THE GOOD SAMARITAN

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Text - Luke 10:25-37
      1. This narrative is found only in the gospel of Luke.
   B. The story well illustrates that Jesus is indeed the Master     
      teacher.
      1. As He often did, He demonstrates His ability to answer
         questions that were designed to ensnare Him.
      2. He manifests the effectiveness of teaching divine principles
         by asking questions and by presenting illustrations.
      3. He taught in such a way that people could answer their own
         questions.
      4. He reveals the four philosophies of life regarding human
         relations:
         a. That of the robbers--What is yours, is mine--the iron
            rule.
         b. That of the priest and Levite--What is yours is yours and
            what is mine is mine--the bronze rule.
         c. That of the Samaritan--What is mine is yours--the
            golden rule.
         d. That of the Lawyer--What is yours and mine can be
            mutually shared--the silver rule.

I. THE OCCASION OF THE TEXT.
   A. A certain lawyer stood up (meaning he was in a formal          
      gathering) and tempts or makes trial of Jesus.
      1. His motive for learning was wrong.
      2. This man was a religious lawyer, one who supposedly was
         skilled in the law of Moses.
   B. His question was -- (vs. 25).
      1. A similar question was raised later in our Lord's ministry  
         to which He gave the same summation of the law as did the
         lawyer in our text. Matt 22:34-40
      2. Historians tell us that the Jews were continually wrangling
         over which were the most important commandments in the
         law.
   C. Jesus answered the lawyer's question by asking him a question.
      1. This is an effective means of dealing with those who try to
         trap us in our teaching.
      2. The lawyer answered by quoting Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18.
         This shows that he knew the law.
   D. Jesus answered -- (vs. 28).
      1. The lawyer was not prepared for His answer. What he
         thought was a hard question, was no problem at all for the
         Lord.
      2. He had sought to ensnare Jesus and had utterly failed; thus,
         to save himself further embarrassment he asks another
         question to divert attention from the main question. He asks
         -- (vs. 29).
   E. Jesus, instead of directly telling him who his neighbor is,    
      shows him how to be a neighbor. Thus, a lesson is taught by    
      illustration.

II. THE PHILOSOPHY PRACTICED BY THE ROBBERS.
   A. The philosophy of the robbers was that "might makes right."
      1. They lived by the iron rule and took what they wanted by
         force.
      2. This rule is, "Do to others what you would not want them to
         do to you." In other words, "What can I get from my
         neighbor?"
   B. We are facing the danger of robbers almost everywhere today.
      1. When thieves abound, it is all the more reason to not lay up
         treasures on the earth. Matt. 6:19-20
      2. Quick execution of severe penalties would help. Eccl. 8:11
   C. It is the gospel that corrects the thief problem.
      1. This sin like others comes from an evil heart. Mark 7:20-23
      2. It is the gospel that changes the hearts of men. Heb. 4:12;
         10:22
   D. Christians are to be completely free from this sin (Eph. 4:28; 
      1 Pet. 4:15-16

III. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PRIEST AND LEVITE.
   A. The philosophy of the priest and Levite was the bronze rule--
      every man for himself.
      1. The bronze rule was first set forth by Confucius, a Chinese
         philosopher who lived about 500 years before Christ. His
         rule said, "Do not to men what you would not want them to
         do to you."
   B. Of all people who should have helped, it was the priests and
      Levites. These were religious people--the priest being direct
      descendants of Aaron and the Levites of the tribe of Levi who
      were helpers in the temple service.
      1. The priest and Levite thought that doing the ceremonial
         things of the law fulfilled their religious duties.
      2. They neglected an opportunity to do good. This is sinful.
         James 4:17; Gal. 6:10; 1 John 3:17
         a. It is sinful to neglect the worship. Heb. 10:25
         b. It is sinful to neglect preaching the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:16
         c. It is sinful to neglect visiting the sick and needy.     
            James 1:27
   C. The priest and Levite are like many today who cannot make
      application of divine principles.
      1. If the law had said, "If thou shalt see a man lying by the
         roadside, thou shalt surely help him," they would have      
         helped the man who had gotten robbed.
      2. However, the law said, "Thou shall love thy neighbor as
         thyself."
         a. This was a divine principle that applied in all
            circumstances.
      3. Similarly, the Bible says that we should adorn ourselves in
         modest apparel. 1 Tim. 2:9 Can we make application to
         shorts and bathing suits?
         a. The Bible says that our bodies are the temple of the
            Holy Spirit and we are not to be brought under the
            power of anything. 1 Cor. 6:12 Can we make
            application to such habitual things as drugs and
            smoking?

IV. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SAMARITAN.
   A. The Samaritan lived by the golden rule. Matt. 7:12
      1. He had an attentive look. Consider Matt. 25:44-45. We
         would probably do more if we were more attentive in
         looking.
      2. He had a compassionate heart. The Christian is not to have a
         hard, calloused heart. Eph. 4:32
      3. He gave a helpful hand. Compare this to the robbers. Prov.
         6:17; James 4:8
      4. He had an open wallet. Many are willing to help as long as  
         it doesn't cost anything.
   B. Thus, the Samaritan's help was:
      1. Impartial -- The one he helped was probably a Jew.
      2. Spontaneous -- He did not call together a committee; he
         wasted no time in helping.
      3. Personal -- He, himself, got involved (vs. 34); he did not
         organize others to help.
      4. Unselfish -- He did not say, "If I had this or that, I would
         help." He did not wait to see what others would do.
      5. Thorough -- He did not say, "I've done my share; let
         someone else take him to the Inn."
      6. Sacrificial -- It cost him: time, oil and wine, effort,     
         money. The Inn-keeper never questioned his credit because as
         he saw him help his fellow man, he knew he was a good,      
         honest man.
      7. Sincere -- He was moved with compassion. There is no
         indication that he did any of this for profit or gain to    
         himself.

V. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE LAWYER.
   A. Jesus was now ready to have the lawyer answer his own question.
      1. Remember the lawyer had asked, "Who is my neighbor?"
         The law had said -- (vs. 27).
      2. And the lawyer is asking, "Who do I have to love?" In other
         words, "Who loves me enough that I can love them as
         myself?"
         a. The Jews would not include a lot of people -- the
            Gentiles, Samaritans, and even some Jews, ex.
            Galileans.
   B. Jesus asked the lawyer, "Which of these three was neighbor to
      him..."
      1. The lawyer knew immediately -- it was the one who showed
         mercy.
   C. Notice the two attitudes here contrasted: 
      1. The lawyer's attitude was, "Who is my neighbor? Who do I
         have to love as much as myself? Who do I have to help?"
      2. The Samaritan's attitude: "I will be a neighbor."
         a. One is always wanting and expecting others to do things
            for them; ex. Why don't you drop by and see us--take us
            out to dinner--bring food by when we are sick--visit us
            when we are in the hospital?
         b. The other is always doing these good deeds to others.
      3. Jesus is teaching, "Go and be a neighbor."

Concl.
   A. Which philosophy of life do you follow: the iron, bronze,      
      golden, or silver rule.
      1. The robbers walked by the iron rule: "Do to others as you
         would not have them do to you." What can I get from my
         neighbor?
      2. The priest and Levite walked by the bronze rule: "Do not to
         others as you would not have them do to you." I will not do
         my neighbor any harm.
      3. The Samaritan walked by the golden rule: "Do to others as
         you would have them do to you." How can I be a neighbor?
      4. The lawyer walked by the silver rule: "Do to others as they
         do unto you." What can my neighbor give to me?
   B. Let us follow the golden rule and go and show love and
      compassion to all. As Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."