Rev. David Holwick T
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
May 24, 1992
Luke 10:25-37
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I. Modern version of parable.
A. Bum wandering on Route 46, thumb out.
1) Methodist preacher roars by, doesn't even notice.
2) Catholic priest slows down, curious, but doesn't stop.
3) Baptist minister [me] in a maroon minivan slows down, stops,
but remembers he's late for prayer service and roars off.
4) Woman in a station wagon.
a) Sees him, stops, picks him up and takes him to the
Ledgewood Circle Motel.
b) Gives him $5.00 for dinner, and her phone number if he
needs more.
c) She is a Jehovah's Witness.
B. Which person did what God wanted them to do?
1) What would YOU have done?
II. The forest or the trees.
A. Allegorical spaghetti up till modern times.
1) Origen's (AD 184-254) four interpretive points:
a) Literal meaning of text.
b) Moral.
c) Spiritual.
d) Allegorical.
2) His allegorical interpretation of the Good Samaritan.
a) The man going to Jericho = Adam.
b) Jerusalem = Paradise.
c) Jericho = the world.
d) Man's wounds = disobedience or sins.
e) Priest = the Old Testament law.
f) Levite = the Old Testament prophets.
g) Good Samaritan = Christ.
h) Donkey = the body of Christ.
i) Inn = the Church.
j) Two denarii = knowledge of the Father and the Son.
k) Return of the Good Samaritan = second coming of Jesus.
3) This style of interpretation popular until 1900's.
a) Some add that oil = anointing with the Holy Spirit.
b) The wine = the blood of Christ's death.
B. Not christological, but an example parable.
1) Allegory is only limited by interpreter's imagination.
2) The one key point is what is important.
3) This parable is supposed to teach us how to live.
III. Question by Jewish lawyer, "What is required for salvation?"
A. Great question, lousy motives - trying to tempt Jesus. 10:25
B. Jesus turns question around. What does Old Testament say?
1) Love God, love neighbor. Deut 6:5f
a) Important theme in Jesus' teaching.
b) Repeated 10 times.
2) Jesus: "Correct. Go and do it."
C. Clarification: Just who is my neighbor?
1) Typical lawyer.
a) Problem is with people.
b) (Love of God is a given - or is it?)
2) Real question: What are the limits to my love?
a) Jews discussed who qualifies as a neighbor.
b) Other Jews are usually considered neighbors.
c) Gentiles usually are not.
IV. Jesus' parable addresses question of who is a neighbor.
A. Details of parable.
1) Common story with a twist.
a) Usually, cold religious leaders are showed up by a layman.
b) Twist - a Samaritan is the hero.
2) Samaritans not like "Good Sam" club.
a) They were despised, not admired.
3) Reputation of Samaritans in Jesus' day.
a) They originated as remnants of "10 Lost Tribes" in North.
b) They intermarried with pagans, religion became corrupted.
c) Ezra wouldn't let them build temple. Ezra 4:1-3
d) Jews avoided the area. John 4
B. Punchline - Who was a neighbor to the man in need?
1) Note that original question is not answered.
2) Jesus comes up with a better question.
V. Who is worthy of love?
A. Most of us still ask, "Who's my neighbor?"
1) We tend to find people who don't fit the category.
a) Different races.
b) Different religions.
2) Los Angeles riots between whites, blacks and Koreans.
a) Prejudice is universal; it is also unbiblical.
b) Even without hatred, we stick to our own, put up walls.
3) The world is full of limits on love.
B. Jesus begins with ourselves.
1) Am I a neighbor to someone who needs me?
Jeff Kramer was sent by his newspaper to report on the
reaction of people in Los Angeles to Rodney King trial.
At the intersection of 53rd and Normandie, gang members
surrounded his car and shattered the windshield.
One ordered him to get out of the car.
When he didn't, they beat him and shot him three times.
For several minutes he played dead, slumped over the
steering wheel.
Then he managed to put the car in gear and made a U-turn.
A final gunshot from behind caught him in the back.
Kramer turned down a side street and asked some small
children for help.
Marie Edwards tried to call an ambulance while her son
held a bandage on the wounds.
After 40 minutes they were still there.
No ambulance. No police.
Gang members were slowly cruising down the street, staring
at the smashed car.
Rather than running away, these neighbors cranked down
Kramer's seat so he wouldn't be noticed and covered him
with a blanket.
Finally another neighbor brought her car over and they
drove until they found help.
In most of the cases where television cameras showed
innocent people being victimized, a common person
came to their aid.
Often it was at great personal risk.
Would you have done the same? #2128
2) Jesus goes against the attitudes of the world.
a) Most religions call for love, but emphasize love
for fellow believers.
b) Jesus goes beyond this - we are to LOVE EVERYONE.
1> One of clearest indications Christianity is unique.
2> Also an indication that few Christians really follow
Jesus.
C. The real question is, "To whom can I be a neighbor?"
1) Our neighbor is someone with needs, not someone who offers
us something.
2) Crosses racial boundaries, religions and nations.
VI. Being "neighborly" doesn't require heroics.
A. Usually it is the little acts of kindness that make the difference.
1) What are you doing to break out of your tight little circle?
2) What is our church doing? (Homeless, Kentucky...)
B. Genuine faith makes an impact on other people's lives.
1) No opportunities to help others?
2) Then you are ignoring them. Opportunities are there.
C. You can't love God if you don't love people.
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