JESUS CAME TO ME

LUKE 10:25-37


1. Setting

 

•          Teacher (Mt. 22:35; Lk. 7:30, 11:45-46-52)

•          Trap (tempting Jesus– Mt. 16:1, 19:3, 22:18; Lk. 4:12; Jn. 8:6; Acts 5:9; 1 Cor. 10:9; Heb. 3:9; flatter Jesus-- Jn. 3:2)


2. Story (current as today’s newspaper, inspiration for hospitals everywhere)


      David Smith said, “Jesus proved more than a match for His wily antagonist. He refused to be entrapped into a barren controversy and answered with a parable.” Endnote


      Jesus told a parable (cast along side, put beside another)– a picture drawn from daily life (18 told only in Luke). This masterful story, concluding with a simple question, moved the lawyer to conviction.

 

•          Hurting (certain man– Mt. 21:33; Lk. 12:16, 14:16, 15:11, 16:1-19, 18:2, 19:12, 20:9; traveling merchant [return–Lk. 19:15])


      A child once completed a decision card during an invitation: “I asked Jesus into my hurt.”

 

□          Jerusalem (down– Acts 8:26)

□          Jericho (Lk. 18:35, 19:1; twenty-one miles Endnote ; 2,300 feet above sea level to 1,300 feet below; Endnote narrow, rocky road; infested with bandits– Jn. 10:10; 2 Cor. 11:26)

■          Strip (Mt. 27:28)

■          Stripes (Acts 16:23-33; 2 Cor. 6:5, 11:23; wounds– Lk. 20:12)


      Jerry Vines said, “The devil will strip you of everything that is worthwhile and beautiful and lovely in your life. Just like the thief left the man wounded, sin will leave you with sin scars that only Jesus Christ can cover. Sin will leave you half dead.”

 

•          Hypocrites

□          Priest (Jericho a priestly city, 24 courses served every two weeks)

■          Course (Lk. 1:8)

■          Contamination (Num. 19:11)

■          Calloused (1 Jn. 3:17)

□          Levite (Num. 1:50; Jos. 3:3; 1 Chr. 15:15-16; Jn. 1:19; Acts 4:36)

■          Opportunity (chance)

■          Observation (Mt. 9:36)

■          Other-side (Jn. 4:4; opposite of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter)

•          Helper (Samaritan– Lk. 17:16; Jn. 4:9-39-40; Acts 8:5)

□          Came (Lk. 7:14, 15:4)


      J. N. Barnette said, “People are not seeking churches; churches must seek people.”

 

□          Compassion (Mt. 9:36; Mk. 1:41; Lk. 15:20)

□          Cure (oil– Mk. 6:13; Jas. 5:14 and wine– 1 Tim. 5:23; oil like the Holy Spirit, wine like blood of Jesus)

□          Care (Jn. 10:13; 1 Pet. 5:7; inconvenienced; set on beast– Lk. 19:35; Acts 23:24)

□          Cost (coin– Mt. 20:2; Rev. 6:6)


      J. H. Jowett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”


      Jesus’ parable of the Samaritan also applies to church finance. The Good Samaritan paid whatever it took to restore the man destroyed by thieves. The church ought to pay whatever it costs to reach broken people for Jesus Christ. The Samaritan’s compassion on a half-dead man caused the Samaritan to pledge above and beyond, and the inn-keeper trusted the integrity of the Samaritan to keep the pledge.

 

□          Come-back (repay– Lk. 14:14, 19:8; reward–Mt. 16:27; 2 Tim. 4:8)


      Augustine allegorized the meaning of the parable: Man–Adam, Robbers–devil, Priest–Law and prophets, Samaritan–Christ, Beast–Body of Christ, Inn–Church, Innkeeper–Paul.


3. Sermon (what think– Mt. 17:25, 18:12, 21:28; Lk. 10:36, 13:2-4)


Gen. 4:9 [ESV]. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"

 

•          Racial (Acts 10:34)


      Racism means a learned, insensitive, egotistical attitude of superiority over another due to the other’s social status or ethnicity (that one is better).


      Christ tore down the walls of separation and reconciled mankind to one another (Eph. 2:14). Paul declared that God made of one blood all people (Acts 17:26).

 

•          Religious (Jas. 1:22)


      James Boice described the lawyer, “Whose sinful way of life had been exposed by Jesus and who tried to divert His line of questioning by a debate about religion. . . .” Endnote


      Jerry Vines said, “I have found that many people who raise intellectual, theological questions concerning the Christian life are basically using them to cover over an ungodly life and do not want to face the need for a dramatic change in their lifestyle.”


      Warren Wiersbe said, “One of the best ways to get nothing done is to discuss it.”

“The lawyer felt safer discussing theories–he was nervous when it came to personal applications.” Endnote


  I. Grace that saves (10:25-29)

 

•          What must I do?


      The most important thing to know in life will be how to go to heaven. Pepper Martin of the St. Louis Cardinals after winning the World Series when asked, “What do you want to do now?” replied, “I want to go to heaven.”


      J. C. Ryle wrote, “It. . . deserves the principal attention of every man, woman and child on earth. We are all sinners–dying sinners, and sinners going to be judged after death. ‘How shall our sins be pardoned? Wherewith shall we come before God? How shall we escape the damnation of hell? Whiter shall we flee from the wrath to come? What must we do to be saved?’-- These are inquiries which people of every rank ought to put to themselves, and never to rest till they find an answer.” Endnote


      The lawyer knew the right answer theologically but missed the lesson totally.

 

•          What is written? (Rom. 4:3; 2 Tim. 2:15; Jesus took the lawyer up on the question.)


      The lawyer did not learn to apply the Scripture. Believers must learn to read (1 Tim. 4:13; Rev. 1:3), hear (Rom. 10:17), study (Acts 17:11), memorize (Ps. 119:9, 11), think (Ps. 1:2-3), and apply (Jas. 1:22) the Scripture.


      A. Law (do; Lk. 18:18; Rom. 10:5)


      Robertson said, “There was only one trouble with the lawyer’s answer. No one ever did or ever can ‘do’ what the law lays down towards God and man always.” Endnote


      James Boice wrote, “He was convicted by Christ's words, but rather than admit his spiritual need he tried to ‘justify himself’ by passing over the weightier of the two commands (to love God perfectly) and raising a quibble about the second.” Endnote


      B. Grace (done; Mt. 18:25; Lk. 7:42)


          1. Judgment (Jas. 2:10)


      The perfection of the Law does not make any allowance for wrong or ever lower the standard.


Rom. 3:19 [ESV]. Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.


              a. Ten Commandments (do this and live; Lev. 18:5; Dt. 4:1; Neh. 9:29; Ezek. 18:21, 20:11-21, 33:19; Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12)


Gal. 2:16 [GNB]. Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by doing what the Law requires. We, too, have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be put right with God through our faith in Christ, and not by doing what the Law requires. For no one is put right with God by doing what the Law requires.


      God provided a justification as a free gift by grace apart from good works through faith in the work of Christ on the cross.


      Donald Barnhouse wrote, “Look into your own heart and see whether you are trusting, even in a small fraction, in something that you are doing for yourself or that you are doing for God, instead of finding in your heart that you have ceased from your works as God did from His and that you are resting on the work that was accomplished on the cross of Calvary.” Endnote


              b. Great Commandment (Dt. 6:5/Lev. 19:18; Mt. 19:19, 22:39; Mk. 12:31; Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; Jas. 2:8)


          2. Justification (justifying himself, to free from guilt– Lk. 16:15, 18:14)


Gal. 3:13 [NIV]. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."


      John R. W. Stott added, “When God justifies sinners, He is not declaring bad people to be good, or saying that they are not sinners after all; He is pronouncing them legally righteous, free from any liability to the broken law, because He Himself in his Son has borne the penalty of their law-breaking.” Endnote


 II. Worship that’s vain (10:30-35)


Ps. 51:16-17 [ESV]. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.


Amos 5:23-24 [ESV]. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.


Mk. 7:7 [ESV]. in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.


      Jerry Vines said, “Do you know what religion will do for you? Absolutely nothing. Religion won't do one solitary thing for you except maybe leave you worse off.”


      A. Legalism


      William Barclay said, “There may be more Christianity in someone with a hot-heart and a stained record than in someone who is coldly and correctly orthodox.” Endnote


      The despised Samaritan demonstrated more of the faith and likeness to Christ than those who inherited the covenant blessings.


          1. Theology (exegesis)


          2. Practicality (expression)


      The parable of the Good Samaritan exposed the danger of being completely orthodox in theology and yet blinded to Scripture’s practical implications, and even worse to hide behind or use “proof-texts” to withhold love.


      James Boice said, “We exegete the meaning but excise the obligation.” Endnote


      B. Love


      Alexander Maclaren said, “If our love for God does not find itself in active love for man, worship in the Temple will be mockery.” Endnote


      The lawyer looked for limitations (looking for loophole, exceptions Endnote ). Maclaren said, “He wanted to know how far an obligation extended. . . .” Endnote


      Warren Wiersbe said, “You cannot separate your relationship with God from your relationship with your fellow man.” Endnote


III. Faith that works (10:36-37)


      The figurative use of the term Good Samaritan began in the 17th century. In 1649, Peter Chamberlen published a book entitled The Poore Mans Advocate, or, Englands Samaritan.

 

•          Saving grace

•          Showing grace


      Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play major league baseball, faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in Brooklyn Stadium, Robinson committed an error. The fans ridiculed him while he stood near second base. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came and stood beside Jackie Robinson. Reese put his arm around him and faced the crowd who then grew quiet. Robinson said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.


      A. Fallen


      Alexander Maclaren said, “It is only when we have found in Him the pity and the healing which we need, that we shall go forth into the world with love as wide as His.” Endnote


      B. Forgiven


          1. Mercies


      Stagg wrote, “Must we not first see ourselves naked, broken, and helpless, forced to accept mercy from an unexpected and undesired source? Only as we thus accept mercy can we begin to understand what mercy is.” Endnote


          2. Merciful (do– Lk. 6:31; mercy– Mic. 6:8; Mt. 23:23; Jas. 2:13)


      William Taylor wrote, “Some will give money to buy themselves off from personal exertion. Others will give their personal exertion to save their money. But in the instance before us, both were given; for, what genuine neighbor-love does, it will do thoroughly.” Endnote


      Mike Adkins in the testimony, A Man Called Norman, movingly described how he learned to love an unlovely neighbor. One day that unlovely neighbor, Norman, received Christ because Mike Adkins took a risk to reach one man.


      Someone noted three contrasting ideas in this parable.

•          What is yours is mine, and I will take it (thieves)

•          What is mine is mine, and I will keep it (priest and Levite).

•          What is mine is yours, and I will give it (Samaritan).


      The victim in the parable can be likened to a sinner, and the Samaritan can be likened to the Savior.


On The Road To Jericho (Keith Green)

I left Jerusalem, last week for Jericho,
In the afternoon, the sun was getting low,
And then the bushes shook, and out they came at me,
They were robbing me half naked, while they beat me head to toe,
And they left me on the road to Jericho.

Lying almost slain, and wounded by the road,
Crying out in pain for a sympathetic soul,
First a priest, and another of my kind,
Well they were men I could have trusted, but they acted deaf and blind,
They were strangers on the road to Jericho.

Through the blood and tears, I saw a worried face,
He was from Samaria, my people hate his race,
He bandaged up my wounds and he laid me on his horse,
Although my memory is cloudy, I can still feel his friendly flow,
Such a kind man on the road to Jericho.

When I later asked the innkeeper the man's name he did not know,
Just a neighbor on the road to Jericho.


Help Somebody Today (Carrie E. Breck, 1904)

Look all around you, find someone in need,
Help somebody today!
Though it be little—a neighborly deed—
Help somebody today!


Help somebody today,
Somebody along life’s way;
Let sorrow be ended,
The friendless befriended,
O help somebody today!


Many are waiting a kind, loving word,
Help somebody today!
Thou hast a message, O let it be heard,
Help somebody today!


Many have burdens too heavy to bear,
Help somebody today!
Grief is the portion of some everywhere,
Help somebody today!


Some are discouraged and weary in heart,
Help somebody today!
Someone the journey to Heaven should start,
Help somebody today!


How Kind the Good Samaritan (John Newton, 1779)

How kind the good Samaritan
To him who fell among the thieves!
Thus Jesus pities fallen man,
And heals the wounds the soul receives.


O! I remember well the day,
When sorely wounded, nearly slain;
Like that poor man I bleeding lay,
And groaned for help, but groaned in vain.


Men saw me in this helpless case,
And passed without compassion by;
Each neighbor turned away his face,
Unmoved by my mournful cry.


But he whose name had been my scorn,
As Jews Samaritans despise
Came, when he saw me thus forlorn,
With love and pity in his eyes.


Gently he raised me from the ground,
Pressed me to lean upon his arm;
And into every gaping wound
He poured his own all-healing balm.


Unto his church my steps he led,
The house prepared for sinners lost;
Gave charge I should be clothed and fed;
And took upon him all the cost.


Thus saved from death, from want secured,
I wait till he again shall come,
When I shall be completely cured
And take me to his heav'nly home.


There through eternal boundless days,
When nature's wheel no longer rolls,
How shall I love, adore, and praise,
This good Samaritan to souls!


APPENDIX


Samaritans

•          Originally, the name “Samaria” applied to the capital city of and thus all the territory of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (1 Kg. 16:24; Am. 6:1).

•          In 722 B.C. Assyria conquered (in fulfillment of prophetic warnings) the Northern Kingdom and took 27,290 inhabitants of the land away into captivity (2 Kg. 17:5-18).

•          Shalmanezer, the king of Assyria, brought inhabitants from Babylon and other places (Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim) to settle in the cities of Samaria (2 Kg. 17:24; Ez. 4:2-9).

•          The king of Assyria intended for these inhabitants to take the place of the Israelites whom he removed into captivity. The name “Samaritans” denoted these mixed inhabitants.

•          In fear of the Lord (2 Kg. 17:25) the Samaritans built high places unto Yahweh, but made gods of their own (2 Kg. 17:29-33). The Samaritans gradually adopted Jewish beliefs (including the hope of a Messiah), but held to only the first five books of the Pentateuch.

•          After the Babylonian captivity and Israel’s return to the land, the Samaritans asked permission to share in building the temple under Zerubbabel which he refused.

•          The Samaritans determined to frustrate the building of the temple (Ez. 4:4; cf. Neh. 4:7-8) as relations worsened and the division entrenched.

•          Later, the Samaritans built a rival temple to Jerusalem in the time of Alexander the Great on Mount Gerizim, which John Hyrcanus later destroyed (128 B.C.) during the brief Jewish independence in the Hasmonean period. In the time of Christ, the Samaritans still revered that mountain as the proper place of worship (Jn. 4:20-21).

•          Bitterness between the Jews and Samaritans continued in the time of Jesus (Jn. 4:9; Lk. 9:52-55). The territory of Samaria encompassed the villages and district between Galilee on the north, Judea on the south, the Jordan river on the east, and not as far as the Mediterranean on the west.

•          In contempt, some called Jesus “a Samaritan” (Jn. 8:48).

•          Jesus treated the Samaritans with love (Lk. 10:30, 17:12-18; Jn. 4:3-43).

•          Many of the Samaritans embraced the gospel (Act 1:8, 8:1-25, 9:31, 15:3).