We have taken a look at the context of the parable of the Good Samaritan as well as it's content. We finally see the Conclusion of the Parable in verses 36-37. Jesus asks, "Which of the 3 proved to be a neighbor?" On the surface the story seems like a simple story about being kind and neighborly. It isn't. The story is told to a non-believer, a self-righteous, pride filled, religious man who will not enter the Kingdom of God. This is why he used a priest and a Levite. They didn't love God, first of all, because if you loved God you keep His commands. So they didn't love God to start with and also, they didn't love their neighbor because there's one right there and they have a perfect opportunity to demonstrate it and they don't. So being religious, doing all the ceremonies, being Jewish, being religious, being a priest or a Levite isn't going to get you into the Kingdom of God.
So Jesus says to the lawyer, "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor?" Rather than answer the lawyers question, the Lord forced the man to answer a much more pointed question: Am I a neighbor? Immediately Jesus has turned the question on its head. He asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus turned it around. Instead of talking about who qualifies to be your neighbor, let's talk about you being neighborly. Which of the three was a neighbor? The lawyer answered, quietly I am sure, "The one who showed mercy." And Jesus said to him, Go and do the same. Here is the answer to the first question. Here is how you inherit eternal life…let us assume that you are right…you do love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Well, you must love your neighbor as yourself…you must be a neighbor…like this man. Now you know what the Bible means when it says you have to love your neighbor? You want eternal life? How are you going to get it? Love God and love your neighbor. That's what it takes all the time to earn your way into God's Kingdom. You say, "Well, I saw a stranger one time in need and I helped him." Do you think that deserves applause? Did you ever see a stranger in need, somebody you didn't know, better yet somebody who was your enemy and you went over, ministered to all his needs,gave him everything he needed, stayed with him, took him somewhere, put him to bed, fed him, stayed all night to make sure that he was recovering, and then paid for his care for up to two months and said if it's more than this, when I come back I'll give you all the rest? Have you ever done that for anybody? And not just anybody…but your enemies? Jesus said in Luke 6:32-36, "You love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." You must love not only your friends, but your enemies this way and the real catch is, you must do it this way your entire life!
Now, have you always done that….your whole life? Never fluctuating in your love for God and your love for your fellow men? I'll tell you one person you have done that for. You! That's how we care for ourselves, isn't it?
Jesus said, go and do the same.
Now, what is Jesus' response supposed to do? Produce what? Acts of kindness? That is nice…a good by-product, but not the point. What this parable is meant to bring is conviction. He's giving this lawyer one more opportunity to say, "Jesus, I don't love like that. I can't love like that. I never will love like that. I'll never get in the Kingdom, if that's what's required. And that is what is required! So, how many of us are going to make it? I know that if this is what it requires for me to get in heaven, I'm not getting there. You see, I have repeatedly broken these 2 commands: Loving God with 100%, 100% of the time and Loving others like I love myself 100% of the time. I cannot argue with Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I have broken the 2 greatest commandments, therefore I have committed the 2 greatest sins. Rom 6:23 makes clear that "the wages of sin is death." The good news? " but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." You see, Jesus came and fulfilled the law. He did live an absolutely sinless, perfect life of complete love. Then, he took our sin upon himself and gave his life on the cross of Calvary to dispose of our sins, iniquities, and transgressions. In essence, our sin died with Him. We died with Him. Then, he imparted new life to us through his resurrection. He rose again and offers us life in Him! We can have our sin removed and we can be given new life thorugh Christ by grace through faith. And since you and me will never love like this (like Sammy the Samaritan), this is the only way that we can ever dream of inheriting eternal life: by grace, through faith in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of the one who was and is and ever will be perfect: Jesus Christ. Repent and believe today. That is our only hope and that is the message of this parable…the true message.
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