Wednesday Night Study, 7:00 p.m. March 25th

The Gospel of Luke 10:25-37                    

Pastor’s Study

 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Questions for Reflection

1. What was the nature of the question the “expert in the law” asked Jesus (10:25)? What does Luke tell us this question was designed to do?  

2. In response, why do you think Jesus pointed the man back to the Law (10:26)?

3. How did the man sum up the Law (10:27)? While answering correctly about the Law, what was it about his response that tells us he missed the real intent of the Law (10:28-29)?

4. How might the Word of God sometimes be used today to “justify” sinful thoughts and actions?  

5. What was the setting of the story (parable) that Jesus told to answer the question, “who is my neighbor” (10:30)?

6. Who were the main characters in the parable who saw the man along the way (10:31-33)? What actions did the Samaritan take when he came across the beaten traveler (10:33-35)? Why do you think Jesus made the Samaritan out to be hero of the story?

7. When asked “which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man,” what was the “expert in the Law” compelled to admit (10:36-37)? What did Jesus tell the man to go and do?

Life Applications

1. To the question, “Who is our neighbor?” Every human being is our neighbor.

2. The Great Commandment is to both love God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40).   

3. We love God by showing “mercy” to others.

4. Jesus as “The” Good Samaritan. Jesus sees and rescues us who have been beaten down, broken, and bruised by sin and the world. Jesus steps in when everyone else steps aside.