The parables Jesus told have always been exciting for me. It is quiet clear that they are intended to communicate truth, yet at the same time hide it. This is what Jesus meant when He explained to the disciples that some people "hearing never hear, and seeing never see." Some people only want to see what they want and hear what they want. Therefore, He used parables. (see Matt. 13:10-15)
I recently taught on the good samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37. I have had good feedback so I thought I would share. The story begins with a question from a lawyer to Jesus. This lawyer's question was not entirely sincere. He was testing Jesus and so asked a law based question: "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Now Jesus knowing His intentions answers accordingly. You see the lawyer wanted to know what he could DO to inherit life. Jesus then questioned the questioner: "What is written in the law? What is your reading?" In other words, you are asking what to do, yet you know the law what is your understanding of it. The lawyer replies: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus confirms this by saying you have answered rightly now do this and you will live. However, Jesus knows, as He would later teach, that everyone needs forgiveness. Works alone cannot save someone. The lawyer's intent was to test Jesus, he was not sincerely seeking eternal life, so Jesus instead of reasoning with the lawyer for hours on end, simply advises him to go practice the answer the lawyer gave (which assumes even though the lawyer may have known the right answer he wasn't doing it). Jesus knew that if the lawyer took seriously finding eternal life and sincerely practice loving God and others the lawyer would find it still not enough and then maybe seek for the truth.
However, the lawyer is not satisfied with this small interaction. He further seeks to justify himself by asking, "And who is my neighbor?" He is hoping to justify why he doesn't love some and loves others. His functional dynamic is still based on his keeping of the law and therefore seeks justification accordingly. However, Jesus' answer hides the truth while at the sametime reveals it. Jesus answered with the parable of the good samaritan. Here is what I believe Jesus was revealing:
A certain man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.... "Certain" can be translated a "particular" man. What if Jesus is talking about this lawyer.... or Adam as a representative for all men. This Adam, fell among thieves who stole his clothing, wounded him, and left him half dead. "Clothing" in jewish culture represented identity. For example, if some was going to beg he must present himself to the priest if found authentically handicapped he was given a certain robe which communicated to all in the city that he was legitimately a beggar. The first thing the Father did in the prodigal story is when his son came home was to give him a robe.
So, this man had his identity stolen, was wounded, and left half dead. Adam when he ate of the tree became separated from God. He was dead in this way, yet still physically alive. He was "half-dead."
Now a priest came by representing the law. Priests in Jesus day represented the covenant that was based primarily on the law. The Priest passes by on the other side. Why? Because the law can do nothing for a half dead man. The law can only condemn or justify it cannot heal nor transform anyone.
Next came a levite which represented religion. The levites where responsible for all the feasts' and other religious practices. He walks on the other side because religion can do nothing for a half dead man. It requires things from you it does not heal or transform you.
Then a samaritan comes by... The point has been overly stated that the Jews did not like the samaritans but why? A Samaritan is some one who is half jewish or child of Israel and half gentile. Now lets define some terms: Israel means prince of God and gentile means people or nations. It is used to describe people who are not Israelites. It can coming mean "of the world." So, a Samaritan would be someone who is half prince of God and half of this world. I believe Jesus is using Samaritan speaking of Himself. He comes to the man and has compassion on him. He bandages his wounds. He heals with oil, a consistent picture in scripture of the Holy Spirit and wine, a consistent picture in scripture of the blood of Christ. He places the man on His own donkey because "surely He has bore our infirmities and carried our sickness" (Isa. 53 and Matt. 8:17).
He brought the man to an inn, which literally means place of many dwellings. The other "place of many dwellings" Jesus speaks of is His Fathers house in John 14. John 14 is not about "mansions in heaven" but a place for each believer in the Father's house. "House" commonly refers to family or lineage in the scriptures, not simply or exclusively a physical building. It is here in the Father's house the man finds his identity as a "son of God" (see Gal. 3:27).
The Samaritan paid the inn keeper two denarii. One denarii was a days wage. He gave the man two days wages because he plans on returning the third day.
Now, Jesus asked the man which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among thieves. You see, he was hiding truth. The man who was seeking more things to DO to try to earn eternal life can interpret it one way, basically I need to be more neighborly to the guy on the side of the road. Which was not the point! The point was that doing more could not earn you eternal life. The truth was the lawyer was a half dead man needing one who was half prince of God and half of this world to come to him and have mercy on him and heal him!
The answer is Jesus is the neighbor and has come to us in our half dead lives to save us! Neither law nor religion can do that. Being more nice to the man on the side of the road cannot do that!
But sadly the lawyer did not get it because he was not looking to be saved but justified. So, Jesus told him, "Go do likewise."
Blessings,
AT
