Love That Leads to Eternal Life

(The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37)

Introduction:

• Is there a point in your life that you have done a good deed to someone without expecting something in return?                
• Most of us have probably done it at some point in our lives, but have you ever questioned yourself the motive behind that act?
• Have you done it out of compulsion, out of fear or out of love?
• Is there a kind of love that leads to eternal life?

Here in our text this evening, we have come across a very familiar story from the Lord Jesus Christ about the Good Samaritan. I believe every one of us in this church have heard and read about this parable. For us teachers, we have told this story in our Sunday school and Bible Club classes many times. All throughout the Lord’s ministry in this world, Jesus Christ generally teaches his disciples, and the people that wanted to hear Him, through stories. These stories illustrate a moral and spiritual lesson. We call them parables. The Lord teaches this way because: It’s easier for children to learn through stories.

So by God’s grace and through the Spirit’s guidance, we will meditate once again on this familiar story.

However, before we go on with the story, we must first understand the events that happened prior to the parable. If you can see in the text, the Parable of the Good Samaritan is encapsulated within verses 25 to 37, not 30 to 37. Those five verses prior to the story are very significant to understand the overall meaning of our meditation tonight. 

           I.   A Lawyer (v. 25) – (the who)

a. Luke emphasizes a man who stood up to put Jesus to the test.

b. This man is wise, has understanding and well respected. – Behold, a lawyer!

c. This man stood up to test Jesus after he heard the Lord’s rejoicing. 

    (Luke 10:21-22)

1. Jesus addressed God as His Father. (v. 21)

2. Jesus declared that “these things” were hidden from the wise and understanding, and revealed to little children. 

   (Children – figuratively a simple minded person)

These things pertains to:

a. The Kingdom of God has come to them

b. The Messiah has come to the world

c. God shows no partiality (Jews, Gentiles, rich or poor, kings or slaves)

d. Miracles – what it signifies about Christ

d. This man loves to memorize God’s law, but has no love for God.

(Image taken from: www.freebibleimages.org)

          II. 
 The Question: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 25) – (the what)

a. A rhetorical question

b. A question to test and disqualify Jesus – (the intent of the one that asks is not good)

c. A very important question for the lost – (for the lawyer himself and us!)

          III. The Answer: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (v. 26) – (the how)

a. Jesus answered the lawyer’s question by another question.

(Jesus could have answered him directly but He asked him what the Scripture says. Jesus often used this strategy in his teaching to make the hearers think and evaluate their position in relation to God.)

Things to note:

1. Jesus acknowledges the Scriptures authority and sufficiency in leading us to eternal life.

2. The Word of God is sufficient to answer all of life’s questions.

(If it answered the most important question in life, will it not answer the less important ones?)

3. We need to know God’s Word and know how to apply it.

(Most of the time, our questions in life can be answered in Scriptures. But yet we neglect to read it. God’s Word is in our houses, in our bags, in our shelves, in our cabinets and tables, and even in our pocket cell phones! How easy and accessible God’s Word is but yet, how sad it can only be opened during Sundays!)

b.      “What is written?” – Bible

c.       “How do you read (or understand) it?” – application

          IV. The Word (v. 27-28)

• “You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” – Deuteronomy 6:5
• “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Love – verb, compels to act. It’s a beautiful command.
• 1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

• The lawyer knew the answer, but he failed in obeying the Scriptures.
  (v. 29 – he tries to justify himself)
  
  Justify – to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered.

          V.  The Parable (v. 30-37) – the Story

(The What)

a. A man robbed, stripped and beaten to the point of death

(The Who)

a.  Priest – saw the situation but passed by on the other side of the road.

b.  Levite – did the same as the priest.

These men were:

1. Wise and have understanding (teachers of the Law)

2. Righteous (in their eyes and in the eyes of people)

3. Well to do (rich, capable to help)

4. Have no compassion

c.  Samaritan

                       This man is:

1.       A Samaritan (Jews have no dealings, hates and despise them)

2.       Not a teacher of the law (but knows the law in the heart)

3.       Humble and meek (doesn’t see himself as righteous)

4.       Poor (has not much to give, but gave everything he has)

5.       Poor in man’s eyes (but rich in God’s eyes)

6.       Have shown mercy and compassion

7.       A good neighbor (even if he doesn’t know the man he’s helping)

8.       Worthy to be followed (v. 37)

9.       Exhibits sacrificial love (like Christ)

          VI.  The Lord’s Command

“Go and do likewise”

a.  True love for God that leads to eternal life is completely manifested in our love for our neighbors.

b.  We cannot truly say that we love God if we cannot even love our neighbor.

c.  We cannot love our neighbor as ourselves if we do not have the love of Christ in our hearts.

d.  We cannot love Christ if he did not first love and died for us. This is Divine grace.