Sunday, August 11, 2024 AM
TEACHINGS OF JESUS: The Good Samaritan
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
25 On 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?” 27 He 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.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii 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?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” —Luke 10:25-37
THE
OF THE PARABLE
25 On 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?” 27 He 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.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” —Luke 10:25-29
1. POINT AND PURPOSE
–Jesus’ intent was to always get those listening to the conversation to think for themselves.
–Most of the religious leaders of that day were told what to think not how to think (Synagogue).
–You see every parable had a point and a purpose.
–Jesus was saying to the man, “Now I know you understand how to get eternal life because you answered the question correctly and I know you understand what I’ve just said to you through this parable but here comes the hard part, go and do it!”
2. LOVE
PEOPLE
–Jesus was about to help the lawyer understand we are to love all people and have mercy toward all people.
–Not just the priest, not just the Levites but all people – even those Samaritan people that you can’t stand to be around.
–It’s amazing how we want to choose who we will be nice to and who we will not. Even when we don’t understand why our dislike exists.
THE
SAMARITANS
–Notice the man’s response in verse 30. “The one who had mercy on him.” he never mentioned the word “Samaritan.”
–We don’t understand how much the Jews hated the Samaritans.
1.
WERE THE SAMARITANS?
–In the beginning Samaria was a part of the Northern Kingdom, and they were known for their pagan worship.
–As a result, they began to intermarry and were now no longer purely Jewish.
–When it came time to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and the temple the Samaritans opposed the Jews.
–They became a despised group of people – even more despised than gentiles.
–So, when Jesus used the Samaritans, it hit home.
WHAT DID THE PARABLE
?
1. WHAT IT MEANT TO THOSE WHO WERE
–Sometimes when studying parables, we want to make every little detail mean something.
–The people of that day would not have to ask who was the man who was robbed? Who were the robbers?
–Those listening would have known the situation.
2. WHAT DID IT MEAN TO THE
?
–The lawyer forgot the application of the law because of the traditions he had been taught.
–Mercy to a Samaritan was the last thing in that Jewish man’s mind.
–It’s about loving your neighbor as you love the Lord and yourself.
WHAT THE PARABLE MEANS TO
–Now that we understand what the parable meant to those who were listening that day, we can continue to see what it means for us.
–What Jesus did with the parable was to get him to look at himself so he could see his own sinfulness and just how far from the law he really was.
1.
OUR OWN SIN
–When it comes to justifying our own sin, we have all become experts.
–This is because we all have different standards about how we apply God’s Word to our lives.
2. THE
OF SIN
–Sin is not just about doing things we shouldn’t like gossiping and drunkenness.
–Sin is also about doing the things we should be doing.
–We should be treating everyone with mercy and grace.
–The ground is level around the foot of the cross.
3.
WHAT JESUS SAID
–The only difference was that the Samaritan stopped to help.
–We can stop and help – we can stop and share the gospel of Jesus because wherever you are going can wait.
–You see the parable of Christ separates those who want to know the truth and those who didn’t.
LIVE IT OUT
Who have you been carrying a grudge against that today needs to be forgiven?
Who is that person you just cannot stand to be around. Ask God to help you see them in a different light.
What sins have you been justifying you need to surrender?
Why have you put off asking Jesus to be your Savior?