Adult STS Lesson 103 Parable of The Good Samaritan
MEMORY VERSE: “And he answering said, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:27).
TEXT: Luke 10:25-42
This study focuses on eternally significant question asked by a certain lawyer (a scribe) during one of the teaching sessions of Jesus: “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Although the lawyer’s intention was to tempt or entrap Jesus, the question is fundamentally important. People who are truly concerned about their spiritual welfare should seek answer to their questions. However, the way Christ responded to the question and its subsequent illustration with the story commonly called “Parable of the Good Samaritan” shows how God, in His infinite wisdom, can bring something good out of a seemingly evil situation. There are more than 1,000 questions in the New Testament. Rich and deep spiritual truths are revealed as the disciples and others asked questions from Jesus. While some people came to Him with genuine questions, others approached Him with ulterior motives in pretense of wanting to know the way of salvation. Though members of the church are encouraged to ask questions to clear their doubts, they should not ask with wrong intentions such as to embarrass leaders or test the knowledge of their pastor.
- THE PLACE OF QUESTION AND ANSWER IN SCRIPTURE
Luke 10:25-29; 1 Kings 10:1; Matthew 22:15-46; Mark 9:9-13; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:23
In His teaching ministry, Christ gave ample time to answer different questions. We learn from the way He dealt with the variety of questions which people asked Him, including that of the lawyer in our text, who came with the motive of tempting Him or to justify himself.
One, our answers should be based on the Scripture. Jesus referred the lawyer to: “What is written in the law? How readest thou?” (verse 26). In response to Christ’s question, the lawyer quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12. Leaders and members alike must be conversant with the word of God.
Two, we must aim at leading the inquirer to faith, deeper conviction, obedience and commitment to God’s word.
Three, we must “avoid foolish and unlearned questions” that engender strife and contentions, because they are “unprofitable and vain” (2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9).
Four, we should not allow questions and answers in the church to degenerate into debate, argument or a test of scholarship. We should imitate Christ in the way He responded to questions. Sometimes, He simply answered a question with another question, especially to silence those who had evil intentions as He did to the lawyer in our text. This parable has other valuable lessons. These are summed up in:
One, the possibility of having a good knowledge of the Scripture without salvation.
Two, understanding the true meaning of neighborliness. Despite the prevalence of evil these days, believers can be helpful and friendly to neighbors, including strangers.
Three, the display of hospitality goes a long way to show that we love the Lord and our fellow humans.
Four, pastors and leaders should emulate Christ as they answer the questions of their members, no matter their intention.
- PORTRAIT OF TRUE NEIGHBOURLINESS
Luke 10:30-37: 1 Corinthians 6:1-10; James 2:14-16; 1 John 3:17,18; Philippians 2:4
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:33,34). The parable shows the importance and evidence of true neighborliness in a transformed life. This is demonstrated in loving God and our neighbors ourselves, irrespective of nationality, gender, religion or any other distinctions. In this parable, the love and kindness of God to sinful and wretched humanity was beautifully illustrated and portrayed. In our sinfulness, we are, poor, distressed travelers on our way to a damnable eternity; robbed, wounded and left half dead by sin and Satan. But Jesus had mercy on us and came to our rescue. Having received redemption through Christ, we have the sole responsibility to reach out to our neighbors who are under the captivity of sin and Satan. Our neighbors are persons who need help; when we have the power and opportunity, they should be helped. To the scribes and Pharisees, a neighbor is not everyone but only the ones who they reckon worthy. According to Bible historians, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was one of the most dangerous roads to travel in those days. It was infested with armed bandits that none dared to travel from dusk without an escort. The victim in Christ’s story was travelling on this road knowing the risk involved and fell among thieves. By divine providence, God brought a priest and a Levite to the scene of the incident. “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way… And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side” without showing compassion and mercy on the wounded man. Then came a Samaritan as he journeyed, saw this wounded man, had compassion on him, went to him, bounded up his wounds, set him on his own beast, brought him to an inn (equivalent of today’s hospital) and took care of him. Before he left the following day, he paid the bills of the victim and promised to pay more, if need be. The Jews avoided the Samaritans because they regarded them as not full-blooded Hebrews due to their mixed nationality of Jews and Gentiles when the place was captured by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:26-34; Luke 9:51-54; John 4:4:9). Yet, a Samaritan showed the sacrificial love, which the highly ecclesiastical and religious men failed to show. The priest and the Levite may have plausible reasons for failing to help, being religious and strict adherents of the Mosaic law (Numbers 19:16). They obeyed the law but neglected the work of mercy. God expects all Christians, not only to teach about love, but to practice it by taking actions that will alleviate the sufferings of other people. These acts of love include visiting new converts and old disciples, giving to those in need, paying school fees of indigent students, praying for sinners to be converted, as well as preaching the gospel. Profitable lessons we can draw from this parable include:
One, this present world is full of dangers; therefore, we should not lay our treasures here (Matthew 6:19);
Two, we should not put our trust in men to help us (Psalm 62:5);
Three, God can use people we least expected to help us;
Four, true love knows no racial barrier;
Five, helping others will cost us our time or the climax of the story of the Good Samaritan is the command of Christ to “Go and do thou likewise”. This applies to every truly converted believer. He commands us to love the Lord with all our hearts, our soul and might; and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It should cut across racial, religious, class, socio-economic and demographic barriers. We are to love without prejudice or partiality. God’s kind of love is only made possible in, and practiced by those who have given their lives to Christ and have the sanctification experience. Only agape love can reflect can the nature of God in human relationship. Apostle Paul described the features of this love in the 13th Chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians. Such unfailing love is what contemporary believers need and must demonstrate in the church. Without this kind of love, we cannot truly claim to be Christ’s disciples (John 13:35).
- PREEMINENCE OF HEARING THE WORD OVER SERVICE
Luke 10:38-42; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Isaiah 58:13, 14; Ecclesiastes 5:1
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:38,39). After His encounter with the lawyer in our text, Jesus went to a village called Bethany, to the house of Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters. While in the house, He taught the word of life and Mary sat and listened intently. “But Martha was cumbered about much serving…”. The focus of the two sisters contrasts sharply. Mary was more concerned with hearing the word of God but Martha was more worried about taking care of the physical needs of the guests, which is not altogether bad. Many believers fall into either category. They either belong to the group who are ready to hear the word of God during services and special programmes or to those who are busy with activities that are not essential to spiritual development. While it is good to volunteer to work during programmes like retreats, we should not take work our priority. The time we ought to settle down and listen or the word of God should not be substituted with any other activity, no matter how relevant. Those who prefer to go to their marketplace to Sell especially on Sundays should desist from the act as it displeases the Lord (Isaiah 58:13,14). Honoring the day of the Lord attracts blessing. No matter our need, He is able to provide when we give His word Precedence over all else, because the earth is the Lord’s and its fullness. Martha was bothered why Jesus allowed Mary to sit and listen to the Word. Therefore, she asked, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she helps me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:40-42). We are to emulate Mary’s wise decision. The word of God is what builds us up on our most holy faith to live a life pleasing to God and to qualify us for heaven. Therefore, we should “be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools…” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:
- What is the place of questions in the Scriptures?
- Enumerate four principles that should guide questions and answers in the church.
- Who is your neighbor?
- What can we learn from the parable of the Good Samaritan?
- How should true Christians manifest love be considering the attitudes of the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan towards the wounded man?
- What are the true qualities of Christ-like love?
- What good part did Mary choose in our study?
