This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
Today, we will transition to a new parable. It is the story of the Good Samaritan.
(Luke 10:25-37 ERV)
25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”
26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you understand from it?”
27 The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.'”
28 Jesus said, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have eternal life.”
29 But the man wanted to show that the way he was living was right. So he said to Jesus, “But who is my neighbor?”
30 To answer this question, Jesus said, “A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Some robbers surrounded him, tore off his clothes, and beat him. Then they left him lying there on the ground almost dead.
31 “It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he did not stop to help him. He walked away.
32 Next, a Levite came near. He saw the hurt man, but he went around him. He would not stop to help him either. He just walked away.
33 “Then a Samaritan man traveled down that road. He came to the place where the hurt man was lying. He saw the man and felt very sorry for him.
34 The Samaritan went to him and poured olive oil and wine on his wounds. Then he covered the man’s wounds with cloth. The Samaritan had a donkey. He put the hurt man on his donkey, and he took him to an inn. There he cared for him.
35 The next day, the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the man who worked at the inn. He said, ‘Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.'”
36 Then Jesus said, “Which one of these three men do you think was really a neighbor to the man who was hurt by the robbers?”
37 The teacher of the law answered, “The one who helped him.” Jesus said, “Then you go and do the same.”
So, what does this mean to you today? I will just lay the foundation today. Let’s get into it.
Setting the stage.
In today’s message, I introduce you to the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story that Jesus used to redefine the concept of neighborly love and to challenge the social norms of His time. This parable comes as a response to a lawyer’s question, aiming to test Jesus, asking, “Who is my neighbor?” In typical fashion, Jesus did not answer the way the lawyer wanted him to answer. Jesus answered with a story that encapsulates the essence of God’s heart for all people.
The story unfolds on the dangerous roads from Jerusalem to Jericho, where a man falls victim to robbers, left beaten and half-dead. A priest and a Levite, both esteemed in society and expected to be models of righteousness, pass by without offering aid. Then comes a Samaritan, a figure of contempt among Jesus’ audience, who becomes the unlikely hero. He not only tends to the man’s wounds but also ensures his recovery, showing mercy beyond expectations. This Samaritan’s actions embody the grace that overflows from a heart aligned with God’s love—a love that transcends cultural boundaries and societal status.
1. Jesus used a Priest and a Levite as examples of people who were supposed to do the right thing but did not. I will give you some background on each.
(a) The Priest. In ancient Israel, the priests were descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, from the tribe of Levi. They had specific religious duties that included performing sacrifices, teaching the Law, and conducting various ceremonial functions in the Temple. The priests were considered to be the highest religious authority and were responsible for maintaining the purity of the religious practices. Jesus included a priest in the parable as an obvious example of someone who was supposed to help but did not.
Those listening to Jesus may have defended the priest, though, thinking the priest might have avoided the injured man to maintain ceremonial cleanliness, as contact with blood or a dead body would render him ritually impure and unable to perform his Temple duties. This is just one of the many examples I point out where God is looking for relationships and not religion. Religious people are so focused on doing the “work of the church” that they fail to “be the church!”
(b) The Levite: Levites were also from the tribe of Levi but were not descendants of Aaron, and thus not priests. They served in subordinate roles to the priests, assisting with less critical tasks in the Temple and taking care of its maintenance. They also had responsibilities in teaching the Law and serving in the synagogues.
While Levites had religious duties, they did not have the same level of authority or responsibility as the priests. The Levite in the parable, like the priest, passes by the injured man, which could be for similar reasons of ritual purity or perhaps fear of danger or inconvenience.
The parable uses these two figures to critique the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, suggesting that their preoccupation with religious rules and social status prevented them from fulfilling the more fundamental moral duty of helping those in need.
(c) The Samaritan: Samaritans and Jews shared a history of mutual disdain and religious rivalry during the time of Jesus. The Samaritans were descendants of the Northern Israelite tribes that intermarried with foreign populations during the time Israel was under Assyrian control. As a result, Jews of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) considered Samaritans as ethnically impure. They also considered their religious practices as illegitimate. By making a Samaritan the hero in the story, Jesus was challenging the deep-seated prejudices and animosities between the two groups.
The audience listening to Jesus would have expected the priest or the Levite to be the hero of the story, given their religious roles. The Samaritan’s role as the compassionate figure went against their expectations.
Remember, the parable was a response to a lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” By using a Samaritan as the one who showed mercy, Jesus expands the definition of ‘neighbor’ beyond ethnic and religious boundaries to include all of humanity. The neighbor, therefore, is anyone in need.
This story challenged Jesus’ listeners to live out the essence of their faith, which includes love, mercy, and compassion, rather than merely adhering to religious rituals and laws.
2. Religion Exposed: The Disparity Between Profession and Practice.
— The stark contrast between the inaction of the religious leaders in the story and the action of the Samaritan, who expressed compassion and mercy, exposed the emptiness of a faith that is focused on rites, rituals, and routines over expressions of love.
— True religion is not found in the rituals we perform, but in the love we demonstrate.
— James teaches us that “Pure and undefiled religion” requires taking care of those in need (James 1:27).
— The priest and Levite represent a superficial religiosity that prioritizes outward appearance and self-preservation over service to others.
— Real ministry is messy because people are messy. If you are in the “people business,” which is what ministry is, then get ready to get your hands and your heart dirty. You will get your hands dirty when you have to actually help people who may not look good, smell good, or even treat you good. You will have to get your heart dirty when you are dealing with people who curse you while you are trying to help them. But despite the consequences, if God tells you to help someone, then you need to help them, and it requires you to get beyond your pristine outward appearance, causing you to become vulnerable (to where you have to trust God to protect you while you are BEING a blessing to someone). True ministry is a matter of the heart.
— This reminds me of when we were giving out backpacks this year. Our ministry blessed 700 children with a backpack and school supplies for the year. We had to visit four locations to give out all 700. The first two locations were nice. The children were organized, the people in charge of the location had the children all lined up, and all the kids were wearing nice clothes. Then we went to the last two locations. It was obvious that these were neighborhoods where the people were facing deep poverty. They really needed the backpacks. But more people showed up than the amount of backpacks we had. The kids were not dressed up. The parents were not nice. There was a real risk of violence on those who were not going to get a backpack. But the entire time, the Lord had us, reminding me that these are the people who truly need the help. We gave out what we could, I prayed over them (while they were still making noise and arguing), and we left, knowing we did what we were supposed to do.
— The failure of the religious figures to act serves as a warning against a faith that is all talk and no action.
— The parable challenges us to examine our hearts and ask if our actions align with the teachings of Christ we profess to follow.
— In neglecting to show mercy, the religious leaders missed the opportunity to embody the very essence of God’s Law they claimed to uphold.
— Our credibility as followers of Christ is measured not by our titles or status but by our love and service to those in need.
— I will close with a question: Does your video match your audio? You may be able to talk a good game regarding the things of Christ, but are you living it? If not, it is time to make some changes. Remember, God is not looking for lip service. He is checking your heart, and He wants to see your faith in your actions!
I will close with the words of James. He said, “Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:18 NLT).
We are just getting started with this parable. I hope you enjoyed today. Get ready to receive more!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I am moved by Your Spirit to see beyond labels and societal boundaries, to love and serve all those You place in my path.
I acknowledge that my neighbor is anyone in need, and I commit to being a vessel of Your compassion and mercy.
Father, I reject the notion of religion that is void of love and action. I embrace a faith that is alive and demonstrated through my actions.
I affirm that my service to You is not about ritual or routine, but about a genuine expression of Your love flowing through me.
I understand that true ministry is not about appearances; it is about getting my hands and heart involved in the messy, beautiful work of loving people.
Father, I am grateful for the opportunities You give me to be a blessing, even when it’s challenging, knowing that You are with me and that You have called me to this purpose.
Father, I ask You to align my heart with Your will, so that my life reflects the teachings of Jesus in every way.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
