Luke 10:29-37 "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
This certain lawyer (this could be anyone of us) "Willing to justify himself": reveals his self righteous character, when he asks, "Who is my neighbour": The prevailing opinion among scribes and Pharisees was that one's neighbour's were the righteous alone. According to them, the wicked, including rank sinners (such as tax collectors and prostitutes). Gentiles, and especially Samaritans, were to be hated because they were considered to be enemies of God. We know and understand, that the Pharisees had elevated hostility toward the wicked to the status of a virtue, in effect nullifying the second Great Commandment (Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself). Jesus' answer to this lawyer demolished the pharisaical excuse for hating one's enemies. This man is not interested in who his neighbour is. He is just still trying to trap Jesus into saying something that he can accuse Him of. This gospel story allows us to travel, "Down from Jerusalem to Jericho": according to research, (wikipedia) this was a rocky, winding, treacherous descent of about 3,300 feet in 17 miles. The stretch of road was notorious for being beset with thieves and danger but still traveled by many. According to scripture, Priest came by way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. A "Levite": who were from the tribe of Levi, but not descendants of Aaron. They assisted the priests in the work of the temple. When the Levite passed by, he did likewise. The bible tells us that, "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him," You see my friends, you don't have to be in the church to do the work of Christ. I've experienced this on several occasion where, the person that has helped me and loved me enough to see about me was not part of any church. You see, for a Samaritan to travel this road was unusual. The Samaritan himself was risking not only the thieves, but also the hostility of other traveler's. The Samaritan, stop to see about the man went to [him], and bound up his wounds, poured in oil and wine (Medicine), and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The "Oil and wine" which was probably carried by most traveler's in small amounts as a kind of first-aid kit. The wine was antiseptic; the oil soothing and healing. What a God!
Jesus has used a beautiful story to trap this lawyer. Jesus is showing in this story, how being dogmatic about following the letter of the law (as the priest and the Levite do), does not fulfill the Scripture in loving thy neighbour (Actions Speaks!). as thyself. On the other hand, the hated Samaritan in the story is a friend and more to this injured man. We know and understand that, Jesus has not publicly denounced the priest and Levite till this time, because as shallow a lot as they were, they were still keepers of the temple of God. He doesn't directly condemn them here. He lets the lawyer condemn them. Since this story was told by Jesus, anyone who does a good deed is called a good Samaritan. Which one of these individuals, "Was neighbour unto him?" The lawyer assumed it was up to others to prove themselves neighbour to him. Jesus' reply makes it clear that each one of us, has a responsibility to be a neighbour, especially to those who are in need.
You see my friends, Jesus allows this lawyer to judge. He (Jesus) again asks a question to get the lawyer to answer his own question. Luke 10:37 "And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." You see, this lawyer's trap backfired on him. Now to be saved he must help every poor soul in need. He judged so himself. Dear Father, forgive me of the sin of "self-righteousness" and help me to embrace and demonstrate same love shown by the "Good Samaritan" demonstrated in your word. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
