THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

PROCLAMATION

“… ‘And who is my neighbor?’  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.  …  Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’  The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’  Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ ”  Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Luke, the physician.  After feeding the five thousand men plus their wives and children, Jesus went off privately with His disciples. (Luke 9:18)  He told them of His upcoming death. (Luke 9:21-22)  Eight days later, Peter, James, and John witnessed His transfiguration and saw the appearance of Moses and Elijah. (Luke 9:28-36)  The next day, in front of a large crowd, Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy. (Luke 9:37-43)  Then for the second time, He predicted His own death. (Luke 9:43-45)  As He was heading for Jerusalem, He told them that there was a price to pay for following Him. (Luke 9:57-62)  Later Jesus appointed seventy-two men, gave them the power to heal the sick and to cast out demons, and sent them out to the surrounding villages, two by two, as He had done earlier with His disciples. (Luke 10:1-17)  On one occasion, as He was teaching, an expert in the law asked Him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus replied to him, “What is written in the law?”  The man 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.”  Jesus replied that he had answered correctly and said, “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28)  However, the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  In reply, Jesus told him The Parable of The Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:29-37)

 

APPLICATION

In this parable, three people came upon the man in need, a priest, a Levite (a man of the church) and a Samaritan.  The priest and the Levite passed by the man without stopping to offer any assistance.  Only the Samaritan stopped and helped the man.  He even took the man to a place where he could receive more care afterwards.  The Samaritan showed mercy to the man in need, and he went above and beyond in offering assistance to him.  The point here is for us today to “Go and do likewise.”  Today, there are many people in need of assistance and there are many ways that we can help them.  It is not always about giving someone money, although that would be helpful.  We are blessed in order to share and to be a blessing to others.  Many of us have clothes which we don’t wear that someone could use.  Most of us can afford to buy a meal for a needy person.  The Bible says, “… As you give so shall it be given unto you…” (Luke 6:38)  However, if you are going to give money to an organization, please check it out and make sure that the money is going to the purpose for which it was intended.