The Good Samaritan
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10: 25, Key Bible, KJV)
The lawyer, a scholar well versed in Scripture asked a common question; either take issue with Jesus or simply to see what kind of teacher he was. The lawyer may also was attempting to discredit Jesus before his audience. Often there are instances when those make claims of knowing more about the word of God than the next person they attempt to discredit them to make themselves look good. Tempted is putting Jesus to the test.
He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? (Luke 10: 26)
Notice Jesus challenges his expertise in scripture by responding with a two part question.
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. (Luke 10: 27)
Whether a fourfold love (heart, soul, strength and mind as here and in Mk 12:30) or threefold (Dt 6: 5; Mt. 22:33) the significance is that total devotion is demanded.
And he said unto him, Thou has answered right; this do and thou shalt live. (Luke 10: 28)
Jesus tells the lawyer that he has answered right now go and do that which one can inherit eternal life, but.....
But willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10: 29)
To justify himself. The answer to his first question was obviously one he knew, so to gain credibility he asked for interpretation. In effect he said, "But the real questions is: Who is my neighbor?"
Would the lawyer been better of by not asking Jesus anything? can you see a motive for him asking Jesus a question in the first place, especially one he already knew the answer to. How often do Christians question God knowing the answer already. Is it doubt or re-assurance, or foolish pride? This would leave a person in the same position as the lawyer; trying to justify oneself.
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10: 30)
Jerusalem to Jericho (a priestly city) a distance of 17 miles and a descent from about 2,500 feet above sea level to about 800 feet below sea level. The road ran through rocky, desert country, which provided places for robbers to waylay defenseless travelers. Sound like many of our cities of today.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10: 31)
And like wise a Levite when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. (Luke 10: 32)
But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. (Luke 10: 33)
Priest..Levite..Samaritan. It is significant that the person Jesus commend was neither the religious leader nor the lay associate, but a hated foreigner. Jews view Samaritans as half-breeds, both physically (Mt. 10: 5) and spiritually (Jn 4: 20, 22). Samaritans and Jews practiced opened hostility but Jesus asserted that love knows no national boundaries.
Samaria was a land where the ten tribes abode. "In our Lord's time, the name Samaritans was applied to a peculiar people whose origin was in this wise: At the final captivity of Israel by Shalmaneser, we may conclude that the cities of Samaria were not merely partially but wholly depopulated of their inhabitants in B.C. 721, and that they remained in this desolated state until, in the words of 2 Kings 17:24, the King of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthad, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the the cities thereof." (Smith's Bible Dictionary, 2006, pg 583)
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34)
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10: 35)
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? Luke 10: 36)
And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. (Luke 10: 37)
Which was a neighbor to the man? The question now became: Who proves he is the good neighbor by his actions?
The lawyer, a scholar well versed in Scripture asked a common question; either take issue with Jesus or simply to see what kind of teacher he was. The lawyer may also was attempting to discredit Jesus before his audience. Often there are instances when those make claims of knowing more about the word of God than the next person they attempt to discredit them to make themselves look good. Tempted is putting Jesus to the test.
He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? (Luke 10: 26)
Notice Jesus challenges his expertise in scripture by responding with a two part question.
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. (Luke 10: 27)
Whether a fourfold love (heart, soul, strength and mind as here and in Mk 12:30) or threefold (Dt 6: 5; Mt. 22:33) the significance is that total devotion is demanded.
And he said unto him, Thou has answered right; this do and thou shalt live. (Luke 10: 28)
Jesus tells the lawyer that he has answered right now go and do that which one can inherit eternal life, but.....
But willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10: 29)
To justify himself. The answer to his first question was obviously one he knew, so to gain credibility he asked for interpretation. In effect he said, "But the real questions is: Who is my neighbor?"
Would the lawyer been better of by not asking Jesus anything? can you see a motive for him asking Jesus a question in the first place, especially one he already knew the answer to. How often do Christians question God knowing the answer already. Is it doubt or re-assurance, or foolish pride? This would leave a person in the same position as the lawyer; trying to justify oneself.
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10: 30)
Jerusalem to Jericho (a priestly city) a distance of 17 miles and a descent from about 2,500 feet above sea level to about 800 feet below sea level. The road ran through rocky, desert country, which provided places for robbers to waylay defenseless travelers. Sound like many of our cities of today.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10: 31)
And like wise a Levite when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. (Luke 10: 32)
But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. (Luke 10: 33)
Priest..Levite..Samaritan. It is significant that the person Jesus commend was neither the religious leader nor the lay associate, but a hated foreigner. Jews view Samaritans as half-breeds, both physically (Mt. 10: 5) and spiritually (Jn 4: 20, 22). Samaritans and Jews practiced opened hostility but Jesus asserted that love knows no national boundaries.
Samaria was a land where the ten tribes abode. "In our Lord's time, the name Samaritans was applied to a peculiar people whose origin was in this wise: At the final captivity of Israel by Shalmaneser, we may conclude that the cities of Samaria were not merely partially but wholly depopulated of their inhabitants in B.C. 721, and that they remained in this desolated state until, in the words of 2 Kings 17:24, the King of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthad, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the the cities thereof." (Smith's Bible Dictionary, 2006, pg 583)
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34)
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10: 35)
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? Luke 10: 36)
And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. (Luke 10: 37)
Which was a neighbor to the man? The question now became: Who proves he is the good neighbor by his actions?
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