 Previous Chapter |
 Return to Outline |
 Ask Questions |
 Next Chapter |
A Lawyer approached Jesus to put Him to the test and asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" The question was about a subject that had been debated by the various religious groups for years. Some, the Sadducees, did not believe in life after death, others had various opinions about what existed beyond the grave and what was required to achieve or inherit a desirable place. The question was not made to resolve these differences, but rather in hopes of entrapping Jesus in His answer.
We know that all people have eternal life, that God "breathed" into man an eternal soul and that soul will never die but will spend eternity somewhere. The question is, where will we spend eternity and how do we get there? Jesus, even though He knew the deception that was in the Lawyer's heart, answers him as though he was sincere in his question.
Notice His answer was in the form of a question. "What does the Law have to say about this?" The man being a Lawyer or Scribe would know this, so he answers, "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 Jesus said to him, "You have answered rightly, do this and you will live."
Now the Lawyer begins to squirm, he realizes that Jesus intends to draw from him a confession that he has not done this, therefore, he goes on the defense and lies, "All these things have I kept from my youth." Then desiring to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" This was an age old question that was the result of thousands of years of war with the neighboring nations and the importance that had been placed upon them being the "chosen of God". Gentiles were not considered their neighbors, neither were their "half-brothers" to the north, the Samaritans. An Israelite could not be put to death for killing a Gentile, because he was not a neighbor. If they saw a Gentile in danger of death, they were not obligated in any way to help.
Jesus knew this and thus he brings up the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man going down to Jericho was robbed, beaten and left for dead. Now by chance, a Priest came upon this man, passed by on the other side of the road, and continued on, as did a Levite. Then a Samaritan came by, saw the man, had compassion upon him, bound up his wounds and took him to an Inn where he paid the innkeeper to look after him. Now Jesus asked the Lawyer, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man?" And the Lawyer replied, "The one who showed mercy." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Gentile or no Gentile, a neighbor is one who shows mercy to another.
Previous Chapter |
Return to Outline |
Ask Questions |
Next Chapter |