Saturday, October 19, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Luke 10:25–37

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (NRSV)

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Reflection

The feature of this story that has always struck me is the excessive care the Samaritan shows to the injured man. The man is a complete stranger, after all, and a member of a group that looks down on Samaritans. Nevertheless, the Samaritan not only stops, he treats the man’s injuries, takes him to an inn, and cares for him. He then gives the innkeeper money to continue that care and promises to pay for any additional expenses. I would have been moved if he had taken the man to an inn and called a doctor and left him in the doctor’s care.

Though we may sometimes be the injured man in the story and though we may sometimes want to be like the priest and the Levite and pass by on the other side of the road, Jesus is clearly telling us that the Samaritan is our role model. Matthew Henry, the great Welsh theologian, suggests that this story is really about Jesus and his saving love for us. We are the recipients of Jesus’ excessive love, and since we have been so blessed, we should extend the same love to our neighbors, whoever they may be.

This is surely a tall order, and there are many times when we will fail to live up to the Samaritan role model. The key is in the beginning of this passage, with Jesus telling the lawyer (and, at the same time, us) that the way to eternal life is to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and our neighbor as ourselves. Surely it is that faith in God and love for God that enables us to extend God’s love to our neighbors. Go and do likewise.

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Prayer
Loving God, thank you for your excessive love for me. Lead me to extend that love to my neighbors. Show me the ways in which I can serve you by serving others. Amen.

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Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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