Carlos Cameron
Key Text: Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
10:36 你 想 這 三 個 人 、 那 一 個 是 落 在 強 盜 手 中 的 鄰 舍 呢 。
10:37 他 說 、 是 憐 憫 他 的 。 耶 穌 說 、 你 去 照 樣 行 罷 。
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Who Is Your Neighbor? Sermon May 1, 2022
If we think other people can be disqualified from our love, we are going to look for every opportunity to disqualify them. Our faith requires us to be neighborly, whether or not we think someone is our neighbor.
We get a little bit taken back when the person we expect to be the villain of a story turns out to be the hero. It is really disappointing when the people that we expect to show up and do the right thing don’t even show up. That’s why we’re so outraged by stories of corruption, and so captivated by stories of underdogs making a difference.
Our responses are nothing new. We expect certain people to act a certain way, and when they don’t, we’re surprised. It was no different 2000 years ago. That is why Jesus told this story in this way. He wanted the people listening to be surprised, because when you are surprised by something, you remember it. It sticks with you.
Let’s look at the set up that shows why Jesus told this story this way. 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And 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.” Luke 10:25-27 (ESV)
The first thing we need to understand is that when Jesus was talking to someone who had no intent of following Him, His style of teaching changed to a more thought-provoking method of story-telling. This man wasn't coming to Jesus to learn. He was coming to see how he stacked up intellectually, and Jesus immediately tripped him up. It was customary for rabbis to deal exclusively in questions when they were having a public discourse. The idea was that they would start with a broad question, and then ask each other questions that would eventually land on one key truth that they could teach the people. This man starts by asking Jesus a question, so Jesus replies by asking him 2 questions. Once the man gives his summary of Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19, he expects Jesus to ask him a simpler question. But that is not what Jesus does.
28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10:28 (ESV). Jesus basically puts an end to their discourse, “you’ve said it, now go do it.” But the lawyer in an expected desire to argue and debate, was not ready for it to be finished yet. 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29 (ESV)
You see, he already had an answer that He was expecting Jesus to give. It was the thought of the day that the word neighbor – remember he was quoting from the Torah when he answered Jesus – the Hebrew word for neighbor literally means, “Close one.” Pharisees and synagogue leaders debated over how close someone should be to be considered a neighbor. The pretty much universal agreement was “any other righteous Jew” is to be considered a neighbor. So, according to the best religious thinkers of the day, “if somebody did not share my faith, then I have no obligation to love them as I love myself. If I do not consider somebody else to be righteous, I have no obligation to love them as I love myself.” This is what the man who posed the questions of Jesus was expecting Jesus to get say. Imagine his surprise when Jesus told this story.
30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Luke 10:30-32 (ESV).
Jerusalem is about 17 miles southwest of Jericho, but the elevation is about 3000 feet below, so he was going down, even though he was going north. There was only one road from Jerusalem to Jericho, and because of the change in elevation, it was a rocky and rough road. Robbers and thieves routinely would take advantage of travelers as they made this trip. This story was something that sounded like it could have been from the evening news. The first person to walk by the wounded traveler was a priest. He sees the man and does nothing. Many scholars speculate as to why. Some would argue that he would not want to touch an unclean dead body. Others would draw attention to the fact that the man's clothes have been stripped off, so the priest had no way of telling whether or not this man was a righteous Jew, therefore he had no way of telling whether he had an obligation to love him like a neighbor. For the man hearing this story- both the priest and the Levite were men considered righteous- how can two men who were righteous walk around someone suffering and turning a blind eye to the man’s needs? The same way you and I might- to busy, some one else will help, and the list of reasons go on. And yet they root of the issue hasn’t changed- do we value the person or persons in need as if they were the closest of our loved ones?
Then Jesus said just a few words that got everybody listening a bit uncomfortable, “But a Samaritan…” The Samaritans were considered to be half-breeds. Their ancestors married Assyrians after Assyria invaded the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. Most practicing Jews of that era, if they had to pass by Samaria, would actually cross the Jordan River twice instead of even walking through Samaria once. When Jesus spoke of the Samaritan, the teacher of the Law would have been insulted that he was even brought up in the conversation, and everyone listening would automatically expect him to be the villain of the story. But look what Jesus does with the story. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Luke 10:33-35 (ESV).
Instead of the Samaritan being the villain, Jesus makes him the hero, who goes out of his way to pay the stranger’s expenses. He shows mercy and compassion. He meets the immediate need, and then sets up a plan to meet the future needs should this man continue to need more help.
36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37 (ESV).
Consider the question “Who is my neighbor?” which was the focus of Jesus’ story. The teacher of the Law wanted to know, “who exactly he would have an obligation to love as himself?” Is it just people I am in close proximity with? Is it just people who share my worldview? Is it just people who I think are right with God?
“Who is my neighbor?” is the wrong question. “Am I being neighborly?” is the perhaps a better question. In asking who is my neighbor there is a chance to justify not doing what we know we are supposed to do. If we think other people can be disqualified from our love, we are going to look for every opportunity to disqualify them. Asking if I am I being neighborly, or “am I meeting the needs that I can see that I have the ability to meet?” puts the pressure on us to love to the best of our ability, whether or not we think somebody else deserves it. Our faith requires us to be neighborly, whether or not we think someone is our neighbor.
Do you remember the question that the teacher of the Law asked Jesus at the beginning of their conversation? Before they got on the topic of neighbors, he asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The predominant subject matter, whenever you study Jesus’ parables, is faith. This parable is about faith in action. Jesus’ reply to this teacher of the Law would be His same reply to you and me: “go do likewise.” Loving your neighbor, however unlovable they may seem, is evidence of your faith. So, go and do likewise.
What must I do to inherit eternal life? Go and do likewise.
