28.2.25 Luke 10:25-37

Prepare

Father, please help us to quieten our minds from all the noise of life around us and hear what you want to say to us in this passage.

Read

Luke 10: 25-37

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.”

Reflect

In verse 29 the Levite is wrestling with the letter of the law, perhaps feeling that he is not able to do what God is asking of him because he doesn’t yet know the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus is using this story of the Good Samaritan as a practical way knowing that one day the Levite will reflect on this story, having experienced the Spirit’s power and will be able then to do far more than he thinks he is able to do.

Be

Lets imagine ourselves as a bystander at this exchange between Jesus and the Expert in the Law.  We might be feeling in awe by the way that Jesus takes the Levite through to an answer so wisely, and gently, and in a way that is just right for him.  Would we feel even greater trust in Jesus because of the way he sees past the immediate question, to what the Levite actually needs to know.

Become

As we rest in Jesus’ company, let’s allow Him to show us any areas of our journey with Him where we might be trying to compromise, or find a way around Jesus’s teachings. 

Let’s ask ourselves, are we making excuses rather than following Jesus in complete dependence on him?

I was recently asking God for more knowledge and more wisdom.  The next day I read Proverbs 4 and felt God reminding me that I know Him, and He is the fount of all wisdom, and eager to share His wisdom with us.

 Do

Here's a simple prayer we might try: “Guide my hands, Lord, to work as you would work. Guide my lips, Lord, to say what you would say. Guide my heart, Lord, to do what you would do.”

Practice

Is there anyone you know who is need at the moment, ask God how you can help.