Deut 23 – 25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Deut 23 – 25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

 

The story of the Good Samaritan is one of the most famous and popular stories from the Bible.  It is a story we teach our kids in Sunday School and brings up the theme or moral of helping others that has been explored in schools.  There are Hollywood movies based on this story, and there is even an entire episode of "Seinfeld" that revolves around the title.  It was a story celebrated by great artists such as Rembrandt and Vincent Van Gogh, who captured it in beautiful colors, shadows, and mediums.  Martin Luther King Jr. even referenced it in one of the speeches before his assassination.  So why is this story found in Luke so accepted and universal?

 

As we read, "an expert in the Law" was challenging Jesus and asking him questions about eternal life, and "Who is my neighbor?"   Jesus responded with the story of the traveler who fell to the hand of robbers.  In the story we focus in on mercy, compassion, selflessness and generosity.  We see three men walking by the injured man who was traveling to Jericho: a priest, a Levite (also a priest/man of the Law) and a Samaritan.  The first two men were regarded as wise, learned, most likely with a little more money, and respected by the community.  The Samaritans at this time were considered totally opposite.  They were second rate, hated the Jews, and in return, hated by the Jews.  Jesus used this story to show what brotherly love looked like…what it mean to love your neighbor as yourself.  It showed the people how they should live when He said, "Go and do likewise."  

 

This really is a great story and a great reminder to take care of others.  It teaches us to love others, even our enemies.  The greatest lesson, however, comes from the verses that are before this famous story.  The way the conversation started between Jesus and the man of the Law were unfortunately not depicted in the masterpieces of Van Gogh and Rembrandt.  The story really began when Jesus was asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus answered it with the question, "What is written in the Law?  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."  This is the story.  It's not about the actions, about the checklists, or the good things we must do.  It's more than what we teach in Sunday School.  It's more than helping others and showing compassion.  Anyone can do that.  Anyone can stop and help that man taken by the robbers.  We must go beyond that.  The first thing we must do it totally focused and geared by our all – God.  It is ALL our HEART, ALL our SOUL, ALL our STREGTH and ALL our MIND.  By being Christ centered and Christ focused, the rest will just be.  As a follower of Christ we must be centered on Him.  Know Him, Love Him, Obey Him.  I pray that this is our desire.  By living for Him, we too will be that Samaritan and show God's love and compassion to the broken on the side of the road.