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The Good Samaritan
Introduction:
The definition of the word “parable” is to “lay next to or compare”.
A parable is a story with a hidden message that only
“spiritually opened” ears can hear.
The parables are word pictures into what God is trying to teach us.
The parables of Jesus are one of the times Jesus teaches lessons
for future generations. These parables need to be meditated on and
closely studied. Parables have a “layered” meaning, for example
the parable of the Prodigal Son. The story is one of going astray
and coming back. It seems to be the story of an actual son, with
an older brother, and his father...like in any family.
We have all read this before and it has given much comfort and
hope to the families that have had a child gone astray.
We must realize that the parables have layers...there is a surface
layer and a deeper layer. For example, the surface layer would be
relating to children going astray within your own family and the
deeper meaning is what we are going to present to you in the
following papers.
Remember what the disciples asked Jesus:
(Matthew 13:10-17)
The Purpose of Parables
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to
them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to
you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to
them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more
will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does
not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they
do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they
hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous
men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to
hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Lesson:
Luke 10:30-37
Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho , and fell among thieves, who stripped him
of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when
he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and
looked, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.
And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil
and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn,
and took care of him.
35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii,
gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him;
and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
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.”
The Lesson:
Scripture verse in BLACK. Commentary in BLUE.
A) Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho
This man represents someone traveling on the journey of life.
He can be anyone (Jew, Gentile or Heathen) and at some point he
represents ALL of us in some stage of our life before Christ.
This "certain man's" life is headed in a downward direction.
B) and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing,
wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Just previous to teaching this parable Jesus had just told us...
John 10:10
The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
On his way DOWN, this man falls into the hands of the thief
(Satan) and his demons.
Their goal is/was to:
A) Steal....“stripped him of his clothing”
B) Kill.....“leaving him half dead”
C) Destroy..“left wounded”
C) Now by chance a certain priest came down that road.
This is a religious leader (Law follower) also heading down the
same path of destruction without Jesus.
This priest had nothing to offer the wounded man under the
Old Covenant. This priest is headed on a path of destruction
by trying his best to keep the Law perfectly, but can't.
Trying to follow the Law perfectly does not leave room for Grace,
and leaves no room to help a fallen or wounded man!
1Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me
free from the law of sin and death.
D)And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
This priest had nothing to offer the wounded man under the Old
Covenant. The Law will never bring life to a man fallen and/or
wounded, it can only bring death.
E) Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and
looked,and passed by on the other side.
The Levite had nothing to offer the man either. Whether this
Levite be a Jew (from Judah) or a Gentile (lost tribe, from Israel),
they ALL end up in the same place without Christ. Though they may
think they are better off than the wounded man, or too good to
offer mercy, sooner or later their end will come and Satan will
steal, kill, and destroy what they thought they had.
F) But a certain Samaritan,
Who is this certain Samaritan?
It is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself!
Only God is good. And if this is the Good Samaritan, than this
must be Jesus (God in human flesh). Notice how the Good
Samaritan’s actions are the same as the Good Shepherd.
How does Jesus, being a Jew, call Himself a Samaritan (Gentile)
you might ask?
Jesus relates Himself to Jews, Gentiles, and Heathens and is the
Kinsman Redeemer to all three. This is the Profound Mystery of
Jesus and His Church.
Isaiah 19:25
The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt
my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."
We have discussed this verse several times in other papers, but
let us explain it again...
Jews, Gentiles, and Heathens make up all of the people in the
world. Jesus is God, who came to earth to take on a human form.
The bloodlines of Jesus includes Abraham, and from Abraham comes
Ishmael and Isaac. Ishamael is a heathen and from Isaac comes
Jacob and Esau; and Esau is a heathen. From Jacob comes Judah
and Ephraim. Judahites become Jews and Ephraim is a Gentile.
Thus explains Isaiah 19:25 and why Eqypt are "my people", why
Assyria (Heathens) are "my handiwork" and why Israel (Jews) are
"my inheritance". Who is Egypt? Egypt is nothing more than
the two sons of Joseph: Ephraim and Manasseh, who are the Northern
Tribes that go into captivity (seperately), after the Jews
go into captivity.
There is the captivity of the Northern Tribes which is different
than the captivity of the Southern Tribes. The Southern Tribes
are Benjamin and Judah which are now the nation of Israel. When
the Northern Tribes went into captivity they intermarried with the
people of that particular land they fled to.
So, when they come back, they are "polluted" and are called
Samaritans. Jesus is from Abraham and from Abraham come all
people; Jews, Gentiles, and heathen.
Question:
How can you call Jesus a Samaritan when He comes from a Jewish
line?
Answer:
Again, Jesus comes from the line of Abraham who produces Jews,
Gentiles,and heathen.
This ceratin Samaritan named in the first part of this verse
is Jesus! Jesus is the only help to the ones who are "fallen
on the side of the road".
G) as he journeyed, came where he was.
Jesus seeks out the wounded, the wounded are those who have
fallen into Satan's traps, and Jesus meets them wherever they
may have fallen "beside the road".
H) And when he saw him, he had compassion.
This sounds a lot like several incidents in Jesus' ministry when
He sees a group of people or an individual and has immediate
compassion for them.
For example read:
Matthew 9:36 Matthew 20:34 Mark 8:2
Matthew 14:14 Mark 1:41 Luke 7:13
Matthew 15:32 Mark 6:34
I) So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil
and wine
Wine = New wine...New Covenant...new life...born again
Just like pouring new wine into new wine skins. The person must
first be given a new nature and then Jesus’ resurrected life can
be poured into Him. See Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, and Luke 5:37.
Oil = the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the marking of
ownership. Just as in the story of King David, you are marked
by the King of Kings with oil, showing the world that you are His...
and oil stays and is not easily washed away.
J) brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
The inn = The Holy Spirit
In the ancient world, an inn provided shelter and most importantly,
security. They would lock down the premises and shut the gates
so that the guests would be safe. In this sense the inn protects
the occupants from evil.
Notice Jesus is doing for the man the opposite of what Satan
did to him.
John 10:10
10. The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
K) On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii,
gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him;
and whatever more you spend, when I come again,
I will repay you.’
Jesus departs after his death and resurrection, leaving the
Holy Spirit to watch over the Church as Jesus’ “Helper.”
Innkeeper = the Body of Believers
Two denarii = gives them enough strength for 2,000 years.
And will reward (repay) upon His Return (2nd Coming).
L) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who
fell among the thieves?”
Answer: #3...and 3 = the number of Jesus the son of David
Adam to David (plus Abel) = 36...this is David’s number which is
VERSE 36!
M) And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said
to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Go and do likewise?
Yes! Go and show mercy...show mercy to your neighbor for you
are now one of His sheep, you are now of God, and you now
love God for the help He has provided you...now that you love
God, you can now show mercy! This follows in-line with the
one greatest commandment that has two parts:
A) Love thy God with all thy heart
B) Love thy neighbor as thyself
Part A must come first before part B is fulfilled!
We are to become one of the people in the Body of Believers here
on Earth and to act in the Spirit of the Great Commandment by
having compassion on those who are hurting and take them into
the Body of Christ (the Church). The Church is not any one
church or building, but is the "Inn" that the Holy Spirit resides
in which the Body of Believers gather at.
The Holy Spirit can occupy any or all Church buildings and also
a gathering of believers in an empty field anywhere in the world
and at any time!
Note that this story ends with verse 37!
This is Jesus’ generation number...where the two lines of Solomon
and Nathan split and come back together with the engagement of
Mary and Joseph.
FINAL THOUGHTS...
THIS STORY IS ALL ABOUT JESUS...NOT A STORY ABOUT A GOOD PERSON
BEING NICE.
No one is good except God; therefore, this Good Samaritan is not
just a man, it is Jesus. We are to do unto others as He has
already done for us, for we are His and He is ours and provides
the direction, strength, and realization of our need for
compassion in order to help brothers and sisters in need.
He is the One and Only Good Samaritan, and by faith"ing" in Him,
we can act as tools of Him and thus fulfill the duty of a good
Samaritan.
Remember, ALL parables and stories found in the Gospels relate
to the Kingdom of Heaven and how Christ relates to us and redeems
mankind.
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