victim. Jesus sacrificed:

His Deity for humanity

A throne for a manger

The praise of angels for the scorning of men

Comfort for anguish

Peace for Pain

Being full for suffering thirst

A Crown of Righteousness for a Crown of Thorns

Fellowship with the Father for Rejection

The Company of the Father and the Spirit for the company of two thieves.

He Sacrificed His own life’s blood to be spilt upon the ground that He Created.

Read: Ps. 22:6-8; 12-18.

Great was the Sacrifice of Christ - but it’s through that Sacrifice that we are saved!

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:11 “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.”

His Sacrifices Heals the Hurting

He’s Gone Away, but is Coming Back

Lastly we see an illusion here given the fact that the Samaritan was going away but he said he was coming back.

Church, Jesus ascended into Heaven 40 days after His crucifixion - but know this - HE’S COMING BACK!

Acts 1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Church, know this - it could be today! There’s nothing preventing His return! It could be any moment!

Are you ready?

Conclusion