Bible Pathways 10/25/2002
October 25
Read Luke 10 -- 11
In Today’s Reading:
Seventy sent out; Good Samaritan; Martha and Mary; Pharisees denounced.
A certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25). A lawyer was known also as a Scribe; they were the official interpreters of the Mosaic Law as well as of the traditions. And [Jesus] . . . said [to] him, What is written in the Law? He said: [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]. And [Jesus] said [to] him, [You have] answered right: this do, and [you shall] live. But he, willing to justify himself, said [to] Jesus, And who is my neighbor? (10:26-29; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18).
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves . . . [who] wounded him . . . leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite . . . came and looked on him, and passed by. . . . But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him . . . bound up his wounds . . . and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. . . . Which now of these three, [do you think], was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus . . . Go, and do . . . likewise (Luke 10:30-37).
It is possible that the priest and the Levite, the official guardians and ministers of the Temple, [who] by chance . . . came down . . . that way, were on their way home to Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, where many of the Temple priests lived. To stop and help this dying man could have made them late for supper.
However, the Samaritan, that had compassion on him, wasn’t looking for excuses as to whether he was deserving of being helped. Instead, he recognized him as a fellow human who lay dying. The Samaritans were descended from the poorest of the poor Israelites who were not exiled to Babylon and had intermarried with Gentiles brought in by the Babylonians. As a mixed race, they were hated by the Jews.
My neighbor is anyone who needs my compassion and whom I have the opportunity to help, no matter what his position, race, or religion may be. We are simply to enter into the feelings for another's sufferings or misfortunes as God has done for us. Once we recognize this great, central truth in life, we will respond like the Good Samaritan, since whatever is mine belongs to God and whatever belongs to God should be shared with my neighbor because my neighbor also belongs to God.
All of us need to be reminded of our Lord's answer to the lawyer, who asked the question: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus reminded him that the evidence of eternal life within us is loving God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself (Luke 10:27).
Thought for Today: It is one thing to serve God, but quite another thing to show compassion to those who are less fortunate than we are.
Word Studies:
10:40 cumbered = busy; distracted; 10:41 careful = concerned; 11:8 importunity = unwanted persistence; 11:39 ravening = viciousness, covetousness; 11:46 lade = to load; 11:53 vehemently = angrily.
Cross References:
For Luke 10:27: See Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5. Luke 10:28: See Lev. 18:5.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for one more person to read through the Bible · Country: Bhutan (2 million) in the eastern Himalayas of central Asia · Major languages: Tibetan and Nepalese dialects · Public worship, evangelism, and proselytization are illegal · 70% Lamaistic Buddhist; 24% Hindu; 5% Muslim; .3% Protestant/Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Pray each day for the Lord to protect you from evil (IPeter 5:8).
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 13:2
