7th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Luke 10:25-37
IN MERCY AND UNDESERVED LOVE THE GOOD SAMARITAN PAYS IT ALL!
Rev. Kenneth W. Wieting
To the saints at Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what do you think of lawyers? In polls sampling respect for this legal profession, positive responses often rise to only about 20%. Part of that negative perspective would seem to be unjustified, for lawyers are trained to look for loopholes. They are skilled at asking questions that stretch a boundary line or limit a requirement. If there is a grey area, a way out, an explanation that favors them or their client, they are supposed to find it. Sometimes this helps the innocent. Sometimes it aids the guilty.
The lawyer in our text had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. In response Jesus asked him what was written in the law. The lawyer summarized – to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus answered “Do this, and you will live.” Shadowing that statement was its unspoken opposite, “Don’t do this and you will die.” That is, fail in the least bit in loving God or in loving and caring for your neighbor and you will forfeit eternal life. The lawyer understood the crushing weight of expectation in “do this and you will live.” Desiring to justify himself he then asked, “Who is my neighbor?”
It was a smart, lawyerly question, a limiting question, a loophole question. Behind it, in the shadows, lurked another unspoken question, “Who is not my neighbor?” that is, “Whom can I exclude?” In the oppressive requirement of God’s law that I love others like I love myself, that is that I help and support them in every physical need, that I love them with every fiber of my being; where is the grey area? With such a total demand, one could get hurt; one could be emptied of resources in a flash, one could get sued. Surely you cannot mean there are no limits on this demand to love!
“Who is my neighbor?” or from the reverse angle, “Who is not my neighbor?” Could a problem family member possibly be left out? Could persons of another skin color be excluded? Could those of another religion be subtracted? - in our day, perhaps Muslims. What is the extent of this required, extraordinary self-giving love?
To narrow the definition of one’s neighbor before God is to weasel out. It is what sin always wants to do. Sin tries to make self look bigger by making God’s law look smaller. Sin always looks for loopholes in what God commands just like this razor-sharp lawyer was attempting to save face concerning the command to love. “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus didn’t answer his question directly. It was a law question loaded with false expectations. Instead, Jesus answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. In so doing, Jesus gave a Gospel answer.
We know this parable, at least we should! Rightly understood it is a beautifully rich story. It condenses much of what God would have us know about ourselves and His mercy. It pictures both God’s mercy to us in Christ and the mercy God would have us extend to our neighbor in His name.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is portrayed by one of our green banners for the Pentecost season. The scene it depicts is full of the comfort and compassion of Christ. In a very deep sense, this parable conveys how Christ provided for us on the cross. It also conveys how Christ continues to provide for us in this place, the inn of His church until He returns on the last day. It also conveys the merciful love we are to show one another and others in Christ.
As the lawyer listened, he heard of robbers who stripped and beat and left a man half-dead. These robbers point to sins of commission in human relationships, violent crimes, dishonest deals, greedy moves, taking vengeance, bearing grudges, taking from others and accumulating for ourselves. As the lawyer continued to listen, religious people were then described as ignoring the wounded half-dead man. They were church people, like a pastor and the congregational chairman or the head of the elders in our day. The Priest and Levite point to sins of omission in human relationships; playing it safe, keeping our religious distance, ignoring those in need.
After telling the parable Jesus asked his own question of the lawyer, “Which of these three…proved to be neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “the one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise.” You go and do like this Samaritan who befriended a racial and religious enemy. You go and do like this Samaritan who loved with no limits. You go and do like this Samaritan who paid all that was needed into the future.
Dear Christians, not everyone proved to be neighbor to the man in the ditch. In fact, only one did! When there are no limits as to who our neighbor is in this dying world and when there are no limits as to the perfect love and healing gifts that are to be given to them, only one man fills the bill! The Good Samaritan is a small reflection of the merciful actions of Jesus Christ.
Just like the Samaritan, Jesus was despised and rejected by men and hated by the world. He was once called a Samaritan as an insult by the religious leaders (John 8:48). Just like the Samaritan Jesus stooped down to help those who were helpless – that is us. We are the ones on the side of the road. We are those who have fallen into the hands of the master thief and robber – Satan. We have been stripped of innocence, beaten down and left half dead, physically alive but spiritually dead. Just like the Samaritan, Jesus had the means, the provisions, to clean our wounds and bind up our brokenness. Just like the Samaritan, Jesus helped us helpless ones at His own expense, even when the cost was His own life- blood on the cross. Just like the Samaritan Jesus is the ideal picture of compassion. In fact, the Greek word translated “compassion” in our text is used of no one else in the gospels. It is used in two other parables of the character portraying God, and in real life, only of Jesus. Like a magnet, the godly compassion of the despised Samaritan draws our attention to the godly compassion of the despised man speaking this parable.
The early church recognized this in its use of our text. So did Dr. Martin Luther. He wrote that this Samaritan of course is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This understanding is important to remember in our day. For the world sees in this parable primarily a religion of effort and morality. The world thinks Jesus is simply telling us here to be nice to one another. Our society routinely uses the title “Good Samaritan” for anyone who goes out of their way to help another. And we should be thankful whenever such acts of kindness occur.
But make no mistake about it, the lawyer asking this question was a “Good Samaritan” in this worldly way. Steeped in the law, he was a generous giver. Steeped in the law he knew how to help his family and his neighbor in need. He would have won the good neighbor award in Shorewood. Steeped in the law, he wanted in the worst way to get it right. That’s ultimately why he wanted to pin down just how extensive his commitment to love really was. “And who is my neighbor?”
But remember the question that moved Jesus to speak the parable in the first place. “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer showed that no one can earn it, not even an expert in the law. No one loves God with His whole heart and mind and soul and strength. No one loves his neighbor as himself. No one except the Good Samaritan, that is.
Jesus lovingly cut the lawyer down to size and in so doing, us as well. We all fall short of God’s glory. The ditch into which we have fallen is as dark as death and as deep as hell. We are the broken and bleeding ones. The Priest and the Levite, two figures of the law offer us no help for by deeds of the law no one is justified (Rom. 3:20). No one can “God Samaritan” themselves into heaven. It is hard to shake the notion that we will receive eternal life because, after all, we’re pretty good people and we do help others. So Jesus hammers away at the stubborn sin of self-righteousness.
The lawyers question was “And who is my neighbor?” that is, “Whom must I love?” Jesus answer is “Which of the three… proved to be neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” or “Who has loved?” Beloved, the answer is Jesus! Jesus has proved to be neighbor to you! He has loved you longer than you have loved yourself. He loves you as He loves Himself - perfectly. He didn’t pass by on the other side. He remembered us in our low estate. He rescued us from our foes.
While you can do nothing to inherit eternal life, He has freely stooped down to bestow the inheritance of eternal life on you. “He has caused you to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” (I Peter 1:3, 4).
He gave you that inheritance when He poured the oil of His grace into your wounds in Holy Baptism. He continues to give you that inheritance as He pours out for you the wine of His blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. Whatever wounds sin and Satan have inflicted, “the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses you from all sin”.
Jesus is your neighbor. He has delivered you from the domain of darkness. This place, His gathered Church, is an inn of rest and recovery to which He has transferred you. He has paid for everything to continue your healing and your care. He comes even now to give you the rest and refreshment of His forgiveness until he comes again to take you to Himself.
In the meantime you go and do likewise. You bear fruit in every good work. God cares for the poor and the deaf and the blind. He bids us to see Him in the suffering humanity around us, Christ in disguise, Christ hidden in weakness and want. He has clothed you with Himself and freed you to be neighbor to those around you. As you see Him as the merciful Good Samaritan, so He sees you there in the same way, as a channel of His compassion.
“Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.
IN MERCY AND UNDESERVED LOVE THE GOOD SAMARITAN PAYS IT ALL!
Rev. Kenneth W. Wieting
To the saints at Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what do you think of lawyers? In polls sampling respect for this legal profession, positive responses often rise to only about 20%. Part of that negative perspective would seem to be unjustified, for lawyers are trained to look for loopholes. They are skilled at asking questions that stretch a boundary line or limit a requirement. If there is a grey area, a way out, an explanation that favors them or their client, they are supposed to find it. Sometimes this helps the innocent. Sometimes it aids the guilty.
The lawyer in our text had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. In response Jesus asked him what was written in the law. The lawyer summarized – to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus answered “Do this, and you will live.” Shadowing that statement was its unspoken opposite, “Don’t do this and you will die.” That is, fail in the least bit in loving God or in loving and caring for your neighbor and you will forfeit eternal life. The lawyer understood the crushing weight of expectation in “do this and you will live.” Desiring to justify himself he then asked, “Who is my neighbor?”
It was a smart, lawyerly question, a limiting question, a loophole question. Behind it, in the shadows, lurked another unspoken question, “Who is not my neighbor?” that is, “Whom can I exclude?” In the oppressive requirement of God’s law that I love others like I love myself, that is that I help and support them in every physical need, that I love them with every fiber of my being; where is the grey area? With such a total demand, one could get hurt; one could be emptied of resources in a flash, one could get sued. Surely you cannot mean there are no limits on this demand to love!
“Who is my neighbor?” or from the reverse angle, “Who is not my neighbor?” Could a problem family member possibly be left out? Could persons of another skin color be excluded? Could those of another religion be subtracted? - in our day, perhaps Muslims. What is the extent of this required, extraordinary self-giving love?
To narrow the definition of one’s neighbor before God is to weasel out. It is what sin always wants to do. Sin tries to make self look bigger by making God’s law look smaller. Sin always looks for loopholes in what God commands just like this razor-sharp lawyer was attempting to save face concerning the command to love. “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus didn’t answer his question directly. It was a law question loaded with false expectations. Instead, Jesus answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. In so doing, Jesus gave a Gospel answer.
We know this parable, at least we should! Rightly understood it is a beautifully rich story. It condenses much of what God would have us know about ourselves and His mercy. It pictures both God’s mercy to us in Christ and the mercy God would have us extend to our neighbor in His name.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is portrayed by one of our green banners for the Pentecost season. The scene it depicts is full of the comfort and compassion of Christ. In a very deep sense, this parable conveys how Christ provided for us on the cross. It also conveys how Christ continues to provide for us in this place, the inn of His church until He returns on the last day. It also conveys the merciful love we are to show one another and others in Christ.
As the lawyer listened, he heard of robbers who stripped and beat and left a man half-dead. These robbers point to sins of commission in human relationships, violent crimes, dishonest deals, greedy moves, taking vengeance, bearing grudges, taking from others and accumulating for ourselves. As the lawyer continued to listen, religious people were then described as ignoring the wounded half-dead man. They were church people, like a pastor and the congregational chairman or the head of the elders in our day. The Priest and Levite point to sins of omission in human relationships; playing it safe, keeping our religious distance, ignoring those in need.
After telling the parable Jesus asked his own question of the lawyer, “Which of these three…proved to be neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “the one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, You go, and do likewise.” You go and do like this Samaritan who befriended a racial and religious enemy. You go and do like this Samaritan who loved with no limits. You go and do like this Samaritan who paid all that was needed into the future.
Dear Christians, not everyone proved to be neighbor to the man in the ditch. In fact, only one did! When there are no limits as to who our neighbor is in this dying world and when there are no limits as to the perfect love and healing gifts that are to be given to them, only one man fills the bill! The Good Samaritan is a small reflection of the merciful actions of Jesus Christ.
Just like the Samaritan, Jesus was despised and rejected by men and hated by the world. He was once called a Samaritan as an insult by the religious leaders (John 8:48). Just like the Samaritan Jesus stooped down to help those who were helpless – that is us. We are the ones on the side of the road. We are those who have fallen into the hands of the master thief and robber – Satan. We have been stripped of innocence, beaten down and left half dead, physically alive but spiritually dead. Just like the Samaritan, Jesus had the means, the provisions, to clean our wounds and bind up our brokenness. Just like the Samaritan, Jesus helped us helpless ones at His own expense, even when the cost was His own life- blood on the cross. Just like the Samaritan Jesus is the ideal picture of compassion. In fact, the Greek word translated “compassion” in our text is used of no one else in the gospels. It is used in two other parables of the character portraying God, and in real life, only of Jesus. Like a magnet, the godly compassion of the despised Samaritan draws our attention to the godly compassion of the despised man speaking this parable.
The early church recognized this in its use of our text. So did Dr. Martin Luther. He wrote that this Samaritan of course is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This understanding is important to remember in our day. For the world sees in this parable primarily a religion of effort and morality. The world thinks Jesus is simply telling us here to be nice to one another. Our society routinely uses the title “Good Samaritan” for anyone who goes out of their way to help another. And we should be thankful whenever such acts of kindness occur.
But make no mistake about it, the lawyer asking this question was a “Good Samaritan” in this worldly way. Steeped in the law, he was a generous giver. Steeped in the law he knew how to help his family and his neighbor in need. He would have won the good neighbor award in Shorewood. Steeped in the law, he wanted in the worst way to get it right. That’s ultimately why he wanted to pin down just how extensive his commitment to love really was. “And who is my neighbor?”
But remember the question that moved Jesus to speak the parable in the first place. “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer showed that no one can earn it, not even an expert in the law. No one loves God with His whole heart and mind and soul and strength. No one loves his neighbor as himself. No one except the Good Samaritan, that is.
Jesus lovingly cut the lawyer down to size and in so doing, us as well. We all fall short of God’s glory. The ditch into which we have fallen is as dark as death and as deep as hell. We are the broken and bleeding ones. The Priest and the Levite, two figures of the law offer us no help for by deeds of the law no one is justified (Rom. 3:20). No one can “God Samaritan” themselves into heaven. It is hard to shake the notion that we will receive eternal life because, after all, we’re pretty good people and we do help others. So Jesus hammers away at the stubborn sin of self-righteousness.
The lawyers question was “And who is my neighbor?” that is, “Whom must I love?” Jesus answer is “Which of the three… proved to be neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” or “Who has loved?” Beloved, the answer is Jesus! Jesus has proved to be neighbor to you! He has loved you longer than you have loved yourself. He loves you as He loves Himself - perfectly. He didn’t pass by on the other side. He remembered us in our low estate. He rescued us from our foes.
While you can do nothing to inherit eternal life, He has freely stooped down to bestow the inheritance of eternal life on you. “He has caused you to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” (I Peter 1:3, 4).
He gave you that inheritance when He poured the oil of His grace into your wounds in Holy Baptism. He continues to give you that inheritance as He pours out for you the wine of His blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. Whatever wounds sin and Satan have inflicted, “the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses you from all sin”.
Jesus is your neighbor. He has delivered you from the domain of darkness. This place, His gathered Church, is an inn of rest and recovery to which He has transferred you. He has paid for everything to continue your healing and your care. He comes even now to give you the rest and refreshment of His forgiveness until he comes again to take you to Himself.
In the meantime you go and do likewise. You bear fruit in every good work. God cares for the poor and the deaf and the blind. He bids us to see Him in the suffering humanity around us, Christ in disguise, Christ hidden in weakness and want. He has clothed you with Himself and freed you to be neighbor to those around you. As you see Him as the merciful Good Samaritan, so He sees you there in the same way, as a channel of His compassion.
“Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.
posted by Luther Memorial Chapel at
7/16/2007
