The Parable of the Good Samaritan
May 27, 2020
Commentary
A certain lawyer, who was an expert in the law, asked Jesus “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (v. 25). It was a good question asked with a bad motive, because the lawyer wanted to trap our Lord. Jesus, as He often did, simply answered him by asking another question; “What is written in the law?” (v. 26). The lawyer gave the right answer but he refused to apply it to himself (vv. 27-29).
Jesus then told this man a story which may have been a true story or it could have been a parable (vv. 30-37). He told how a certain man (probably a Jew) went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. It was a dangerous road to travel, for robbers hid along its steep and winding way. This man was attacked, beaten, robbed, and stripped of his clothes. Two Jews, a priest, and a Levite passed by, doing nothing to help this poor man. Then a Samaritan came along, who was hated by the Jews. He risked his own life and spent his own money to help this robbed and beaten victim.
This story reveals three types of people:
The thief who said – “What’s yours is mine, I’ll take it.”The priest and Levite who said – “What is mine is mine and I’ll keep it.”The Samaritan who said – “What is mine is yours and I’ll share it."
Application
Lack of love is often easy to justify. I need to have a heart of love for anyone in need that the Lord brings to my attention, and do something to help them physically and spiritually if I can. I need to introduce them to the love of Christ, who is the only one who can give them eternal life.
Luke 10:25– 37 (NET)
25 Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” 27 The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But the expert, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side. 32 So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. 34 He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring olive oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.’ 36 Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
Illustration: Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of England
During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancee had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell’s heart was touched and he said, “Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice.!” (Our Daily Bread).