The story of the Good Samaritan is a way for people to see how they experience ‘hard religion’ and ‘soft religion’ through the questions a lawyer asks Jesus concerning eternal life. Many people are so focused on having the right doctrine without paying attention to their life while others focus on enjoying life without due inquiry into what is true or false. Jesus shows how loving God and loving one’s neighbor as oneself is impossible apart from receiving the new life in the Holy Spirit and apart from the union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Pure religion is receiving Jesus as one’s neighbor and becoming a better neighbor beginning with one’s own spouse and children and taking care of widows and orphans.
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotation information.
Samuel Choi
Luke 10:25–37
Federal Way Campus
September 12, 2010
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September 12, 2010
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September 12, 2010
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September 12, 2010
