The Good Samaritan

Jesus taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a result of an expert in the law trying to trap Jesus in His teaching. From that exchange Jesus taught the parable. Let's read that now:

Luke 10:25-29 NIV

[25] On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [26]  “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” [27] 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.’” [28]  “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” [29] But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Okay. So Jesus said love God and love people like you love yourself. This sums up everything just like He said in Matt.22:36-40. The expert wanted to know which people was he supposed to love as himself.

Luke 10:30-37 NIV

[30] In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. [31] A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. [32] So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. [34] He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ [36]  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” [37] The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

Instead of answering the man, Jesus told this parable and then flipped the question on him. He asked, "Who WAS a neighbor to the injured man?" And the expert said, "The one who had mercy on him." Then, Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."

Jesus was showing the man and us HOW we were supposed to love people like we love ourselves. Not who but how.

Loving our neighbor as ourselves is showing mercy to all mankind just like this Samaritan man did. The injured man was a perfect stranger to the Samaritan and the Samaritan had mercy on him anyway. He loved him "in deed and in truth," 

1 John 3:18 NIV

[18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Jesus was showing the expert in the law HOW to love all mankind as much as he loved himself.

That's the lesson. Love ALL mankind, no matter who they are, by showing mercy to them. Give them the same mercy, grace, and love that God has given you, by helping them, and treating them way you would want to be treated as set forth in I. Cor. 13:4-7:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

[4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Why? Because we represent Jesus. That's our LIGHT to shine on all mankind.

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post