THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10:25-37

Introduction:     One of the most famous of all of Jesus’ parables. Narrated only by Luke, as are several other beautiful parables (Prodigal Son, Rich Man and Lazarus).

1.         Wherever the influence of the Bible is felt, the parable of the Good Samaritan is known. Illustrate: Chinese man and New York taxi driver.

2.         “Good Samaritan Law” in many states requires motorists to stop and give aid to victims of an accident.

I.               The Setting (vv. 25-29)

A.        The Lawyer

1.         He was one who was skilled in the Law of Moses. Three functions:

a.         To study and interpret the Law.

b.         To instruct the Hebrew youth in the Law.

c.         To decide questions of the Law.

2.         His motive was to “tempt” Jesus.

a.         It could be that he was a “tricky” lawyer, and wanted to find a means of trapping Jesus in his words.

b.         It could be, on the other hand, that he wanted simply to “put him to the test,” to see if Jesus measured up to the reputation he had acquired.

B.        The Question.

1.         “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

2.         Compare similar questions addressed to Jesus:

a.         Mt. l9:l6 ff; paralleled in Luke 18:l8 ff.

b.         Mt. 22:34 ff.; Mk. 12:28-34 - “Which is the greatest commandment of the law?”

3.         Jesus turned the question back to the Lawyer, and had him answer from the Law itself.

4.         The answer given by this man shows that he had attained some degree of spiritual discernment.

a.         This is the same answer given by Jesus himself on other occasions (Mt. 22:37-40; Mk. 12:29-31). In Mark 12, when the scribe concurred with his answer, the Lord said, “Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God.”

b.         The quotations from the Law are from Deut. 6:3-5, known as the shema; from Deut. 11:13; and from Lev. 19:18.

5.         Jesus says, “Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.”

C.        The Second Question

1.         Sprang from the motive of “self-justification.”

2.         “Who is my neighbor?” is a question which, we can easily surmise, was a source of debate among the lawyers.

3.         The general rule was, “Any one of my nation - i.e., a fellow-Jew- is my neighbor.”

4.         Jesus took advantage of this question to teach a lesson that would leave a lasting impression.

II.             The Parable

A.        True in its minutest details.

1.         “…down from Jerusalem to Jericho” - a steep descent. In a distance of about 17 miles, there was drop of 3300 feet.

2.         The “Jericho road” was notorious for its “robbers,” so much so that it was often called “The Way of Blood.” The rocks and caves provided natural hiding-places for such robbers.

3.         The mention of a priest and a Levite was also natural, for at Jericho there were dwelling about 12,000 priests. They would travel to Jerusalem for their appointed duty, and then go back home.

4.         The oil and wine used by the Samaritan, we are told, were often carried on journeys. The wine would cleanse the wound, being used as an antiseptic; the oil would soothe the pain and help heal the cuts.

B.         The Narrative

1.         The victim is understood to be a Jewish man.

2.         The priest -one who ministered at the altar, and stood in the position of mediating for the people - did not risk ceremonial uncleanness, but rather “passed by on the other side.”

3.         The Levite - an assistant to the priest, who helped in various ways, — “came and looked on him” (denoting a more extended action than the priest); but he likewise passed by on the other side.

a.         This is the only time in all of Jesus’ teaching that the priests and Levites are mentioned. His severe denunciations are reserved for the Scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees.

b.         These men may have been fearful of being attacked, and the sight of this poor victim only heightened their fear.

c.         They may have been afraid to help, for fear of being mistaken as one of the robbers, and falsely accused.

d.         Most likely there were many excuses that entered their minds!

4.         The Samaritan

a.         “The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (Jn. 4:9).

b.         This man of a “half-breed race,” who advocated a perverted Jewish religion, is made the hero of the parable.

C.        He did all he could do at the scene (vv. 33,34).

d.         He then “put him on his own beast.”

e.         He stayed all night with him.

f.          He left money to pay for additional care. (Enough to pay for up to two months’ lodging.

g.         He gives his word that, if extra money is needed, “I will repay thee” (carte blanche). Great generosity.

h.         We ask, “What more could this man have done?”

C.        Jesus’ Closing Question

1.         “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?”

a.         The lesson being illustrated, application is now needed.

b.         The lawyer, who began by asking the question, is forced every time to answer himself.

c.         No wonder Jesus is known as “The Master Teacher.”

2.         The lawyer’s reply:

a.         “He that showed mercy on him.”

b.         The hated word “Samaritan” he would not use!

c.         But even this bit of stubbornness “played into our Lord’s hand”

3.         “Go; and do thou likewise!”

III.            Application For Us

A.        We must be a caring people.

1.         “If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Mt. 5:46,47).

2.         “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially they of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).

3.         “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28).

4.         “But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (I Jn. 3:17,18).

Conclusion:        “Who is my neighbor?” Any fellow man! Who should I love as myself? All with whom I come in contact. Is this not just another way of illustrating the “Golden Rule”: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”