Sunday, November 2, 2008

We have forgotten something very basic.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10:29-37

Jesus said that there was a Certain man. It could be Anyone. It might even be you. He was Going about his business. We don’t know if he were good, bad or indifferent. He was a stranger to all the others in this story.

Thieves, bad people who were taking advantage of him, stripped and beat him. They took anything of value off of him, and left him for dead.

Good people in the community, a minister and a respected government official, went on the other side of the street so they could ignore his beaten and dying body. After all they were not responsible, not relatives, not from the same neighborhood, not from the same class of people. Or were they? This connection is not given. Perhaps they were just too busy doing “good works” or making a living.

This interference was just too much trouble. However, they knew they should respond differently because they crossed the street in order to avoid seeing gory details of the beaten and dying.

The Samaritan was a hated group of people by the Jews who would be listening to Jesus tell this story. Samaritans were of the rebellious ten tribes who had left Rehaboam, David’s grandson, when he followed bad council on how to treat them. They never returned to the fold, worshipped many forms of Baal, and intermarried with pagans. They are, even today, called the 10 lost tribes because they no longer are known by their roots in Abraham.

All of this background simply to say that there was natural animosity between the beaten dying individual and the rescuer. The Samaritan was not the next door neighbor, not kin, not of the same class, not one who worshipped God the same. And yet Jesus deeply cared about the Samaritans (John 4:4-42, Luke 11:11-19).

This hated, despicable Samaritan rescued and restored the victim. He cleaned up his wound, put bandages on him, and drove him in his car to the nearest hospital and told the registrar that the stranger had no insurance and that he, the Samaritan, would pay the initial fee, and would pay the rest in a few days when the injured was well enough to go home.

Did you say that your Bible has a different translation? Well, if Jesus were telling this parable today, this would be the way He might tell it.

A man of learning asked Jesus a very important question, but did not really want to hear the answer. He understood that the law was complete in loving the Lord God with heart, soul, mind, and spirit, and in loving his neighbor as himself. But he wanted a very narrow view and responsibility towards others.

Who is the neighbor? We are responsible to all with whom we come in contact. It is not possible for us to pay the bills and to care for everyone, but we should not discriminate because of differences in culture, belief, nor status. We can give loving care to most, and healing prayers for all.

I know people who are sick, dying, poor, divorcing, going to jail, lost, evil, hateful. I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. They don’t live on my street, but they are my neighbors. I must be prayerful how to serve them inside God’s Kingdom today. I don’t have the means nor the tools to solve all of their problems, nor my own. If I am faithful, I become part of the solution, and they will feel Christ’s love through me and will be encouraged.

There are times when I must not stop and help. If I am required or might be tempted to be sinful in helping someone else, I must realize that I am not called to aide this person.

For instance, a relationship between a married person and someone of the opposite sex can lead to an inappropriate friendship that could threaten the sacredness of marriage or even adultery.

Going to places where safety is at risk should only be done with prayer and knowledge that it is God’s will for the potential of harm.

Partaking in sinful activity, such as smoking pot, or talking about sinful topics does not bring a person to the Kingdom of God.

One must stay inside God’s Kingdom and realize that being the Good Samaritan is ALWAYS inconvenient and basically uncomfortable.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:46-48:
If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the unsaved do the same?
And if you greet only your own brethren, you do nothing more than the unsaved.
But be complete, whole, and perfect in your love.

Now I will say that some of you whom I love are neither loving nor accepting people in your lives. You feel justified. And yet you are hurting, causing strife, and missing out on unity that is greatly needed and ultimately give great happiness.

Some of you want to be away from troubled people because seeing the difficulties will be painful, inconvenient and take away precious time. If you feel defensive about this, please be prayerful. Take the road less traveled that leads to eternal life. And if you feel this is directed towards you as you read this, remember that I love you very much.


Extra notes on Samaria: Samaria was the capital of Israel in the region given to Ephraim starting in the reign of Rehoboam in the Old Testament. Before this it was joined to Judea, and they were called Israel after the Patriarch, Jacob, who later was known as Israel.

John 4: Jesus said He had a need to go through Samaria. While the disciples were going to find food, Jesus had His encounter with the woman at the well. After this, the whole village came to Jesus, believing, not because of the witness of the woman at the well, but because of their own experience with Jesus.

Mathew 10:5: When the disciples were sent out, they were instructed to not go to the gentiles nor to the Samaritans, only to the House of Israel.

Luke 17:11-19: Jesus was going through Samaria and healed 10 lepers. One and only one came back to thank Jesus. He was a Samaritan.

17 comments:

jeleasure said...

Yeah, people have forgotten. It seems strange to people whom I've never met, to go into their home and fix something just because I notice it is broken and I know how to fix it.
Love is only a reciprocal act for most of us.
Good post and good background information.
Love Jim

jeleasure said...

Jody Lynne. Visit this site and ask if she would like to exchange links.
Thanks,
Jim

Vicki said...

True love stems from Christ. We love even when we don't feel like it, don't we!
For me, you are easy to love.
Blessings to you, My Dear one.

Gigi said...

Jesus commands us to "love others as you love yourself." Seems pretty easy on the surface, doesn't it? But we get bogged down by all the "stuff" that makes every person unique: skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, to name just a few of the "big" ones. How much better a place our world would be if we left the Judgement Seat to the Lord and followed the advice of Jesus, Who said this command was second only to loving God with all of our hearts, souls and minds! Wonderful post, Vicki!

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

Who is the neighbor? We are responsible to all with whom we come in contact. It is not possible for us to pay the bills and to care for everyone, but we should not discriminate because of differences in culture, belief, nor status. We can give loving care to most, and healing prayers for all.

Very well stated, Vicki!

Russ

Debbie Haughland Chan said...

Who is the neighbor? We are responsible to all with whom we come in contact.
I don't think I've heard a better explanation of who is a neighbour than how you've stated it here. Good definition!

One must stay inside God’s Kingdom
I agree, but we must also be willing to see that God's Kingdom is a lot bigger than we realize. The three men that passed by had good religious reasons to do what they did. If they touched an injured man, they would become ritually unclean. If I remember correctly, they were on their way to Jerusalem and therefore, probably the temple. But they could not enter the temple (or at least not past the Court of the Gentiles) if they were ritually unclean. In their minds' eyes, they were obeying God by crossing to the other side of the street and not stopping. In fact, the priest and the Levite would not be able to do their work in the temple that day if they stopped to help.

How often do we believe we're doing God's will when in fact we're far from it, like these men were?

Vicki said...

Wow! Thanks for the great reflections. I feel encouraged and cared about. All except my husband are strangers to me as far as living close by.
Gigi, I can see your other name is "Barnabas" encourager. Russ, thank you for your affirmation. And welcome, Debbie. I appreciate your added notes about the thoughts of the pries and Levite that they would be ceremonially unclean if they would stop and help. This is a biggie, because we all have our duties and moments of righteous acts that keep us outside God's Kingdom.
Know that I am praying for all us herein, including my beloved, that we have discernment to know the path to eternal life and follow HIM in spirit and in truth.

jeleasure said...

Hi Hun,
Here is a link to another blogger. Her name is Patricia Hickman.
Invite her to do a link exchange.
We need to work on that. You have people waiting to be added to your blog roll.
Love, Jim

Tamela's Place said...

Hello Vicki,

Amen vicki, loving others while being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading will always keep us on the right path.

Blessings to you and Jim.
:)Tamela

jeleasure said...

Here is the site to Yung Suke Kim - click here to go to the site
He is a friend to Sung Woo.
Also, go to his profile and read his thoughts on Paul's theology.
Jim

Maryb said...

I was looking at your pics on the side of you blog what cuties your grandkids are. and the animals too.

Vicki said...

Dear Mary,
Thanks for the nice comments about my Grand Children and pets.
I noticed that you have a bird, also. Our birds name is Lovey Dovey. He's a white dove.
My husband helped me place your link on my blog page. Would you please host a link to my page on your blog, also?
Keep in touch. I like making new friends,
Vicki.

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

Thanks again, Vicki.:)

Jody said...

Hi Vicki,
Thanks for the comment. I'm just getting around to reading the posts that your husband has sent me and I've added most of them to my blog. Thank you for your prayer, I need peace and rest today as I have a terrible migraine and missing being in worship this morning. Thanks again, Jody

jeleasure said...

Hey Hun,
Here is a nice blog for you to visit.
A female in ministry. Her blog is Coffee, God and Me

Freddae' said...

Thank you, thank you for sharing this. I love the Good Samaritan and wish we discussed him more.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I'll be putting a link up for you shortly. I can't wait to read more of your posts.

Vicki said...

Thank you too, Woman on a Mission, for stopping by my blog also. I will enjoy reading your thoughts and keeping in touch.
Blessings,
Vicki

Great Grandfather Humes

Great Grandfather Humes
Great Grandfather, Charles Humes, started the family interest in trucks. He is in the center of the picture and Great Grandmother, Eva Humes, is to the left of him.