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Return To The Online Bulletin
Main PageLuke 10:30-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan has got to be one of my favourites in the Scripture. There is so much for us to learn from Jesus' words therein. He teaches us about compassion, hospitality, prejudice, mercy, loving one's enemies, who our neighbour is, and our responsibility to our neighbour. As Jesus shares this parable, we can see in the man He describes a type of Himself. Thus, let us consider the Good Samaritan in that light.
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The Coming Of The Good Samaritan
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In verse 33 of the context, we read, "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was..." Note, as we read about the Priest and the Levite, in both instances they "...passed by on the other side." Not so with the Samaritan. He didn't cross over because there was a helpless man in the ditch. Rather, he came to him.
Christ has come to us. Consider:
He came to our humanity and took it upon Himself (John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8)
He came to our sorrows and bore them for us (Isaiah 53:3-5)
He came to our temptations and endured them (Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 4:1-11)
He came to our curse and removed it (Galatians 3:13)
He came to our sins and bore them for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)
He came to our death and made us alive again (Ephesians 2:1)
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The Compassion Of The Good
Samaritan
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Again, in verse 33 we read, "And when he saw him, he had compassion." In contrast, both the Priest and the Levite looked and passed by. They were not moved at the sight of this man who had fell among thieves, but moved on in their selfishness. Their own safety, their own schedule, their own goods --- but not the life of this man in the ditch.
Jesus was a man of compassion. He looked down upon the city Jerusalem and wept, seeing them as sheep without a Shepherd. He saw the lame and sick brought before Him, and had compassion, healing them of their ailments. However, the height of compassion the Saviour has bestowed is in the giving of His own life. He saw us dead in sin, and was moved with compassion (Romans 5:8).
In 2 Samuel 9, we read of a wonderful act of compassion by King David. David had loved Jonathan greatly, and desired to show kindness to any of his house which remained. It came to light that a lame son of Jonathan was still alive, Mephibosheth. David restored to him all the land of Saul, and from that day on, Mephibosheth would sit at David's table. In response to this kindness, Mephibosheth remarked, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?" He understood that he was not entitled to the kindness given.
How much more ought we to think of ourselves as "...a dead dog..."? We are unworthy of teh kindness which has been shown to us. We have received the promise of a heavenly home, and the right to sit with the King eternally! How great His compassion is!
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The Care Of The Good Samaritan
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First, "...he went to him..." He didn't send a representative. He didn't continue his journey and tell someone in the next village that there was a man in need. He "...went to him..." himself. Likewise, Jesus came Himself. He didn't send another to do the job. The king served the servants. He saved us (Acts 4:12). He sustains us (Isaiah 41:10). He keeps us (Jude 24). He accompanies us (Exodus 33:14).
Next, we read that he "...bandaged his wounds..." It was very unlikely that the man was carrying numerous bandages. Rather, with his own clothing, he bandaged the wounds of this man. When Jesus found us battered and beaten with the bruises and cuts of sin, He healed us at personal cost. The Scripture tells us, "...by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24-25)
Next, "...he set him on his own animal..." He did not make this injured man walk. He himself walked, giving his seat to another. Jesus not only came and suffered in our stead that we might be healed of our sinfulness, but He also gave us a place of prominence to sit. Paul writes, that He "...hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) We have been given a seat which was not rightfully ours, but was given through His compassion and care.
Coming to a town, he "...brought him to an inn..." He wasn't about to leave this man out in the cold. He needed a place of rest, and thus one was provided. Likewise, we are a people in need of rest. Jesus promised rest (Matthew 11:28). Jesus promises mansions in heaven (John 14:1-6).
He didn't just bring him to an inn and leave. He "...took care of him." I picture the Good Samaritan staying up all night. Cleansing the man's wounds, changing the bandages, feeding him, battling his fever, shock, or whatever might have come upon the man. He didn't just leaven him to fend for himself. Neither has Jesus. We are not left alone to face the trials of this life. He is a caring Lord, One upon whom we can cast our cares (1 Peter 5:6-7), trusting that He will take care of us.
Finally, it came time for the Good Samaritan to continue on his journey, but notice, he "...took out two denarii...." for the man's further care. He supplied for the man's needs. The inn keeper was told to care for the man, and if more was needed, it would be paid. Jesus has supplied our every need. The Lord has "...blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 1:3) We have the promise that "...God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
The Good Samaritan --- a type of Christ. He came near that He might help us. He showed compassion. He provided the utmost care for our needs and continues to do so, both spiritually and physically. What a wonderful Saviour!
In this week's Answering The Athiest: If the earth is a sphere, how did Satan show Jesus all the kingdoms of the world from a mountain in Judea? Do Isaiah 40:22 and Matthew 4:8 contradict? Visit http://AnsweringTheAtheist.faithweb.com/20010715.htm