How Important Is "The Good Samaritan"

Leaven for Thought

In previous Meditations, we have examined how the cross, eternal life and our giving are all about relationship. I proposed that God views our giving through the lens of relationship. I think the most well-known reflection of God's heart on this topic is John 3:16 For God so loved ..,that he gave. God models the connection between giving and loving. Every Christian knows that love is on our list of to do's, but how important it is that we model our love through our giving? Let's revisit the story of the "Good Samaritan" and see.

In our previous Meditation about the "Good Samaritan," we didn't focus on the details of the story. In it, Jesus explained what loving one's neighbor looks like. The story Jesus told was about giving but is a more than a financial story, it is a relational one. We are told that the Samaritan:

• Gave his presence (notice that both the priest and Levite chose avoidance rather than presence)

• Gave of his time

• Inconvenienced himself (placed the injured man on his donkey and took him to an inn)

• Gave of himself by personally dressing the wounds and taking care of the injured man

• Gave of his resources

• Crossed societal relational boundaries in all his actions.

But Jesus didn't just explain what love looks like, He personally demonstrated it. Jesus walked in love in such a way that He gave Himself as an offering for us. God calls us to follow His example.

Ephesians 5:1-2

New International Version

5 ¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus told the story of the "Good Samaritan" in response to the question of how to obtain eternal life. Interestingly, the answer that Jesus accepted as correct (before He told that story) is very similar to the response that Jesus gave in Matthew 22 to the question "which is the greatest commandment."

Luke 10:27

New International Version

²⁷ He answered, " 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 Love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 22:35-40

New International Version

³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Now let's consider the connection between these two passages of scripture. Matthew 22 tells us that our love for God and each other are our greatest calling and that all others flow from that love. Luke 10 shows us that the love of which Jesus speaks in Matthew 22 is more than emotion, it is relational. Jesus chose to illustrate how that love can be demonstrated through of our giving.

So, how important is our demonstrated love? Matthew 22 says it is not simply one of the "to do's" on our list and it is not merely important. Jesus said that is of great importance.

Let It Rise

This week, meditate on the importance of demonstrated love, then become open to ways to give of your presence, your time, your self, your resources or your comfort (that would bring glory to God) that you haven't explored before. Think about the "Good Samaritan." Think about Jesus. Go and do likewise.