The Parable of the Good Samaritan

(Luke 10:25-37)

I believe that every one of us has a kind heart; yung iba nakikita sa kanilang kilos o gawa, yung iba naman sa pananalita at yung iba naman takot ipakita o ipahayag, maaaring natatakot sila na sila ay malamangan o madaya dahil sa kanilang kabaitan.

Some might be right that being good may give them the chance to inherit eternal life. For it is written in James 2:24, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” How could a person get to heaven through good deeds? Where in fact, the Bible says in Ephesians 2:9 “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Pero ano nga ba ang sinasabi ng Biblia tungkol sa pagiging mabuti? Ang paggawa ba ng kabutihan sa iba ay makapagliligtas sa atin? What must one do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 10:25 – a certain lawyer stood up and tempted Jesus, saying, “Master, What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Lawyer – one who is an expert in the Law of Moses (interpreter of the Mosaic Law)

Stood up – courtesy; respect

Tempted Jesus – the lawyer is courteous but what is the motive of his heart? He tempts Jesus to the proof of simply to see if what he knows is right.

vv. 26-27 – here, Jesus asked the lawyer about what he knows. Dahil marunong nga siya sa Law, kaya ang sagot niya (v.27), “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 neighbour as yourself.” (see Deut. 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18)

vv. 28-29 – “Do this and you will live.” – This might be an opportunity for Jesus to preach salvation, but instead, He focuses on love for another.

He’d rather ask, “Who is my neighbour?” instead of asking “How?’ with humility.

(maaaring iniisip niya na ang isasagot ni Jesus sa kanya, “your neighbours are your family, friends, living beside your house... mas maju-justify nya na “ah, ok, sila pala, e lagi naman ako tumutulong sa kanila.”)

vv. 30-35 – The parable of the good Samaritan

A certain man (unidentified, para makarelate ang lahat ng nakikinig, and that time, mga Judio ang tagapakinig ni Jesus) was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho (sobrang layo, about 17 miles, nakakatakot maglakad dito). He was stubbed by robbers (ilan? Not mentioned), stripped him (one can’t really identify him because he has no clothes. Historically, one can be identified through his clothes and speech or accent) and beat him and left him unconscious.

A certain priest is passing by the road, saw the man but passed by the other side instead. (Lumakad siya sa kabilang side para kunwari di niya napansin yung taong nakahandusay). Likewise, a Levite is going down the road, but when he saw the man, he passed by the other side. (a Levite is an assistant of the priest; when he saw that the priest did not help the man, maaaring iniisip nya na “kung yung priest nga di tumulong, bakit ako?”).

But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him and when he saw him, he felt compassion... (Looking at this, a Samaritan helped the Jew? In John 4:9, we can read that the Jews should not have dealings with the Samaritans. Sinasabi lang dito ni Jesus, na anybody can do good things unto others, walang pinipili ang pagbibigay ng pagmamahal, kung para kanino at kung sino ang gagawa nito)

...came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them (oil and wine – maaaring mamahalin ito, wala siyang pakialam nang mga oras na yun ang importante matulungan nya yung lalaki); and set him on his own beast and brought the man to an inn and took care of him.

The following day, he gave the host two pence (2 denarii, 2-days wages) and said, “take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay when I return.” (since wala nang pera yung lalaki dahil kinuha ng mga robbers, alam nung Samaritan na wala siyang pambayad at walang kakayahan na maibalik sa kaniya ang kanyang ibinayad sa inn)

v.36 – “Which of the three do you think proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”

v.37 – the lawyer answered, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” And Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

INTERPRETATION:

There are three kinds of people living in the world:

1. The robbers

2. The Priest and/or the Levite

3. The Samaritan

Robbers – those who hurt us by robbing us, taking all our possessions and sometimes abuse us physically; and in the end, leave us dying.

Priest/Levite – people who ignore us, neglecting our needs

Samaritan – the despised; the outcast; but full of compassion like Jesus; helps us, cleanses our wounds, pays for our debts, and will return for us.

APPLICATION:

Neighbours are not merely family members, or friends, or relatives, but more of those people who need help; people who have no way to repay his helper even of little things. They are everywhere, makikita natin sila sa ating paligid kung hindi tayo tutulad sa Priest or Levite na nakita na nga nila na may nangangailangan pero in-ignore pa rin nila ito, at lumihis ng daan para lang hindi mahalata na nakita na nila ito.

Neighbours need compassion. Like the Samaritan, we can show our love to our neighbours by being compassionate; helping them in times of need; caring for them...

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” – What must be done? All things must be done with love. It’s too difficult for us to obey the law if we don’t abide with love. If not for love, Jesus won’t be able to conquer death on the cross for us, sinners. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, He gave His Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” In return, we should love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength and with our entire mind; and love our neighbours as we love ourselves; for love is the manifestation of our faith in Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Do you believe that Jesus sacrificed Himself because of love? Do you believe that Jesus did it for the love of us?

Jesus, like the Samaritan in the story, would do everything He could possibly do, just for us to be saved, because He loves us. We are like the man: abandoned, left unconscious, has nothing left to do. Pero dahil sa pag-ibig ni Cristo, ginawa ang lahat, even dying on the cross, para lang mailigtas tayo sa kapahamakan, sa kamatayan. Inaruga tayo at binigyan ng buhay. Binayaran ng Kanyang dugo upang maging malinis. At nangakong babalikan tayong muli.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” Do something because of love; everything we do must be motivated by love.

#Love #GoodSamaritan #Parables