The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " '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, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Many times we think one-way of this parable, that is, we must be like the Samaritan to others who are in need. We must have mercy to those who are suffering around us. Yes, this is so.
However, in our church we look at this story from a different angle.
The expert in the law asked Jesus about the Law and what he must do to inherit eternal life.
Jesus' answer was 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " , is this right?
Now the expert in the law asked a second question, "And who is my neighbour?"
and from Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, here is the man's answer
"The one who had mercy on him."
putting the two together ...
let's see the complete answer ...
"what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and
with all your strength and
with all your mind'
'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
"Do this and you will live."
"And who is my neighbor?"
"The one who had mercy on him."
love who , "neighbour", as yourself?
neighbour, The Samaritan ...
who then is the Samaritan?
He must be someone who is rich, willing and able to help the robbed and injured man.
In this case, not even the Priest (our pastors?), nor the Levites (our deacons and our church leaders?) would help (nor could they?), only the rich Samaritan (the Lord Jesus Himself).
now the question
'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
"Do this and you will live."
"And who is my neighbor?"
"The one who had mercy on him." His name is Jesus.
Love Jesus as yourself.
Do this and you will live.
The above is another side to the story of the Samaritan.
(The traditional story is "be a good Samaritan" as we have always been taught
and have always taught)
We love, because He first loved us.
so when we are down and out, remember we have a super good Samaritan
who is extremely rich, wonderfully able, exceptionally willing and powerfully strong
to help us in our times of need.
have we been robbed and beaten by the enemy lately?
and no one seems to be able to help?
or perhaps the Lord has indeed sent a Good Samaritan friend or relative
who attended to us, in our wounded state,
love this friend as ourselves, more than our pastors or church leaders
who might not be aware or
who might not have the time to attend to us at all
this friend / relative ... is the neighbour ... as the saying goes ...
a friend (in times of) need is a friend indeed.
Turn to our Good Samaritan Jesus, look He is walking towards you HERE right now.
I am feeling Jesus' presence now ... looking into my eyes ... saying to me "My child, I AM here,
your solution, your deliverence, your Saviour, your love"
reach out now and enjoy Him. Like I am doing now.
See Jesus as our solution, as our answer, to life's pressure and problems.
As He has said, troubles and problems will be in this world, but
be of good cheer, He has overcome the world. He is the solution.
Even the reason of our good cheer.
In Him we have also overcome the world as He has.
We have peace in Him, His personal shalom peace (health, wholeness, prosperity ...)
As we always tell ourselves, but we are not of this world ...
shalom
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
a) completeness (in number)
b) safety, soundness (in body)
c) welfare, health, prosperity
d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
e) peace, friendship
1) of human relationships
2) with God especially in covenant relationship
f) peace (from war)
g) peace (as adjective)
May the Lord bless us with His Shalom through this sharing of
His Rhema Word to us this morning.
