Through the Bible - Judges 20-21, Luke 11:37-12:3
Good morning,
For several weeks our Pastor Bob has been going through a series entitltled "Heart Attack", where week by week he has been exposing the condition of the heart.
The other day I had this in mind as I read in Luke 10 the parable of the good Samaritan. All of the characters reveal something of the condition of their heart from the lawyer who is lead into the parable by asking a "leading" question, and "who is my neighbor".
Today's verses reveal who was the neighbor of the Jewish man who had been beaten.
Luke 10:36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."
Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." NKJV
The lawyer asked a "leading question", thinking surely he knew the answer. Jesus unfolds the story in a way that resembles God's challenge in Isaiah 1:18 "come let us reason together", literally, make a legal decision.
Let's look at the other characters. The bandits, they are thinking of only themselves and are looking for a victim to take advantage of. A priest comes along by chance, perhaps he thinks the man is dead, or does not want to get involved with a low life crosses the road to avoid him. The scribe, a temple assistant on the way to the temple "walked over and looked at him lying there"NLT and passed by on the other side, perhaps for the same reason. The Samaritan, someone who would be despised by the Jews stops and helps the man. The innkeeper takes him in, takes the Samaritan's money but doesn't offeer the room, no mention of a discount, it's just business.
Instead of looking on these various characters in judgement, why not take a look at ourselves. Do we all too often take on some of these same traits in our lives when coming across a stranger let alone "a friend" who is beaten up by the world, possibly even himself?
Let God's Word, this parable, help to reveal the condition of your heart today. Consider the Samaritan, and as Jesus said "go out and do the same".
Consider the Samaritan. He was travelling, but was prepared, he caried with him the medicine and bandages. He was on a mission, was in enemy territory if you will, but still stopped. He saw that the man was taken care of and vowed to return. Sounds like evangelism to me.
Think about it today. Carry the Word with you and apply it.
In Christ,
Mike
Luke 10:25-38
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"
27 The man answered, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
28 "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 "By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 "Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.'
36 "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy."
Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." NLT
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