#13 Top 40 New Testament Passages: Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37)
Another famous and beloved parable of Jesus is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He tells the story on the occasion when an expert in Jewish religious law asks what must be done to inherit eternal life. Strangely it's the first mention of eternal life in the gospel. Later in Luke's gospel Jesus will promise eternal dwellings and manifold riches to those who faithfully serve Christ's kingdom. (Luke 16:9; 18:30) But it makes me wonder why the lawyer asks the question. The exact same question is asked again by a wealthy ruler, a man of great influence among the Pharisees. (Luke 18:18) Bear in mind that not all Jews believed in an afterlife or bodily resurrection. The Pharisees did.
The lawyer asks the question about inheriting eternal life to test Jesus. It was a ploy to see if Jesus might discredit himself before the crowds, for the Pharisees were convinced Jesus was a charlatan and not the messiah. Was this question designed to expose Jesus as having ideas about the afterlife that were different from his own? Jesus tells the lawyer to keep the law, which is what the Pharisees were all about. They kept the law with strict observance. They wrote more laws to cover any loopholes that had not been specifically addressed by Moses. The lawyer quoted a law above all laws, the love of God and neighbor. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18) If one loves God, they will happily keep God's commandments. (John 14:15) And love of neighbor will lead us to fulfill every law. (Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:`14) The love of God and neighbor is called the Great Commandment. I'll write more on that topic later.
Jesus complimented the lawyer on his view of the Law of Moses. In other words Jesus and he were in agreement. Love of God and love of neighbor is the heart of the law. Jesus tells the lawyer, do this and you will live. Life is the promise of law obedience, a blessed life under the protection and providence of God. But the lawyer wanting to justify himself asked, "Who is my neighbor?" In other words, "Who am I specifically supposed to love, and consequently who can I ignore?"
A hint for the interpreter is the word justify. The lawyer wanted to justify himself! The Greek word is dikaioō, meaning to be seen as righteous, upright, in good standing, blameless or correct. Apparently Jesus' compliment was not enough. Later Jesus will tell the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This parable illustrates the kind of heart that is justified before God.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
In Evangelical circles, only through faith in Christ's sacrifice on the cross can one ever be justified before God. A penitent heart is required. Luke illustrates this very idea by reprising the beating of the breast (or chest) at the scene of the cross. (Luke 23:48) But what I find most interesting in this exchange between the religious lawyer and Jesus is that Jesus never once says that the lawyer must believe in him or follow him in order to inherit eternal life.
It almost flies in the face of the doctrine that there is only one way into heaven. Perhaps there is the Jewish way through covenant law obedience, and the Gentile way through faith in the gospel. Some commentators even suggest that the Apostle Paul is not recommending faith in Christ, but rather the faith of Christ. It is Christ's redemptive action alone that makes one right in God's eyes. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the once for all atoning sacrifice for all sin for all time. Classically we understand, it is by sharing in the sacrifice, through faith in the message of God's love and mercy shown us in Christ, that we can be made holy and right before God. But some are saying even trust in the message of the gospel is not required. All are saved because God so chooses to save.
Even the Apostle Paul believes God did not make His covenant with the Jews null and void when He offered the new covenant through Christ. While Paul speaks about the law reaching its end or conclusion, superseded by the new covenant in Christ, he still maintains that God's promises to Israel remain in effect. God will keep His irrevocable promises to the descendants of Abraham. (Romans 11:28-32)
And so I must ask, can I inherit eternal life if I love God with my whole self, mind, body and soul, and love my neighbor as I love myself? Of course, I don't love perfectly. I'm too afraid of losing, of someone getting the better of me. I'm afraid I may not get out of life everything I hope for. And so I seek comfort in things rather than God. I seek happiness in things, experiences, people and places, rather than seek God for true fulfillment. I am like the lawyer, seeking to justify myself by surrounding myself with things and people and experiences. Vain man that I am, who will save me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)
Perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love fully trusts the gospel that God loves us without condition. God's love and salvation is pure gift. So I must put aside foolish notions of gaining life through things, people or experiences. I must renounce fear of missing out, and embrace the truth that I already have all that I need in Christ Jesus!
Jesus told the lawyer to go and do like the Good Samaritan did. Be a good neighbor to any and all you find in need. If you're too busy trying to justify yourself in religious activity, you're missing the boat to eternal life. You can't earn it. No matter how hard you try you cannot do enough to deserve eternal life with God. Instead eternal life is pure gift, offered to you in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23)
The priest and Levite both avoided touching the man beaten near death by thieves on the road to Jericho. They both were likely on their way to the temple to serve. To have touched the man who was bleeding would have made them religiously unclean and therefore unable to serve in the temple, until they had washed and waited until sunrise. (See Leviticus 15) So it's understandable that they passed on the opportunity to help the man.
The real slap in the face to the legal expert is when Jesus makes a Samaritan the hero of the story. Samaritans were hated by Jews. They thought of Samaritans as half-breeds, impure, and heretical. The Samaritan people were descendants of Jews from the 10 northern tribes that seceded from Judah and Jerusalem, their kings and temple. When Assyria conquered northern Israel, they brought in other conquered races to intermix with those who survived in the land, as a means to wipe out all memory of the former nation of Israel. The Samaritans are the race that resulted. And they do not acknowledge anything beyond Moses as scripture. Genesis through Deuteronomy is their canon. They built their own temple on Mt. Gerazim. A Jew would walk many miles out of their way to avoid walking through a Samaritan village. And yet Jesus gives the Samaritan in his parable a righteousness greater than that of a priest or Levite, who serve the temple of God! It is the storyteller's tool to move the lawyer and us.
Jesus turns the lawyer's question into a challenge. You go and be a good neighbor. That is how those who have inherited the free gift of eternal life will behave. They put no trust in money bags or sword. They entrust themselves to the living God who has filled their hearts to overflowing.
Jesus made a choice to travel through a Samaritan village and met a woman at the village well. He asked her for water, which surprised her. Why would a Jew even talk to a Samaritan, let alone accept water from her hand? And Jesus told her, if she knew who it was she was talking to, she would ask him for a drink and she would never go thirsty.
"Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37)
Another famous and beloved parable of Jesus is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He tells the story on the occasion when an expert in Jewish religious law asks what must be done to inherit eternal life. Strangely it's the first mention of eternal life in the gospel. Later in Luke's gospel Jesus will promise eternal dwellings and manifold riches to those who faithfully serve Christ's kingdom. (Luke 16:9; 18:30) But it makes me wonder why the lawyer asks the question. The exact same question is asked again by a wealthy ruler, a man of great influence among the Pharisees. (Luke 18:18) Bear in mind that not all Jews believed in an afterlife or bodily resurrection. The Pharisees did.
The lawyer asks the question about inheriting eternal life to test Jesus. It was a ploy to see if Jesus might discredit himself before the crowds, for the Pharisees were convinced Jesus was a charlatan and not the messiah. Was this question designed to expose Jesus as having ideas about the afterlife that were different from his own? Jesus tells the lawyer to keep the law, which is what the Pharisees were all about. They kept the law with strict observance. They wrote more laws to cover any loopholes that had not been specifically addressed by Moses. The lawyer quoted a law above all laws, the love of God and neighbor. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18) If one loves God, they will happily keep God's commandments. (John 14:15) And love of neighbor will lead us to fulfill every law. (Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:`14) The love of God and neighbor is called the Great Commandment. I'll write more on that topic later.
Jesus complimented the lawyer on his view of the Law of Moses. In other words Jesus and he were in agreement. Love of God and love of neighbor is the heart of the law. Jesus tells the lawyer, do this and you will live. Life is the promise of law obedience, a blessed life under the protection and providence of God. But the lawyer wanting to justify himself asked, "Who is my neighbor?" In other words, "Who am I specifically supposed to love, and consequently who can I ignore?"
A hint for the interpreter is the word justify. The lawyer wanted to justify himself! The Greek word is dikaioō, meaning to be seen as righteous, upright, in good standing, blameless or correct. Apparently Jesus' compliment was not enough. Later Jesus will tell the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This parable illustrates the kind of heart that is justified before God.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
In Evangelical circles, only through faith in Christ's sacrifice on the cross can one ever be justified before God. A penitent heart is required. Luke illustrates this very idea by reprising the beating of the breast (or chest) at the scene of the cross. (Luke 23:48) But what I find most interesting in this exchange between the religious lawyer and Jesus is that Jesus never once says that the lawyer must believe in him or follow him in order to inherit eternal life.
It almost flies in the face of the doctrine that there is only one way into heaven. Perhaps there is the Jewish way through covenant law obedience, and the Gentile way through faith in the gospel. Some commentators even suggest that the Apostle Paul is not recommending faith in Christ, but rather the faith of Christ. It is Christ's redemptive action alone that makes one right in God's eyes. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the once for all atoning sacrifice for all sin for all time. Classically we understand, it is by sharing in the sacrifice, through faith in the message of God's love and mercy shown us in Christ, that we can be made holy and right before God. But some are saying even trust in the message of the gospel is not required. All are saved because God so chooses to save.
Even the Apostle Paul believes God did not make His covenant with the Jews null and void when He offered the new covenant through Christ. While Paul speaks about the law reaching its end or conclusion, superseded by the new covenant in Christ, he still maintains that God's promises to Israel remain in effect. God will keep His irrevocable promises to the descendants of Abraham. (Romans 11:28-32)
And so I must ask, can I inherit eternal life if I love God with my whole self, mind, body and soul, and love my neighbor as I love myself? Of course, I don't love perfectly. I'm too afraid of losing, of someone getting the better of me. I'm afraid I may not get out of life everything I hope for. And so I seek comfort in things rather than God. I seek happiness in things, experiences, people and places, rather than seek God for true fulfillment. I am like the lawyer, seeking to justify myself by surrounding myself with things and people and experiences. Vain man that I am, who will save me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)
Perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love fully trusts the gospel that God loves us without condition. God's love and salvation is pure gift. So I must put aside foolish notions of gaining life through things, people or experiences. I must renounce fear of missing out, and embrace the truth that I already have all that I need in Christ Jesus!
Jesus told the lawyer to go and do like the Good Samaritan did. Be a good neighbor to any and all you find in need. If you're too busy trying to justify yourself in religious activity, you're missing the boat to eternal life. You can't earn it. No matter how hard you try you cannot do enough to deserve eternal life with God. Instead eternal life is pure gift, offered to you in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23)
The priest and Levite both avoided touching the man beaten near death by thieves on the road to Jericho. They both were likely on their way to the temple to serve. To have touched the man who was bleeding would have made them religiously unclean and therefore unable to serve in the temple, until they had washed and waited until sunrise. (See Leviticus 15) So it's understandable that they passed on the opportunity to help the man.
Jesus turns the lawyer's question into a challenge. You go and be a good neighbor. That is how those who have inherited the free gift of eternal life will behave. They put no trust in money bags or sword. They entrust themselves to the living God who has filled their hearts to overflowing.
Jesus made a choice to travel through a Samaritan village and met a woman at the village well. He asked her for water, which surprised her. Why would a Jew even talk to a Samaritan, let alone accept water from her hand? And Jesus told her, if she knew who it was she was talking to, she would ask him for a drink and she would never go thirsty.
"Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)
If you would inherit eternal life, if you would receive the free gift of God, you will repent of fear, and greed, and self-righteousness, and acknowledge that Christ alone is the answer to your soul's deepest thirst. Open your heart to receive Him and you will live in Him. Then go and be a good neighbor as you share Him in all you say and do.
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