A Revealing Encounter – The Good Samaritan
Encounters with Christ ● Message 3
J.C. Thompson
July 18, 2021

Key Passage: Luke 10:25-37

Memory Verse: But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble. James 4:6 (NLT)

Theme Verse: “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. Luke 10:36 (NLT)

Message Blurb: This week as a part of our Encounters with Christ Series we will see how a lawyer has a revealing encounter with Jesus as he asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

1. Thanks for joining us as we continue our series entitled Encounters with Christ
   
2. Today we will see Jesus have a revealing encounter with someone who did not have the best of intentions with Jesus.
   
3. Let’s turn to Luke 10 and begin by reading this encounter.
   ²⁵ One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking Him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”²⁷ The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸ “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
   ²⁹ The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
   ³⁰ Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. ³¹ “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. ³² A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. ³³ “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. ³⁴ Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ ³⁶ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. ³⁷ The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:25-37 (NLT)
   
4. This story is one that you might be familiar with or you might not. You might have only heard the phrase Good Samaritan.
   
5. But this story is more than just Jesus saying go and be a good neighbor. Jesus tells an intentional story to answer a man’s question about Who he should love.
   
6. The key word at the center of this story is the word neighbor. What comes to your mind when you hear the word neighbor?
   
7. Mr. Rogers Picture
   
8. This was my picture/understanding of neighbor growing up.
   
9. Mr. Rogers would have been the person that popped into my brain if someone used the word neighbor.
   
10. To set this story into context. The disciples had just come back from ministry and they had a little worship session.
    
11. Many more than likely were hearing of these uneducated men, healing, casting out demons and led by a man from Nazareth of all places. Word is spreading.
    
12. We see one man’s response to Jesus’ movement in his encounter with Christ.
    
    

An Encounter with Christ reveals my…

1. Attitude. (Luke 10:25-28. C/R: Proverbs 29:23; Luke 6:45)

1. One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking Him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25 (NLT)
   
2. Why would a man want to test Jesus?
   
3. Cynical: adj. Selfishly or callously calculating … Negative or pessimistic
   
4. Skepticism: n. A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind; uncertainty.
   
5. - American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
   
6. This scribe’s heart was full of pride. He was seeking to test the Savior of the World. The Man whose group of disciples had just healed the sick, cast out demons, and shared the Gospel with great effectiveness.
   Jesus answers Him with a question.
7. ²⁶ Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”²⁷ The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸ “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” Luke 10:26-28 (NLT)
   
8. Jesus did not answer His question directly, in fact Jesus played off of what He knew to be true about this man’s heart, his pride.
   
9. Tell Me what you know is what Jesus asked Him. This was not because Jesus did not know the answer.
   
10. This man excellently answered the question. He combined two passages from the Law. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 from the Shemah and Leviticus 19:18 which spoke of loving your fellow Israelite, which we will see later.
    
11. This text is not only illustrative of this man’s knowledge of the Law, but also Jesus sharing the Gospel with this man in a way that is not combative, but honest. Jesus asks a question to a man who thinks that he is smarter than Jesus.
    
12. When we approach God, what is our attitude? While some might be skeptical as Josh talked about last week, some might be cynical or more hostile to the Gospel.
    
13. You brought an attitude with you today. What are you expecting from Jesus?
    When you approach God, know that God might reveal an attitude that needs adjustment.
    
    

2. Affection. (Luke 10:29-35. C/R: Leviticus 19:18; Hebrews 4:12)

1. Luke 10:29-30a (NLT) ²⁹ The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
   ³⁰ Jesus replied with a story:
   
2. Luke captures this man’s heart. He desired to justify His actions before Jesus.
   
3. What is a behavior or sin that you want God to justify?
   
4. Jesus’ words, put to a story, cut to this man’s heart. Jesus exposed his sin, his pride, his issue with a story.
   
5. See in the Law this man knew that it meant for him to specifically look out for his fellow Israelites. So when he asked Jesus this question, he asked it in a specific way. 
6. Who am I supposed to love? The way that I think we should think about his question is…Which neighborhood should I be concerned about? So what did Jesus do?
   
7. He talked about different neighborhoods.
   “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. ³¹ “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. ³² A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. ³³ “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. ³⁴ Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ Luke 10:30b-35 (NLT)
   
8. The road to Jericho was about 17 miles and descended about half a mile in elevation. It was also filled with nooks and crannies. Perfect for someone to jump out and attack someone else.
   
9. As this man is attacked, stripped naked and left for dead, we have some people walk by.
   
10. First, a priest. Priests were the representatives to the people of God. Their job was to be the intercessor.
11. The representative of God to the people and the people to God.
    
12. Their job was both to instruct the Israelites in how to live exemplary lives before God and to maintain the Temple, the Tabernacle and the Altar.
    
13. They were supposed to teach the people how to be holy.
    
14. But the priest did not fulfill his role on this day. Instead, he either by hatred, a desire to remain ceremonially clean, or just not wanting to get involved, got as far away from the man as possible.
    
15. Second, a temple assistant. Or more accurately translated, a Levite. This would have been a priest’s understudy passed by the man as well.
    
16. This man would have been instructed in the ways of the Law of the Lord. Would have been responsible for maintaining the Temple, the Altar and the Tabernacle.
    
17. He saw him as well and got to the other side of the road.
    
18. Not so great for the religious Jews. These men would have been closely associated with the scribe who questioned Jesus. This man might begin feeling the discomfort of Jesus’ story.
    
19. Lastly, a Samaritan. A despised Samaritan. Jesus made the despised the hero of the story. This man not only felt compassion for him, but he began an act of love on behalf of this man. He would have bandaged his wounds (touching an “unclean” man), used his own supplies that he would have packed in case he would have gotten attacked and loaded him up on his donkey. Placing himself at risk by bearing this man’s burden in addition to his own.
    
20. Then he put him in an inn. He paid the innkeeper 2 silver coins or denarii. Most scholars believe that this would have covered 2 months at the inn. Significantly Generous. Then he told the innkeeper that if any more expenses were incurred that were not covered he would be back to cover those as well.
    
21. Wow. How does the Samaritan’s actions compare with your own?
    
22. Jesus chose a Samaritan to be the hero of this story. Samaritans were despised by the Jews. They argued over where the rightful place to worship God. Jews believed Jerusalem and Samaritans argued that it was Mount Gerizim, which you might remember from the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well.
    
23. The Jews even went so far as to attack the Samaritan Temple.
    
24. Jesus, by taking this man’s enemy group and placing him as the hero, was turning the man’s question on its head and at the same time pointing out to this man his bias towards his own people group.
    
25. The Scriptures serve the same purpose in our lives.
    
26. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
    
27. When we experience the love, the grace, the truth of who Jesus is, He enables us to sense the things that are contrary to His nature.
    
28. APP: What sinful affection has being with Jesus caused you to see in your own life?
    

3. Authority. (Luke 10:36-37. C/R: Leviticus 19:33-34; Luke 16:13a; Philippians 2:10-11)

1. Luke 10:36-37 (NLT) - ³⁶ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. ³⁷ The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
   
2. Jesus then asks His own question to the man.
   
3. This is so important for us when it comes to having spiritual conversations with others. It is ok to ask someone, what do you believe to be true.
   
4. Jesus asked this question in a way that is very interesting in the Greek. The best way to translate this to English is probably like this: “Which of these three became a neighbor to the man?”
   
5. What question did this man ask Jesus? “Who is my neighbor?”
   
6. Jesus emphasizes something a bit different to this man.
   
7. The scribe was concerned about “Who are the other people to judge himself by?”, but Jesus wanted him to see, “It’s about Who you are.”
   
8. And when you are presented with a need, you have an opportunity to become a neighbor.
   
9. The scribe wanted to know who was in his neighborhood, but Jesus was concerned about How good of a neighbor he was, regardless of the neighborhood he found himself in.
   
10. Jesus teaches this man how to become a neighbor and indirectly answer this man’s question at the same time.
    
11. The man’s answer. Anyone, regardless of any characteristic that we might find detestable… intelligence, social status, income level, race, lack of relationship, quirks, weird accents, political affiliations.
    
12. There is no group that we are called not to show neighborly love to.
    
13. But then we see the part that we think is the main point of the story, “Go and do likewise.” But I would like to argue that Jesus is trying to teach something more direct to this man.
    
14. Who is in charge of this man’s life? The man thought he was in charge of his own life.
    
15. Jesus is pointing out that this man’s standard of righteousness, which frankly he thought was high, loving everyone like himself well, falls quite short of God’s standard or righteousness. Loving everyone well, extravagantly all the time.
    
16. What should have been the man’s response to Jesus? He should have fell to his knees, confessed his lack of love, and asked Christ to make him into that kind of neighbor. Make me like the man I despise.
    
17. But we don’t know how the man responded. But what we do know is that Jesus clearly shows that this man’s authority is misplaced.
    
18. He sees himself as the standard by which he judges himself and others. But God’s standard is the only proper measurement. And we never measure up on our own.
    
19. We must have God deal with our missing the mark of His standard. And He does through Jesus.
    
20. What I think is particularly interesting is that Jesus was made fun of at one time, being called a Samaritan and also, He was rejected by the Samaritans as well.
    
21. Yet, Jesus held no grudges, He loved perfectly, at every moment. He always is the standard.
    
22. He was murdered, raised to new life. All for our benefit.
    
23. Is He your authority? Do you live your life according to your plan or His?