RPG Adults
THE GOOD SAMARITAN – THE SAMARITAN!
LORD’S DAY, MAY 31
Luke 10:25-37
Memory verse: Luke 10:33
“…a certain Samaritan,
as he journeyed…
he had compassion on him.”
THE GOOD SAMARITAN – THE SAMARITAN!
Based on the wording of verse 30, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho…” we can assume that the injured man was probably a Jew. A Samaritan would not be coming down from Jerusalem, for Samaritans were regarded as outcasts to Jews. The animosity Jews had for Samaritans was mutual. Jews would not pass through the city of Samaria as they travelled from north to south or south to north. They would instead take the longer route and travel around the outskirts of Samaria.
If he was a Jew, then the kindness shown to him by the Samaritan stranger would be even more significant. He overcame his animosity to help the injured Jew. He also disregarded his agenda to stop and care for a Jewish stranger. He furthermore put aside his safety for robbers might be hiding and they could use the injured man as bait to lure some unsuspecting soul and rob him too. He ignored all these concerns and cared for the injured man because he had compassion on him. His compassion was genuine as seen by the extent of his care for the injured man. He treated his wounds, put him on his own beast, brought him to an inn and told the innkeeper to care for him till he recovered after paying him two pence the next day. Before he left, he also said that if two pence were insufficient to care for him, he would return to pay the balance. After relating the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer whom he thought was the neighbour to the injured man. The answer was “He that shewed mercy on him.” He did not even wish to mention the word “Samaritan!” Jesus told him to go and do likewise.
If the love of God had been in his heart, he would have behaved like a Samaritan. To love God is to love all men, including our enemies. If they are in trouble, we must help them when possible. There must never be a callousness in our hearts where we do not help, for not doing so may result in the person dying in sin to be cast into hell forever.
THOUGHT: Can I overcome all prejudices and set aside my rights, so that I can show compassion to others?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to love all men just as Thou has loved the world and sent Jesus to die for the world, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.