The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

2022-10-10

The lawyer in Luke 10:25 thought that by perfectly loving God and loving his neighbor, he could receive eternal life. He wanted to “justify himself” with his own righteousness. What is the bare minimum so that I can know I am right with God (on my terms)? We need to define (or redefine?) “neighbor”! Hence, we have the story of the good Samaritan from the Lord.

The victim of the story was wounded nearly to death and left with nothing. The religious guys, who are expected to be a bit more pious, were the victim’s letdowns. It was the Samaritan that helps him. “...for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (John 4:9). The “enemy” of the Jews sacrificed time and money to ensure the recovery of this man.

The story first shows us our own shortcomings. How many times that we as professing Christians could have helped someone, but did not? Who has loved God with his entire being his whole life through? This path to eternal life is impossible.

The story also shows us the standard of the Christian life. Jesus came and lived among His enemies, healed them, ministered to them, and died for them. We were His enemies, but He loved us anyway. We are to be like Him, and the good Samaritan is a practical example of how that would look for us to be like Jesus. “Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37).

So many people tinker with the words of the Scriptures to “justify” themselves, just like this lawyer. We cannot dilute the word of God to assuage our consciences in our responsibility to Him.