The Good Samaritan

Good Samaritan is a term many of us have heard or even used in our life. Although many really don’t know its origin, or if they do, they don’t fully understand its true meaning. To many, the Good Samaritan is just a story of a good guy doing a good deed for someone in need. But to Jesus it was so much more. The story He told was in response to a question posed to Him by an expert in religious law.

Luke 10:25-26 New King James Version

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 Jesus responded to the man with a story about a man in dire need of help. His aim was to take all excuses from the man for ignoring those in need. In life, we all tend to want to help those whom we see fit to help. We often will find reasons why not to help someone often because they are not our own people, or because we feel they don’t deserve help because of the predicament they chose to put themselves into. But the story of the Good Samaritan leaves little doubt that these are not always acceptable excuses.

Luke 10:30-37 New King James Version

30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”  And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

It was not uncommon to be robbed or assaulted on this road. The road to Jericho was a major trade route filled with many cultures passing thru its way every day. You could never really know who you were passing by. It could be that the Priest and the Levite who walked by, not only thought of the man as lower class, but also thought “What did he do to put himself there?”  We can be quick to assume that people have placed themselves in a bad position due to sin or their own bad choices. But one thing about this Samaritan is certain, he did not ask the man any questions, but went right to work getting him help. This is unusual because the Samaritan was considered a dog by the Jewish people. He had every reason to not help and every reason to leave the man for somebody else.

Jesus was often despised by the Jewish people, His own people mind you, as was this Good Samaritan. They saw Jesus not as a King or a Savior but just an uneducated man, a man from a poor family, and man they even said did His miracles by the power of the devil. And like this good Samaritan, Jesus had every reason to ignore us who were beaten and left for dead by life. Jesus wasn’t just a human infant born in a manger, but He was the King of King and the Lord of Lords. He was with the Father at the beginning of creation. He has always been just like the Father and not created. But knowing this world needed a savior, He left His throne in heaven to come to earth in the form of a man and suffer for us.

Philippians 2:7 New King James Version

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

And why should He have done this? Was it because we were deserving or because we had done anything good to merit his help? Was it because we were of royal blood line or because we are holier in our Father’s eyes? The Bible says none or righteous, no not one (Rom. 3:16) The Father sent Jesus for one reason, His mercy. It was the Father’s desire to do for His children what they could not do; save themselves from certain damnation.

For all those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, you should know Jesus was to you, what this Good Samaritan was to this man. He didn’t ask any of us how we got in the position we were in before offering help. In fact, He already knew our hearts and the sinful state they were already in. This is the very reason He came, to bring payment for our sins and to bring freedom and healing to our soul. Jesus paid the price for you at the inn, and He continues to pay the price for you at the Inn by the shedding of His own blood on the cross. It is by His blood and by His stripes our wounds and sickness are healed. He bore all your sins and sickness on the cross. And if you have left your first love and have fell back to your own sins, know that the cost has still been paid at the inn for you to return to the feet of Jesus and ask for forgiveness with a heart of repentance. If you don’t know Jesus, understand this: there is no sin you have committed the Father doesn’t know of. He knows where you are and how you got there. But His desire is not to punish or inflict further pain, but to bring healing and freedom, and most importantly, to restore His relationship with you. This is the greatest reason for the sending of His Son; to reconcile His lost children to Himself that He may once again be their Father and adopt them into His family.