Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

Introduction:     This great parable was told in response to a proud Jew who felt like he was better than non Jews and better than most Jews.  Pride was a serious problem among the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.  Unfortunately, it is still a problem today.  We are going to look at the four questions in this text to see the man’s pride and how Jesus deals with it.

I. What must I do to inherit eternal life?    vs. 25

         A. He thought he already had eternal life

         B. He wasn’t interested in information, but in affirmation of his goodness

         C. Some people search the Scriptures, not to learn what God wants them to            do, but to confirm their own opinions (Pride)

II. What is written in the law?    vs. 26

         A. Jesus went to Scripture for answers to eternal life  

         B. Jesus asked a question to answer the question

                 1. He knew this lawyer should know the answer

                 2. He let the lawyer quote Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18

                 3. Sometimes talking with someone about Scripture makes the truth                                    dawn on you; such was not the case with this lawyer

         C. To inherit eternal life Jesus is saying all you need to do is respond to                          God correctly and treat people well.  vs. 28  (That’s humility)

III. Who is my neighbor?   vs. 29

         A. The purpose of this question was to justify himself

                 1. He wasn’t interested in loving God or his neighbor, he just wanted to                                 look good

                 2. He wanted to exclude some people from “neighbor” so he wouldn’t                            have to treat them fairly

                 3. The parable given in reply is most remarkable. We might have

                     expected a parable telling how a Jew should show love to anybody,                                 even to a Samaritan, but in fact Jesus shows how even a Samaritan                                may be nearer to the kingdom than a pious, but uncharitable, Jew.                                     For, although the lawyer asked, `Who is my neighbour (i.e. the                                                person whom I should help)?' Jesus suggests that the real question is                            rather `Do I behave as a neighbour (i.e. a person who helps others)?'                             Jesus does not supply information as to whom one should help;                                                failure to keep the commandment springs not from lack of                                                            information but from lack of love. It was not fresh knowledge that the                     lawyer needed, but a new heart.           New Bible Commentary

         B. Review the parable

         C. Are we a helping church?

         D. Are we selective about who we help?

         E. Is pride a problem with us?

IV. Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?   vs. 36

         A. The man who helped (the Samaritan) was the hero of Jesus’ story.

         B. He is the neighbor that we should imitate

         C. Jesus told the story in such a way as to not exclude anyone

         D. We all are around people who need help; will we be a neighbor to them?

         E. One way to overcome our pride is to serve others

                 1. Matthew 20:26-28

                 2. I Peter 4:10-11

Conclusion:  This lawyer asked two questions of Jesus both of which were to make himself look good.  Jesus, always in control of every situation, turned things around with two more questions.  Now the challenge is:  Will we be like the Good Samaritan?  Will we help people with their needs?

Wichita, KS.  Central.  October 17, 1999.  PM.

Canal #2.  W.B.D.  Guyana.  March 17, 2002.  AM.  

Plaisance Church. WCD.  Guyana.  September 1, 2002.  AM.