Good Samiratan, Ugly Lawyer?

Monday, July 21, 2008: Luke 10:25

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Background: the parable of the Good Samaritan (and the Jerusalem ministry of Jesus Christ) is only in Luke’s Gospel.
What was strange about the lawyer’s question? The lawyer had to be challenging what Jesus Christ had said. The lawyer’s error was in the expectation that he himself could do something to ‘earn’ eternal life.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008: Luke 10:26–28

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

Can anyone obey the commandments? None but the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He had eternal life as a consequence.
Why, then, did Jesus Christ have to die? A man perfect in God’s sight was the only sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin for mankind.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008: Luke 10:29–32

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

Why did the priest and the Levite (the family from which priests were chosen) pass by?
If they touched blood, they would become unclean themselves. This parallels “I’m late for work!”

Thursday, July 24, 2008: Luke 10:33–35

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

Who is a Samaritan? A person regarded as inferior to Jews and not to be associated with.

Friday, July 25, 2008: Luke 10:36–37

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

What was the effect of the question at the end of the parable? Jesus Christ gently lead the lawyer to answer his own question.