Luke 10: 25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan (brief summary).
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Have you ever acted without thinking, not realising what the consequences were? Luke’s gospel is all about making us aware of the danger we could be facing, whether we are for God or against Him. There are 2 reactions to Jesus – follow Him or go against Him. There are only 2 possible reactions to the gospel – for it or against it.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan we see an expert stood up to test Jesus, asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” When Jesus responded by asking him what was written in the law, the expert answered correctly saying, “You shall 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 your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus says to the man he had the right answer and to do exactly this.
But then the expert is not happy and questions who his neighbour is. This parable is for people who might try to justify themselves. Who is the person trying to justify themselves, who knows the answer but doesn’t want to engage with it. Christians have times when they try to justify why they don’t want to hear the word of God.
In this parable we see that theology alone is not enough. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a wonderful question. The correct answer is given. Deeds do not save you but they are evidence of your faith. Faith and deeds go hand in hand.
How do we connect with people? Do we just have words? We see in the gospel of Mark, Jesus came not only to tell people about the Kingdom of God but He also demonstrated the Kingdom of God – showing love, compassion. Are you being a neighbour? Is it possible that so many people walk by Christianity and walk by churches because we have narrowed the gospel, that we don’t care?
Excuses reveal our hearts. The man who was beaten was left for dead. A priest and Levite, who you would expect to love God and their neighbour, walk by. The Samaritan shows compassion. Here is love that is costly and risky. That’s what it’s like to love your neighbour. Sometimes, we talk about what others do. We should address what we are doing. Sometimes we say we love God but we forgot to love our neighbour because there are people we do not get on with.
Eternal life is the next step, the next destination. We’re only here by the grace of Jesus. Discipleship is about learning. What has God told me I need to put into practice? When was the last time, as Christians, we changed something in our life and in our routine, for eternal reasons? When we make excuses, are we trying to justify ourselves? Why don’t we want to listen to Jesus?
This parable reminds us the Samaritan came, saw, had compassion and he lavished his love. Not just on that day, but the next day and in future. God’s love has no limits. There is no-one who is not invited. God’s love has no limits. If God can turn you around, He can bring about the salvation of many others that you think cannot be saved. Don’t be a stumbling block, don’t make it more difficult for others to know Christ.
Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch 