“The Good Samaritan- Actions
that Please God” August 3, 2008
Luke 10:25-37
New Series- “Geographical and Cultural
Faith Lessons From Israel”
Hebrew
thinking- they
are more interested in “deed than creed.”
Parable-
Meant to
help the elect see the truth, but to others it was meant to conceal (Matthew
13:10-15). Word means to cast
alongside.
Priest-
Of the
family of Aaron who would offer sacrifices and incense to God in the
temple. Politically part of the sect of
Sadducees who only believed in literal
(strict
interpretation) of Torah or called the first five books of Moses.
Levite- Of the tribe of Levi who
would help assist the priests in temple service.
Lawyer- Of the Pharisees who
believed in a less literal interpretation of Torah, but also believed in the
rest of the Old Testament.
Samaritan- Ethnic half-breeds who
hated and were hated by the Jews (John 4:9).
The ultimate insult was to call someone a Samaritan (John 8:48).
Samaritans worshiped God not from Jerusalem, but from Mt. Gerazim. They also only believed in the first 5 books
of Moses.
POINT
1- To truly
please God we must love Him with EVERYTHING
A.
The
basis of eternal life is to have a right relationship with GOD
(Mark 12:29-30; John 17:3; Lev 18:5; Rom 5:1-
Shalom; Mark 10:30; John 5:24)
B.
The
actions of those who love God will be evidenced by DOING
(James 2:20; John 6:28- works of believing; Titus 1:16;
Mat 7:21-23)
Going God wants us to get
off our haunches and to truly do obedience!
Deeper
"…Blessed are those who hear the word of
God and keep it!" Luke
12:28
POINT
2- To truly
please God we must love our neighbor as OURSELF
A.
The
priest and Levite had their spiritual priorities UPSIDE DOWN
(Hos 6:6; Matthew 9:13, 12:7; Compare Lev 19:18; 21-
unclean laws)
Prominent pastor / Televangelist
B.
The
Samaritan was looking for how to do; not how to justify HIMSELF
(Lev 19:18, 34; The Samaritan reversed every thing
the robbers did)
2 things for the lawyer; 1) BE LIKE THE SAMARITAN; 2) HE IS YOUR
NEIGHBO
Deeper
ILL- two ministers in a hospital room.
IIL- backed up well in Vermont;
ARE YOU DRIED UP?
• When you have a need, you attempt to meet it.
• When you have a hurt, you attempt to heal it.
• When you have a responsibility, you attempt to fulfill it.
• When you have a prayer request, you pray for it!
Other
notes:
Jesus
succinctly tells the story of a man being accosted by thieves. Yet in the story the Good Samaritan undoes
all these things the thieves did and fulfills the love of God and neighbor.
The
man was:
1)
Traveling to Jericho
2)
Fell among robbers (evil)
3)
Stripped of clothing
4)
Wounded
5)
Abandoned
6)
Half dead (dying)
The
Samaritan DID:
1)
Was journeying
2)
Brought compassion to the man (instead of evil)
3)
Bandaged the man with cloth (instead of stripping him)
4)
Poured on his wounds oil and wine (instead of wounding him)
5)
Set him on his own animal (instead of abandoning him)
6)
Took care of him to bring healing (instead of leaving him to die)
It
is our responsibility to undo the evil in our world through the Love of God and
bring healing through the Gospel.