That parable in our gospel reading is one of the best known of Jesus’ stories and, we know what it’s all about, right?
I mean, it’s so straightforward. It’s all about being a good Samaritan. It’s all about loving your neighbor.
Type in “Good Samaritan” on Google and you will find any number of hospitals, charities, and humanitarian organisations doing incredible work around the world called Good Samaritan. Because this parable is all about helping those in need around us.
But, is it?
The church fathers, almost unanimously, thought that this parable was an allegory.
This is how 17th century bishop J. C Ryle summarises the teaching of the fathers:
The traveller represents human nature,—the falling among thieves, Adam’s fall,—the lying naked, wounded, and half dead, the condition of mankind,—and the failure of the priest and Levite to help, the inability of ceremonies and forms to raise man from his low estate. The good Samaritan is Jesus Christ. The oil and wine are the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The inn is the Church. The host is the ministry. The two pence are the two sacraments. The promised coming again to repay what is spent more, the Lord’s second advent.
First taught by Origen in the 2nd, 3rd century, some version of this interpretation was virtually universal in early Christianity.
Of course, to modern readers, it is a ridiculous interpretation and a classic example of how not to interpret the Bible.
So how should we proceed?
Well, I want to suggest that this parable is not primarily about helping those in need. Not that Jesus doesn’t want us to care for our neighbor. Of course he does.
But that’s not what the parable is all about. Our passage is actually all about the big question of salvation. And unless we see that, we’ll miss the point and the purpose of our parable
So let me try and show you how this parable is really all about salvation
- The all-important question.
The parable begins with a question.
v 25. On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Now, friends, make no mistake, this is the most important question of the universe.
Our lives here, however old we live, are very short. In fact, the Bible says our lives are like mist. They’re here in a minute and then they’re gone in a second.
And after our lives here, there is forever. And the Bible says that you’ll either spend your forever in heaven with God, or you’ll spend your forever in hell, judged and separated from God.
And this man knows it, and so he asked Jesus this most important question in the universe. What must I do to inherit eternal life?
And actually, it’s such an important question that it’s asked of Jesus again, the same exact question near the end of this section of the travel narrative.
So if you turn to Luke 18 verse 18.
v. 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Same question, different guy.
And it’s fascinating because when Jesus is done with him,
v.26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
v.27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
You see the point: salvation is impossible with man. Which is the point Jesus is going to make in our passage today.
So back to our passage, the all-important question:
Notice that this guy, he asked the right question, but his motivation is all wrong. Luke tells us, he asked the question to test Jesus.
He is a bit of a know-it-all. An expert in the Jewish law. Theologian, we would have called him today. He wants to know if Jesus knows the law as well as him.
How does Jesus respond?
- The absolutely impossible answer, Part I.
Jesus, he’s kind of annoying if he’s your friend, right? You ask him a question, he asks you a question in return. But it’s okay because he’s Jesus.
So, verse 26, “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
and then Jesus gives him the absolutely impossible answer.
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
So the way to eternal life is to love God with all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my strength, and all of my mind to love my neighbor as myself.
What do you think of that? How do you respond to that? What would you have said to Jesus?
“Well, thank you Jesus, now I know what I’ve got to do so I can inherit eternal life. I’m going to roll up my sleeves and put my best foot forward and go ahead and earn my way into heaven.” Is that your response?
Well, I wouldn’t respond that way myself, because, friends, I haven’t got a chance. I mean, I’m a pastor, right? But, but let me be very honest with you. There are times when I pray and fall asleep; there are days when, frankly, I don’t feel like reading the Bible.
And there are times, actually, probably too many times, when I do what I want to do, rather than what God would have me do,
What hope have I got to succeed in loving God with all my heart, all my soul/life, all my strength, all my mind?
And don’t even talk about me trying to love my neighbors as myself. I can’t even love my wife and boys like myself all the time, 24/7!
Are you beginning to see what’s really going on here?
Look at the man’s question again.
v. 25, teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Do you see his misunderstanding? He thinks eternal life is all about what we do. The religious works we practice, the good deeds we perform, and Jesus says — All right, if you want to make it all about what you do, go ahead then. Love God perfectly. Love your neighbor perfectly. See if you can do that.
Jesus is trying to teach this guy a lesson.
You can never do enough. You can never be good enough. God’s standards, his demands are just way too high. And if you think you can perfectly meet them, it’s probably because you have lowered the bar so low, which is what people over the centuries have done.
A good exercise to do in this regard is to have a scale. At the top, some of the most excellent humans who ever lived. Mandela, Mother Theresa etc; then at the bottom some of the worst people who have ever lived. Hitler, your mean aunt etc.
Then ask people, where do they think they fall on the scale?
Let me tell you what will happen. Everyone in this room, everyone at your work, everyone in prison, every terrorist and philanthropist, will figure out where the middle is, and place themselves just above it.
And it is because we all have a way of lowering the moral bar to the standard we think we can achieve, and that mostly means, just high enough to be able to look down on others and feel good about ourselves.
But God’s standards are way above our standards. And we hope our theologian friend here gets it.
Sadly not!
v. 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
See what he wants to do, he wants to lower the bar low enough that he can achieve it.
He asks this question to justify himself. He thinks quite well of himself. I love my mom and dad. I love my fellow Jews. I love a few other people. My neighbors around me. I’m all good.
Which leads to…
- The absolutely impossible answer, part two,
Well, Jesus tells a story to respond to him.
A man is going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. It’s kind of a winding road surrounded by caves, a favorite hangout for robbers.
And this man, unfortunately, meets with the robbers. They strip him, they beat him, and leave him for dead.
So picture this man: beaten to a pulp, probably naked, blood everywhere.
Then along comes a priest, v. 31. Going down that same road, the priest sees the man, but he passes on the opposite end of the road.
Why does he avoid him? We don’t really know. Maybe he’s worried of being robbed himself. Maybe he thinks if he’s dead and he touches him, that’d will make him ceremonially unclean. We don’t know.
Another character then comes along, he’s a levite, an assistant priest, verse 32, and he does the same thing. He passes on the other side of the road.
And then to really stick the knife in, look at verse 33,
v.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. (he had compassion on him).
If you were listening in the first century, you would go, “A who..?” A Samaritan? Is that even possible?
Because the Jews and the Samaritan they hated each other.
Centuries earlier, the Jews were conquered by this invading army.
And some Jews actually intermarried with this invading army and took on some of their religious practices. They became known as the Samaritans. And therefore, if you’re a Jew, a pure Jew, well you would hate the Samaritans. They are half-breeds and spiritual traitors.
But look at the Samaritan. He does what the Jewish priest and the Levite don’t do.
There are at least six concrete acts of kindness in verse 34 to 35, what does he do?
He binds up the wounds of this half dead man.
He pours oil and wine to sooth him.
He gives him a ride on his animal.
He brings him to an inn to rest.
He takes care of the man in the inn,
and then the next day he gives money sufficient to pay for 24 days accommodation at the inn, and pays the innkeeper and says, take care of him until I return.
You get the picture? This is extravagant, lavish, sacrificial, out of this world, compassion and generosity.
Now, let’s think about this. There are a lot of homeless people in our city. I’m sure you’ve walked by some of them before.
Maybe you’re thinking, look, I’ve helped homeless people just like this guy. You know, maybe you’ve given a euro or two. Maybe you see them selling newspapers in front of the supermarket and you buy a copy and you think, I’m a good Samaritan.
Sorry, but allow me burst your burble. You are not even in the same solar system of comparison with this Samaritan.
See, if you want to love your neighbor like this Samaritan, this is what you need to do:
You get out of a supermarket and you find a homeless person selling newspapers. You don’t just buy one copy, you buy the whole stack and then you say to the guy, Look, will you follow me down to the restaurant?
And you walk with him, maybe you hold his hand, you sit him down, and you say, Meneer, I’m going to order some lunch for you, and a not a sandwhich, the best lunch, whatever it is, steak, chicken, stamppot, whatever you want. You order it. You sit there, you watch him eat till he’s done. And then you order him dessert. And then when he’s finished, he thinks, look, this has been a good day already.
He’s about to leave but you say to him. Do you have a house? NO.
Ok, you’re coming home with me. You’re gonna stay in my home tonight.
And you take him home to your place, you give him a shower, you give him fresh sheets, you give him a change of clothing. You say, look, stay in my house for the next two weeks. And in fact, here’s my bank card. You can go down to the supermarket and buy whatever you want for the next few weeks.
If you take care of this man for two entire weeks. All expenses paid, Well, then, you are getting close to being like this Samaritan.
Are you beginning to see the chasm, the vast difference between the Samaritan and you and me?
Which makes Jesus question in verse 36 even more piercing.
v. 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
Jesus is really sneaky. He’s changed the question. Do you notice it? It’s no longer Who is my neighbor? Which is basically asking for the bare minimum—tell me the three people I need to be nice to, and I’ll get on with it and I’m done.
No, no, no. Jesus changes the question. He says, verse 36, who proved to be a neighbor to this man? In other words, who acted like a neighbor?
That’s what you ask if you are seeking a definition. A model?
This is what being a neighbor looks like. Not just what some extreme people do but the rest of us don’t need to go that far.
Who was the neighbor to the man?
Well, how does this guy respond?
Verse 37, dumbfounded, no doubt, He says, The one who had mercy on him.
And then Jesus drops the absolutely impossible answer, part II: Go and do likewise.
And friends, You read what Jesus says, and you are meant to go. I can’t. I can’t do it. I mean, I want to do it, but I can’t.
My wife will divorce me, my neighbours will kick me out. I won’t ever have any savings. I will never be able to afford a holiday. I can’t be a good neighbor to everyone. I just can’t do it.
The bar is really high here. We have no hope of achieving this. Who can do this?
And so back to the all-important question, What shall I do to inherit eternal life?
The answer: Nothing. It is impossible to do anything that earns you eternal life
We’re not good enough. We cannot contribute to our salvation because God’s standards are sky high.
But here’s the good news. You actually don’t have to do anything to inherit eternal life, and that man’s question kind of gets it half right. Do you see what he says? What must I do to inherit eternal life?
The thing about inheritance is that you cannot earn it. An inheritance is a gift. A free gift. Completely undeserved, unmerited, graciously given to you.
And that’s how everyone gets eternal life. It’s a gift of God’s sovereign grace to undeserving people like us.
Actually friends, the first bit of our reading, we started from v.21, should have informed us that would be the case.
v.21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Do you see that eternal life, salvation, being in relationship with God, is a gift. A gift from the Father and the Son, which he gives to little children.
It is not something we earn.
So it should have been clear from the context that this parable cannot be about earning our salvation. It’s all about how we cannot do it, and we need to utterly rely on him to give it to us as a gift.
The key then is to be humble, like a child, to come bankrupt with nothing to offer, and ask Jesus to give us the gift of eternal life.
Which is why the next episode is about Martha and Mary. And Luke, he’s juxtaposing the response of these two women to Jesus.
Martha, she’s all activity, doing, doing, doing. Busy, busy, busy, as if salvation is by her works. But, Mary?
She’s clearly not being a good Samaritan. She leaves her sister to do all the work.
And she’s just sat there, at the feet of Jesus, humbly listening to his voice.
And who does Jesus commend? Mary and not Martha?
Friends, our passage is pushing us to ask, Do you see you cannot earn your salvation? Have you come to the foot of the cross and asked the Lord Jesus to give you this gift of eternal life?
So, two applications as we end. Here’s the first,
- Rejoice that eternal life is a gift of God’s grace.
Is it not wonderful that we cannot earn eternal life and God knows it, and yet he helps us in our greatest area of weakness?
You know, the great thing about a church like this is that most people are really committed, and serve, and give their time and money, and help the needy etc
It’s a wonderful thing!
But we must never allow our Christian service to make us think that we deserve this. That we’ve earned this.
Salvation is all by grace through faith, and not by works.
In fact, you know, even though the allegorical reading of the church fathers is problematic at points, I think the church fathers had a point.
This parable can help us see more clearly what Jesus has done for us.
Jesus is the ultimate good Samaritan. We are kind of like this man, battered and helpless in our sin.
And then here comes Jesus, setting his face to Jerusalem, enduring whatever is necessary, to be our good neighbor by sacrificially dying for our sins.
You see, Jesus is the good Samaritan, per excellence, even to the point of death.
So friends rejoice in him, worship him, adore him. He has served us in our greatest area of need.
But here’s the second application.
- Love others as Jesus has loved you.
If you’re a Christian, which is most of us here, then love others as Jesus has loved you.
Don’t love others to earn your salvation. No, of course not.
But while this passage is not primarily about loving other people, it does give us a picture of what loving other people looks like.
And if we really understand the cross and what Jesus has done to love us, then we really should be like this Samaritan to the people all around us.
And so on the eve of his death, he says, Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Loving people selflessly, compassionately, generously, because we have first been loved by the Lord Jesus.
And these works of love and compassion, which flow from the love with which we have been loved, they are very pleasing to God.
Another way to say this is that we are not saved by works, but once we are saved, our works are precious before the Lord, imperfect though they may be.
Two passages as I finish:
In Phil 4. Paul has just received a generous financial gift from this church, and he writes a thank you letter. Then hear what he says:
v.18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Did you notice how Paul describes the generosity of these Christians? A fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Let that sink I for moment. The good works of these Christians are not a filthy rag, not a foul stench. A fragrant, acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God.
Heb. 13:16 —And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
We are saved by grace alone, not by works. But once we are saved, we are called to be good Samaritans- loving others as we have bee loved.
And our love will not be perfect. We will not be like the Good Samaritan, but our works of love and compassion will be pleasing to the Lord—a fragrant offering, acceptable sacrifice