This
is one of the more interesting parables that Jesus taught His disciples. It has
profound meaning as it relates to practical Christian principles of showing
compassion to someone in dire circumstances. Before I get to unpack some of this,
a little comparative analysis might serve as a necessary background. This life
lesson taught by Jesus comes after He successfully refutes the Sadducees about
the resurrection, which they don’t believe in.
Matthew
22: 34-40
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the
Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One
of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher,
which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus
replied: “‘Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Cp. Deuteronomy 6: 5). ’This is the first
and greatest commandment. And the second is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself (Cp. Leviticus
19: 18b). ‘All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
NOTE: Matthew’s version omits
the “Shema” found in Deuteronomy 6:
4.
Mark 12: 28-34
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.
Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the
commandments, which is the most important?” “The
most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind and with all your strength (Cp. Deuteronomy
6: 4-5). ‘The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no
commandment greater than these.” “Well
said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and
there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding
and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Cp. Leviticus 19: 18b) is more important than all burnt
offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered
wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then
on no one dared ask him any more questions.
NOTE: Mark’s gospel expands the narrative
even more, including not only the ‘Shema’ but adding the word “strength” as
well as mentioning the connection with or the superiority over ‘offerings and
sacrifices.’
Now the main text for our study a in the following
below:
Luke 10: 25-37
On one occasion an expert in the law stood
up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written
in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 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.’” “You have answered
correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will
live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
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. A priest happened to be going down
the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite,
when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where
the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 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. 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.’
“Which of these three do you think was a
neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law
replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus
told him, “Go and do
likewise.”
NOTE: Luke’s gospel expands the
story even more than mark’s version to include this parable. This account omits
the “Shema’ (Deuteronomy 6: 4) but it includes narration that seems unexpected
here. It is interesting that one event can have such variation, especially when
comparing Luke with the other gospels of Matthew and Mark.
APPLICATION:
Now that the theological musings are out of the way, let’s see
what spiritual nuggets of wisdom can be uncovered. At first glance it doesn’t
go unnoticed that there is a stark cultural tension between two of the most
pious religious officials of the Jewish religion, and a person who is despised.
The identity of the victim is unknown, which adds more intrigue to the story.
The Levite was
assigned the work of ministering in the sanctuary and the function of the
priests was primarily concerned with offering sacrifices on the altar. These
two men who represent the piety and holiness of Israel see a person wounded and
distress but show no empathy at all; they don’t even speak to the person but
avoid him by walking on the other side of the road. I would not be surprised if
either one of them wasn’t going up to Jerusalem to perform some service to God
at the Temple/sanctuary. So, what does this story have to do with believing
Christians today? Jesus asked a poignant question in verse 36: “Which of these three do you think was the neighbor?”
It is very possible that many Christians are so busy traveling
down the road between Jericho and Jerusalem so that they can get to Bible class
on time; or choir rehearsal; or to make the altar call; or to hear the homily,
tithe, partake of the Lord’s Supper, and other Church functions that when they
see a man holding a “HOMELESS” sign they pass by on the other side. There are believers who attend Christian
worship but rely on public transportation, and yet after the conclusion of the
closing benediction, walk outside to wait at the bus stop during adverse
weather conditions but not one of the fellow parishioners who previously shook
your hand and smiled in your face, greets you lovingly, and yet, never thinks about
offering you a ride. Of course, there are some congregations who, upon learning
of your circumstances if you volunteer the information, will provide for you to
ride in the church van or bus; just so long it is not their personal
vehicle. That’s a little different from the ‘Samaritan’ who put the wounded and
probably bloody person on his own donkey. This would also imply that this
caring person had to be inconvenienced all the way to the inn; let alone pay
for the victim’s lodging, meals, and whatever other charges he might have
incurred.
It is more than just being religious because in Hosea 6: 6 God says, “For I
desire mercy, not sacrifice, and
acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”
1 John 3: 17, 4: 20
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or
sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and
sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Hebrews 13: 2
Do not forget to show
hospitality to strangers (your neighbor??), for by so doing some people have shown
hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Matthew 25: 44-45
They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we
see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in
prison, and did not help you?’ “He will
reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of
these, you did not do for me.’
As you travel down the road of Life ask yourself
this one question, do you want to live it as the Levite, Priest, or the
Samaritan?
Robert
Randle
776
Commerce St Apt 701
Tacoma,
WA 98402
April
7, 2017
