What does the Gospel have to do with the Good Samaritan? Is this classic parable simply provided for our morality or is there more to the story? In this final post we will delve into the Gospel according to the good Samaritan.
If you have not had the chance you can read the previous posts here.
Loving your neighbor in a day of viral madness.
Jesus and the self-justifying lawyer
Do you remember the lawyer’s motives found in Luke 10? Firstly, this lawyer was out to test Jesus. Secondly, he was seeking to justify himself. Trap Jesus and reduce eternal life into something that could be earned, that was his goal. However, Christ explained that eternal life is not based on something we do. Rather, it is based on the extravagant mercy, kindness, and compassion of God. Surprisingly, what’s on display in the parable is not man’s efforts. For that reason, this is a very often miss understood parable. We typically read the parable and fall right into the lawyer’s thinking. What must we do? “Oh,” we think, “we are to do what the Samaritan did.” Instead, the parable is spoken to reveal something to us about Gods activity rather than ours.
Before And After The Good Samaritan
If we want to study our Bibles well, we ought to look at the context before and after the Scripture we are studying. Context matters! Before our text, Jesus explained to his disciples that many people have are not seeing and hearing. This then serves as an introduction into the exchange with the lawyer and the telling of the parable of the good Samaritan.
After our text, we have the familiar passage about Mary and Martha. Martha is busy running around doing things. Whereas, Mary seems to be lazily sitting at Jesus’ feet. One is doing, while the other is sitting. Remember the lawyer’s question? “What must I DO to inherit eternal life?” Context helps us to see that Jesus tells the parable and then Luke records the scene with Mary and Martha to make a point.
Jesus said to Martha; “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
Both Martha and the lawyer are learning something about the things they do. What were the motives for the things they were doing? While we are not told Martha’s motive, we are told what is going on in the lawyer’s heart. Like the lawyer, perhaps Martha was not resting in the work of Jesus. On the contrary, she is perhaps running around seeking to earn something or impress Jesus. We will save that discussion for another post on another day.
Back To The Good Samaritan
The good Samaritan parable was not told to help us see that there are things we must do to inherit eternal life. Rather, the parable is about what God has done to provide for us an eternal inheritance. Furthermore, because of what He has done, we are called to rest before Him. (Think Mary not Martha)
Eternal life can not be earned! The lawyer thinks of himself as being able to earn his way into eternity with God. He, like so many today, thought he was good enough to save himself. However, anyone who is saved, is in Christ because of Jesus’s works, not our works! And… that is a place that we can find rest!
The Gospel According To The Good Samaritan
Jesus uses the parable to bring the lawyer and us to the ultimate question. “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
Let’s think about that question!
- It was the one who came and rescued the man who was left for dead. Who has done that? Jesus!
- It was the one who bound up his wounds. Who has done that? Jesus!
- It was the one who paid his debts. Who has done that? Jesus!
- It was the one who took care of all of his needs. Who has done that? Jesus!
We like to think that we are to be the hero of the story. We assume the story is told for us to do good things like the good Samaritan. Furthermore, people think that is how we are saved. Salvation by our good efforts. However, that is definitely not the point. Our role in the story is to recognize we are not the hero of the story! Instead, we are the guy who has been beaten, robbed, and left for dead. We are broke beggars who have no means to pay for our keep. Rather, it is God who shows Himself to be the great Samaritan by providing for our every need.
So…We DO Nothing?
The point is not that we then go and do nothing! It is that we are to “go and do likewise” Luke 10:37. However, we do what we do not to gain something. Rather, we do what we do because of what we have already gained. We don’t come to God like the lawyer seeking to earn eternal life. No, we come like the beggar realizing we have no ability to clean ourselves, bandage up our wounds, or pay our debts.
Instead, we have been given everything we need in Christ! Furthermore, because of this mercy, we respond to others with mercy. Because of the kindness offered to us, we offer kindness to others. Because of His generosity, we live generous lives to those around us. This is the point I have been seeking to drive home in this series of posts. Loving your neighbor during this viral madness is not something we do as a new morality to gain something from God. However, it is something we do because of what we have already been given from God!
Responding Vs Earning
We respond to grace rather than trying to earn it. So, I close these series of blog posts where I began. What does it look like to be a neighbor in the midst of this viral madness? The answer to the question is to consider the Gospel according to the good Samaritan. We do that by remembering Christ. He laid down His life, clothed you in His righteousness, paid for your sins, and provided you with a new life in Him!
Praise be to our God! This is the Gospel according to the good Samaritan. He is the one who has rescued our lives from the pit!
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