Lesson Two: The Good Samaritan

Lesson Two: The Good Samaritan 1

Luke 10:25. Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there? 27 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 given the right answer; do this, and you will live. 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 2

Luke 10:30. Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, 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 while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 3

Luke 10:34. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." 4

One of the most familiar passages of the New Testament contains the parable about the Good Samaritan. It is a great lesson on KINDNESS and HELPFULNESS and DUTY. 5

The Good Samaritan: Three Basic Rules Men Live By 6

It contains three philosophies that men lived by back then and still exists among men and women today. 7

Jesus was trying to teach: 1. We can develop bad habits. 2. They need to be adjusted. 3. We need to take a real look at ourselves. 4. We need to make sure we are living according to God s expectations not some sort of selfish form of existence. 8

Setting the stage: 1. Primary question is: Who Is My Neighbor? 2. Jews were aware of their religious obligations to others. 9

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Exodus 20:16. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 21:14. But if someone willfully attacks and kills another by treachery, you shall take the killer from my altar for execution. Exodus 22:14. When someone borrows an animal from another and it is injured or dies, the owner not being present, full restitution shall be made. 11

Lev. 19:13. You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. Lev. 19:18. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Prov. 14:21. Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor. 12

Zech. 8:16. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD. 13

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This parable shows three different styles of life by the people involved in this lesson. These three basic types make up the life styles of all mankind. 15

YOU Live By One Of These Basic Philosophies of Life 16

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The First Philosophy of Life: What is Yours, Is Mine, If I Can Get It! 18

This Is The Basic Sin of GREED 19

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Luke 10:30. Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Exodus 20:16. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 22

The Road To Jericho 23

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Their Philosophy of Life Violated the 8 th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Steal! 26

From the time that man began to say, This is MINE Others might plot to 1. Take it away by violence, or 2. Take it away by trickery. 27

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Among Thieves, Stealing Is often excused As being Just Business. 30

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Note these thieves and their end: Achan Josh. 7:1. But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things: Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things; and the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites. 32

Josh. 7:20. And Achan answered Joshua, "It is true; I am the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel. This is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. They now lie hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." Josh. 7:24. Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, with the silver, the mantle, and the bar of gold, with his sons and daughters, with his oxen, donkeys, and sheep, and his tent and all that he had; and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD is bringing trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him to death; they burned them with fire, cast stones on them, 33

Note these thieves and their end: Judas John 12:4. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor? 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 34

Matt. 27:3. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself. 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 35

New Testament Injunctions: Eph. 4:28. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Rom. 13:9. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. 36

I Pet. 4:14. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 37

What is WRONG with stealing? 1. No respect for others.. Their feelings. Their property. Their rights. Their safety. Etc. 38

Besides God Says It Is Wrong! 39

So, Don t Do It! 40

It is called covetousness in the Bible. Which means: wanting the property of another to the point of being willing to do whatever it takes to get it. 41

Elisha And Greedy Gahazi 42

I Cor. 6:9. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. 43

Eph. 5:3. But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Col. 3:5. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 44

The Second Philosophy of Life: What is Mine, Is Mine, And I Intend To Keep It! 45

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This is the sin of selfishness. Being tight-fisted. Tighter than the bark on a tree. Usually not generous in any way. 47

Priest And Levite Pass By On Other Side Not Interested In Helping Hurt Man 48

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Satan loves it when God s people become selfish and stingy. 51

Luke 12:16. Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops? 18 Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God." 52

Acts 5:1. But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God! 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and 53 buried him.

Acts 5:7. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price. 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out. 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things. 54

Covetousness is far more common in the Bible than are thieves or good Samaritans. This is also true in everyday life. 55

The Third Philosophy of Life What is Mine, Is Yours, If You Need It! 56

This Is The Virtue Of Compassion. 57

Luke 10:33. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." 58

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This is a major virtue of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He had compassion on the people. Matt. 14:14 60

Lev. 19:9, 10. When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God. Deut. 24:19. When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings. 20 When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 61

Acts 2:44. All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 62

Acts 4:32. Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 63

What does the New Testament Say? 64

Gal 6:10. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. James 1:27. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 65

Matt. 25:31. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 66

Matt. 25:36. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 67

Matt. 25:42. for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 44 Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you? 45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." 68

Jesus gave The Ultimate Gift To A People Who So Desperately Needed His Help! 69

Rom. 3:23. since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. 70

We have many opportunities every day to help someone in need. 71

We can be like the Priest or the Levite. 72

Or, Like The Good Samaritan 73

And Go Do Like He Did, Show Kindness On The Less Fortunate. 74

You Go And Do Likewise! 75

Our Next Lesson Will Be The Parable Of The Leaven 76