On Line Bible Study - For the week October 26-31, 2010
Lesson 463
Luke 10: 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ...
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
This is the testing of Jesus by a lawyer that leads to the telling of the parable of the Good Samaritan. (The full text is available here.)
Luke 10: 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ...
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
This is the testing of Jesus by a lawyer that leads to the telling of the parable of the Good Samaritan. (The full text is available here.)
Darrell Bock picks up on two themes in this story - The first theme has to do with eternal life. There are some parallels here with passages in Matthew 22:35-39 and Mark 12:28-31. There the question is which of the commandments is greatest (Matthew) or first (Mark). In Luke, the question has to do with eternal life. The answers are the same. The lawyer in Luke responds to his own question - He quotes from the law. Jesus affirms his answer - love God with heart, soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus says: Do this, and you will live.
Eternal life, then, has to do with your love for God and others. You probably recall that, even though Jesus had affirmed him, the lawyer, perhaps realizing that he has not 'tested' Jesus as he had wanted to, pushes the situation further. Thus, the second theme emerges: Who is my neighbor?
The well-known parable follows. Darrell Bock points out that the lawyer was looking for the legal limitations with regard to the people we are called upon to serve. Jesus shifts the question from "Who should we help?" to "How much can we do!" The gospel mandate is not a limiting one, but a liberating one. We don't have to worry anymore about whether we are serving the right person or not. What matters is that we are ready and willing to serve: period.
This is a fascinating passage because it contains a pronouncement regarding the most important points of the law - Love; it lays the ground work for the expanded mission of the church - Serve; and it has clear moral power. When Jesus is done there is no question as to the right thing to do, and for whom to do it.
It is simple. (Not easy, but simple!) Jesus' statement to the lawyer is the same to us: What the Samaritan did in the story? Go and do likewise!
Eternal life, then, has to do with your love for God and others. You probably recall that, even though Jesus had affirmed him, the lawyer, perhaps realizing that he has not 'tested' Jesus as he had wanted to, pushes the situation further. Thus, the second theme emerges: Who is my neighbor?
The well-known parable follows. Darrell Bock points out that the lawyer was looking for the legal limitations with regard to the people we are called upon to serve. Jesus shifts the question from "Who should we help?" to "How much can we do!" The gospel mandate is not a limiting one, but a liberating one. We don't have to worry anymore about whether we are serving the right person or not. What matters is that we are ready and willing to serve: period.
This is a fascinating passage because it contains a pronouncement regarding the most important points of the law - Love; it lays the ground work for the expanded mission of the church - Serve; and it has clear moral power. When Jesus is done there is no question as to the right thing to do, and for whom to do it.
It is simple. (Not easy, but simple!) Jesus' statement to the lawyer is the same to us: What the Samaritan did in the story? Go and do likewise!
posted by Mark D at 1:06 PM
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