GOOD SAM

Jesus was a master story-teller!

On this particular day, Jesus crafted a story to reveal the cold-hearted hypocrisy of an “expert in the law” (Luke 10:25). Testing Jesus, the pharisaical religious leader asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). Jesus responded with a question. “What does the law require?”

The man knew the law’s demands. Quoting the Old Testament, he said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). I suspect that Jesus looked at the man directly… eye to eye. “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28).

The religious leader didn’t want an answer … he wanted to win an argument … he wanted to demonstrate his great knowledge and his impeccable obedience. He said, “Okay… the law says I’m supposed to love my neighbor, so who’s my neighbor?”

To answer the man, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan.

“A pilgrim was going down the road when he was accosted, beaten, robbed, and left for dead.  A priest happened by. He looked to the poor man and hurried on his way. “The criminals might still be nearby,” he thought. “And besides, if I touch him, I’ll be made ceremonially unclean!” Nobody was watching, so he hurried off.

Later, a Levite came by. He looked, grimaced, and looked away. “Who cares? Let him die…”

Finally, Good Sam (a detested and despised Samaritan) came along. He stopped. Carefully bandaged his wounds and transported him to the nearest Emergency Room where he paid the bill. 

“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:36-37).

Jesus doesn’t seem to care how religious we are! He does care to see that God’s saving grace has transformed our stoney hearts into a heart like His … hearts overflowing with compassion for our neighbors.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).