November 25, 2007

The Good Samaritan Luke Chapter 10:25-37

1)      Introduction

a)      Chapter 10 in context

i)        We are to be God’s ambassadors (sending out the 70)

ii)      We are to be neighbors that show mercy(The Good Samaritan )

iii)    Like Mary of Bethany we are to worship Him and take time to receive His word

 

2)      Above the Law

a)      VV25 And behold a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test

b)     The commandments Moses received were a revelation of God and were the law of the land

c)      The man questioning Jesus was lawyer as well as a religious leader

d)     His intent was to expose Jesus as false and not God’s Son

e)      The lawyer’s question: VV25 “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

f)       The lawyer was interested in discussion Jesus was interested in action  

g)      Jesus’ reply: VV26 “What is written in the law?  How does it read to you?”

h)     Jesus directed him to the Word of God

i)        We are to direct people to God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11

j)       The lawyer’s answer  VV27 “The Shema is the most important prayer in Judaism and is recited daily in the morning and evening

k)     Deuteronomy 6:4-5

l)        Leviticus 19:18

m)   To sum it up Love God Love people

n)     The lawyer came up with the CORRECT RELIGIOUS answer

o)      VV29 “But wishing to JUSTIFY himself he said, “Who is my neighbor?”

p)     Justify = To be declared innocent

q)     When we justify ourselves God will harden our hearts and we will move deeper in to sin

r)      The phrase “Who is my neighbor” shows that his heart was wrong

 

3)      The parable 10:30-37

a)      VV33 “But a certain Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him and when he saw him he felt compassion”

b)     Samaritans were hated by the Jews. Jews thought Samaritans could not be saved 

c)      Jesus’ example of Samaritan on Jew compassion was shocking   

d)     The distance from Jerusalem to Jericho was 17 miles long.  The old road curved through mountains and rocks making it easy for robbers to hide

e)      The Priest cruised right on by and never slowed down

f)       The Levite slowed down enough to RUBBER NECK and look at the victim

g)      I am sure when the Samaritan saw the victim he was tempted to PUT HIS DONKEY IN REVERSE but in stead he had compassion on him

h)     Reasons why God does not use us

i)        We feel we will be taken advantage of

ii)      Apathy = with out emotion or feeling the opposite of compassion

iii)    Lack of faith

i)        The Samaritan was self sacrificial and showed compassion and mercy

i)        He used his clothes for bandages

ii)      Spent his own money

iii)    Used his own wine as a disinfectant and his oil as a soothing lotion

iv)    He went out of his way and also spent his time on the victim

j)       Jesus often applied His teaching to an individual with a question,

i)        VV36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell in to the robbers hands?