The Good Samaritan

Sermon, Newcastle

September 23, 1995

Phil Hopwood

Theme Scripture:

Luke 10:25-37

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?" (NIV)

INTRODUCTION:

1. THIS PARABLE HAS BECOME SO POPULAR THAT IT IS PART OF OUR LANGUAGE;
   1. People called good Samaritans if they are helpful to someone in need
   2. Even an organisation called the Samaritans
      1. A number of Hospitals named Good Samaritan Hospital
      2. There is actually an Inn of the Good Samaritan on the road between Jerusalem and Damascus

PURPOSE:

1. WHAT DOES THIS PARABLE HAVE TO SAY TO US IN OUR DAY?
   1. We can simply answer and say,
      1. We should take care of people in need -- no matter who they are
   2. And that is pretty close to the mark
2. BUT AS WITH EVERYTHING CHRIST HAD TO SAY, THERE IS OFTEN MORE TO IT THAN IMMEDIATELY MEETS THE EYE!
   1. So lets take some time to explore what we can learn from the Parable Christ told of the Good Samaritan

BODY:

I. CONTEXT:

1. WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND TO THIS PARABLE;

Luke 10:25-29 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?" (NIV)

1. Expert in the law -- scribe or Pharisee?
2. Question:
   1. What must I DO, to inherit eternal life
   2. (verse 25) This was a test of Jesus and his interpretation of the law, and his views on some other critical matters that we will see in a minute
3. Christ politely, but clearly controlled the interchange
   1. He turned the question back on the man,
   2. Asked him to use his understanding of the Bible to answer his own question
      1. Law = term used to refer specifically to the 5 books of Moses, and in general to the whole TO
4. Man answered using the summary form of the law that was recited in the synagogue
   1. v28 Jesus compliments the mans answer and says, "You have answered correctly,
      1. or as the Greek "orthos" indicates, you have answered in the orthodox, accepted way.
   2. In other words, yes this is the key to Godly living
   3. However, as the Expositor's Commentary points out;

This does not mean that the inquirer has grasped the full meaning of the law, nor does it support the idea held by many Pharisees that by keeping the law, as some kind of contract with God, a person can earn eternal life.

1. The expert didn't leave it there, he pursued Jesus with a follow up question (verse 29)
   1. Note it says; "But he wanted to justify himself."
      1. People wanting to justify themselves was a big problem under the Old Covenant
         1. They wanted to look to their keeping of the law to show themselves righteous
   2. He wanted to narrow down the definition of who his neighbour was --
      1. he wanted to make it limited to those he was already being a neighbour too!
   3. Expositor's Commentary;

The only way he, (or any person) can "justify himself" is to limit the extent of the law's demand and consequently limit his own responsibility. This maneuver not only fails but has an opposite effect. Jesus will change the man's very words, "who is my neighbour" from a passive to an active sense (v36).

1. At the end of the parable, (verse 36), Jesus takes the question and turns it around on the expert in the law
   1. Jesus asks, not who is my neighbour, but who WAS a neighbour?
   2. He is not going to allow this to be a mere chat about words.
   3. He is not going to let this man JUSTIFY himself, and walk away feeling righteous in his comfortable and convenient definition of who was his neighbour!

1. LETS TAKE A BETTER LOOK AT WHO THE JEWISH EXPERT IN THE LAW REGARDED AS HIS NEIGHBOUR
   1. The word neighbour is not a hard word to understand
      1. Knowing who our neighbour is, is simple to us in our society
         1. Just means one who is or lives nearby
         2. Whoever is around or near us
   2. Not a language difficulty that was being asked about
      1. The problem was that the Jews had their own narrow version of who their neighbour was
      2. Their world was like a circle
         1. they were at the centre
         2. Then came their immediate family and relatives
         3. The circle then broadened to include all those who were of Jewish descent, and then those who were Proselytes, or converts to Judaism.
      3. These people would have been considered their neighbours
   3. Their "neighbour" was defined by self interest, blood, and ethnically, racially
      1. Those who they were naturally close to, and those who had the same background and belief system
      2. Beyond this -barriers, huge wall existed
         1. So much so that we read in Acts and in Galatians that some legalistic Jewish Christians pressured Peter into withdrawing from eating and fellowship with non-Jews
      3. Simon Kistemaker writes in his book on the Parables,

The lines were carefully drawn to ensure the well-being of those who were inside and to deny help to those who were outside.

1. At the time of Jesus Palestine had a lot of foreigners.
   1. Romans soldiers and officials all over the place
   2. Lots of traders from nearby countries
   3. Jews didn't like them, and a lot of questions were asked about how they should treat or interact with these people
   4. They were used to be being all by themselves
   5. In fact the law of the Old Covenant separated them from the other nations -- made them special -- God's people
      1. Because of the captivity, the Jews had become very particular about not getting "corrupted" by their neighbouring countries
      2. It was probably because of this situation of having to deal with foreigners in their land, that the man asked, "Who is my neighbour?"
         1. They were neighbours in that they were right there on the same street, and living among the Jews
         2. But as we have talked about, they weren't not considered neighbours, in that they were not part of their circle based on relationship and religion
2. The Jewish expert was trying to justify himself by limiting the Biblical command to Love his neighbour as himself, TO THOSE HE ALREADY LOVED!

THROUGH THE PARABLE THAT FOLLOWS, JESUS ENDEAVOURS TO GET THE MAN TO SEE HOW HE IS BEHAVING, AND TO SEE WHO HE SHOULD TREAT AS HIS NEIGHBOUR

1. AND WHILE WE MAY BE FEELING SOMEWHAT SMUG, AND CRITICAL OF THE JEWISH THEOLOGIAN, LETS ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION;

WHO HAVE WE REGARDED AS OUR NEIGHBOUR OVER THE YEARS?

1. WHO HAVE WE TENDED LOVE AS OURSELVES, TO DEVOTE OUR GIVING AND CARING TO OVER THE YEARS?
   1. Who have we considered our neighbours, and who have we considered it not worth helping, or not worthy of our help?
   2. Have we been guilty of discrimination, of selectively helping those we value, and agree with and avoiding those who we feel are inferior and not really worth our efforts?
2. WITH THIS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, AND THOSE PERSONAL QUESTIONS IN MIND, LETS READ THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

2. THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,

TERRAIN;

1. 1. Kistemaker;

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho is only 27 kilometers (17 miles) long, and along that stretch it drops 1,200 meters (3,300 feet). The area is virtually uninhabited, without vegetation, and marked by limestone cliffs and gulleys on both sides of the road. The road in Bible times had been given the name "the path [ascent of blood], most probably because it was considered unsafe. The route was heavily travelled by pilgrims and caravans. From time to time these were robbed by bandits hiding behind the limestone rocks.

contin v30. when he fell into the hands of 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.

1. OF ALL PEOPLE THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITES SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND PRACTICED GOD'S LAW O F LOVE
   1. The victim is naked, unidentified
      1. Most likely a Jew
         1. If so, he would have been one of those within their circle, and the circle of those who they would regard as a "neighbour."
   2. But they were too busy, to selfish, too superior to stoop to help a person in such a plight
      1. Perhaps they used the common excuse, oh someone else with less important responsibilities and time demands than us will do it
      2. Perhaps they were so into their ritual duties that they just didn't care about practical religion
      3. Perhaps they thought that God may have struck the man down, and they didn't want to interfere in His act of judgement-- we don't know!
   3. But whatever the reason -- they failed to show mercy
      1. They failed to love their neighbour, or be a loving neighbour

33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

1. UNLIKE THE PRIEST AND THE LEVITE, THE SAMARITAN DIDN'T STOP TO FIGURE OUT IF THE NAKED MAN WAS JEW, GREEK, ROMAN OR SAMARITAN
   1. For him, the man lying there was a wounded, dying brother in need of help
   2. He readily took the time, and did all that he could to take care of this man who was in desperate need

34 He 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. 35 The 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?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (NIV)

1. In other words, Jesus is telling him, that to be a true neighbour, to love as God requires, you must be like the Samaritan in the story;
   1. You are to love and help anyone who has need of help;
   2. Including those outside your religious circle and circle of friends

3. APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE:

1. THIS PARABLE WAS HIGHLY CORRECTIVE
   1. In verse 36 Jesus asks who was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?
      1. Jesus has turned the passive, theoretical question "who is my neighbour" around and makes the expert answer who actively was a neighbour, who put into practice the command to love? (verse 27)
2. EXPOSITOR'S

The NT parables aim to lead one to a decision; Jesus' second counter question (v.36) forces the "expert in the law" to voice his decision.

This reversal of the "expert's" question (v.29) provides in itself the key to the meaning of the parable and to Jesus teaching on love. Love should not be limited by its object; its extent and quality are in the control of its subject.

1. In other words we don't limit our love depending on who the object of our attention is.
   1. We don't stop loving because the individual in question is not in our group
2. WE LOVE because Jesus is living in us, and His love is not discriminatory
   1. He loves, and leads us to love,-in action, not just word- all people

1. SIMON KISTEMAKER;

For the theologian questioning Jesus, it was a matter of knowing where to draw the line. He wanted to know if love has limits. He wanted to justify himself and to ascertain whether he had fulfilled the demands of the law.

If the law could be used as a protective hedge, a person could live peacefully in its shelter, where everything is spelled out and familiar. But when the law is open-ended-"Love your neighbour" which includes "Love your enemy"- a whole new world stands out in full view...

1. IT IS A HUGE BLOW TO THE JEWISH MAN -THAT JESUS MAKES THE HERO OF THE STORY A SAMARITAN
   1. We discussed already the number of foreigners living in Palestine.
   2. The Samaritans lived right in the middle of Palestine, between the area of Nazareth and Galilee to the north, and Jerusalem and the south.
      1. The Samaritans were viewed as worse than the Romans or the other foreigners in the land
   3. In fact not only did the Jews despise and keep clear of the Samaritans, the Samaritans hated the Jews
      1. Kistemaker

In the eyes of the Jews, Samaritans were half-breeds. They had settled the land of Israel during the Jewish exile and their Bible consisted only of the five books of Moses. They had built their own temple on Mount Gerazim (John 4:20); the Jews had destroyed this in 128 B.C. Because of profound hatred, the Jews did not associate with the Samaritans.

1. It is also interesting, and important to note that the Samaritans too, like the Jews, felt they had the true religion, the faith once delivered.

The Samaritans have always believed that they are the direct descendants of the faithful nucleus of ancient Israel.

1. HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US?: WHO ARE THE SAMARITANS IN OUR LIVES?
2. WHO ARE THOSE WE EXCLUDE FROM BEING OUR NEIGHBOURS
   1. Who are those we fail to LOVE because we regard them as unworthy of our love and service
3. ARE WE GUILTY OF AVOIDING AND EXCLUDING OTHERS
   1. Are we treating some as Samaritans, unworthy of our love based on their inferior spirituality
   2. Do we shun being kind or helpful to some because they are out of line with our view of what is doctrinally correct?
      1. Are we fair weather friends?
      2. Do we tend to focus only on those who are in our circle -- family, friends and those who agree with us
4. WE HAVE DONE THIS IN THIS CONGREGATION -- TO OUR SHAME -- IN THE PAST
   1. Let's not search our hearts to see if we are repeating the same mistake again!
   2. Lets not skip that step by straight away jumping to point the finger at others
   3. Lets keep in mind the message of Jesus regarding the log in the eye
5. PAUL SPOKE TO THOSE WHO ARE FREE FROM THE LAW, AND TOLD THE REASON WE ARE FREE IS TO SERVE AND LOVE OTHERS

Galatians 5:13-16 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)

1. THIS PARABLE SPEAKS TO THOSE OF US WHO FEEL WE HAVE THE LAW ON OUR SIDE
   1. Who feel others are lax and off the track -- and thus shun them building walls of judgement, rather than bridges of love!
   2. Lets hear the message of Jesus that was initially addressed both to those of the law, and has been preserved to speak to those of the free woman

CONCLUSION:

BRETHREN THIS SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS PARABLE IS ANYTHING BUT INNOCUOUS  --    IT IS A CALL TO REPENTANCE

AND WE, IN ALL HUMILITY, NEED TO HEAR THE SAME CALL JESUS MAKES TO US!

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