Day 49

Luke 10:25–37 (NIV)

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?” ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” ²⁷ He 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.’” ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why does the answer the lawyer gives in verse 27 make Jesus say he answered correctly? What are the priorities given in the answer?

The story is a familiar one. Is it easy to do what the Samaritan did? Why are why not?

Who would Jesus use as the Samaritan if he were to tell the story to you? What should you do about your attitude towards that person or group?

Notes

This story may or may not imply that the religious lawyer had animosity towards Jesus. vs 29 gives a suggestion that he is pharisaic in his leanings (Luke 16:15) . He does call Jesus "Teacher"

Jesus gets the man to answer his own question- a very common way of teaching in that day.

vs 27-The lawyer quotes Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18 to gives the answer. He is shown as wise in his answer. He is taking care of the God relationship and the relationship with each other in his answer.

vs 28- one thing to know the answer , it is another to do it!

vs 29- sounds a little egotistical, Is he just wanting Jesus to confirm what he is doing?

vs 30- It is a 17 mile journey dropping about 3300 feet in elevation. rocky and winding with many caves for robbers to hide in. It was known for a road where such robberies could happen.

stripped him- no longer anything signifying who he is, no clothes, possessions, just a man who will die without help.

vs 31-32- The priest would have probably come from performing temple duties, the Levite (helped the priest perform their duties) could have also. In both cases they see the man and leave. The wording in the Levite case could make it seem he went closer to the man.

Some say the worry of being unclean was why they refused to help. There were exceptions that would have allowed the touching of a corpse if he was dead. But Jesus doesn't get into that. The point is that 2 highly religious Jews do not stop to help. (similar to Luke 6:9, so caught up in the law they have forgotten love!)

vs 33- SAMARITAN- THE HERO- the Jews hated Samaritans (remember John wanted to destroy their town 9:52) they were looked at as inferior in every way. So for Jesus to name a Samaritan as hero was unheard of. Yet that is what he did. The Samaritan didn't care about whether he would be slowed on his journey, didn't care at about cost, didn't care about the inconvenience of having to walk, didn't care about who the man he helped was. HE just Cared for the man he didn't know but was in trouble and he could help. What is my attitude as I have such chances?

vs 37- interesting the lawyer didn't say the Samaritan- was it because it would be hard to say it aloud. Go and do the same (Luke 6:47 all over again!) put it in to practice. Everyone got the story the question is will you do what you learned?