Luke 10:26-37: The abiding challenge of a familiar story.(please click here for todays passage)

Many things could be said about this well – known story, but I just want to highlight certain phrases that grabbed me by the lapels and clamoured for attention as I read them:

‘Now by chance…’ (21). As you go through your days, you will find people in your path who need help and you are given the opportunity to come alongside them. It may seem that they are there by chance. In the ordinary course of every day life you stumble across them. The larger truth is, though, that they are placed there by a higher providence. How you respond is a test of your faith. Genuine belief will roll up its sleeves and help. It shows itself in ‘compassion’ (33).

‘…passed by on the other side’ 31,32). Coming across need supplies a test and provides an opportunity. Not everyone takes the chance to serve. Whatever the reasons the priest and the Levite had for ignoring the casualty ( and maybe there was a legitimate fear of being mugged themselves), it is never right, surely, to put distance between yourself and a real need you can do something about.

‘…came to where he was…He went to him…and brought him…’ (33,34). This was the Christ-like thing that the Samaritan did. Even more so when you think that Jews and Samaritans were at odds. It would be natural for the Samaritan to see the Jew as an enemy. But the Samaritan’s approach was truly incarnational. He went to where the need was; he gave his time, his money and his energy. He gave himself! He put himself on the line. He served both at risk and cost to himself. That is something to admire here. But it’s got to be more than that. It needs to be something that we emulate.

‘…desiring to justify himself’ (29). There is something inside the fallen human heart that wants to get right with God in its own way, on its own terms and by its own resources. But the New Testament teaches that we can only be ‘justified’ ( declared right with God) through faith in Jesus. If we truly believe in Him we will show this in our good deeds. When we see wounded Samaritans in our pathway we will do what we can ( see Janes 2:14-26).

A few weeks ago, Jilly and I were walking to church in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. We saw that someone had collapsed near to the roadside, but as a number of people were surrounding her we didn’t go across. We had no sense that we were failing to be ‘good Samaritans’ because as far as we could see the need was being met, and we didn’t want to add to the crowd around that poor lady, and unwittingly cause further problems. But in the ‘Elim’ church that morning, a young man called Tim gave a sermon on this very passage – and an excellent piece of teaching it was too. Leaving church, just a block or so away, we passed a foreign young lady begging outside a local supermarket. This was different and Jilly knew we must do something. Bending down she asked, ‘Would you like anything to eat?’ Immediately our new friend said.’A meat and potato pie!!’ Methinks she may have been asked this question before! We were easily able to buy one, and as Jilly put it into her hands she told her of One who loved her more than anyone else could.

Look out for people in your path today who may need a ride on your donkey, their wounds tending and possibly a bit of cash spending on them. It might be little more than the price of a pie and a word about the love of God.

Prayer: Make me more and more like you Lord Jesus. Help me to move towards human need and not distance and insulate myself from it. Help me to make a difference in someone’s life today.