WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.640 Good morning. It is a joy to be here with you all to open up the scripture together and glean from its words. 00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:13.019 While Nathan and Clay have been on sabbatical, we've been taking a break from our study of Romans to teach through some parables. 00:00:13.620 --> 00:00:19.859 I went through our website recently to say to see when the last time was that we preached through the Gospels. 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:23.780 It was 2018. And before that, it was 2015. 00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:29.940 So I know that many of you read the Gospels and therefore the parables more frequently than that. 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:33.400 So I trust that this little series has been beneficial to you. 00:00:33.660 --> 00:00:39.260 I know it has been for me regarding interpretation and application of the parables. 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:45.920 And so flying over the text sometimes at 30,000 feet can lead to premature applications. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:52.000 There tends to be so much more built in, so much more instruction once you dive into the actual contours of the passage. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:01:01.600 So as Cody and TJ and Ernie have helped us to draw out the true meaning of the passages they taught on, I hope to do the same. 00:01:02.299 --> 00:01:08.519 Today we're going to be going through the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:11.960 The Good Samaritan is a familiar parable. 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:15.519 It is a colloquial term in our culture. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:20.960 Most people who grew up in America understand what is meant by using the phrase Good Samaritan. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.579 Even if they don't know what the biblical origin is. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:28.159 So we even have a category of laws called the Good Samaritan laws. 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:30.739 So this is a familiar text. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:38.519 People have used it and seen it only as a prescription to help the needy whenever you happen upon them. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:49.479 At other times it has been unrightly taking the spotlight of the big picture and mission of the church as if the only predominant purpose is to fulfill physical needs. 00:01:50.119 --> 00:01:57.679 I believe as it is faithfully read, it teaches us to humbly approach the scriptures, exalting God and not man. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:08.780 Yeah, it gives clarity to the commandment to love your neighbor, but it goes further to address the why or how to apply the law in light of eternity for God's glory. 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:13.580 With that in mind, would you turn with me to Luke 10? 00:02:14.420 --> 00:02:15.640 Luke chapter 10. 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:22.500 We're going to start in verses 25 and read through 37. 00:02:31.019 --> 00:02:32.339 Luke 10, 25. 00:02:33.779 --> 00:02:34.479 It reads, 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.899 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test. 00:02:37.959 --> 00:02:42.699 That's Jesus saying, teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:02:42.859 --> 00:02:44.939 He said to him, what is written in the law? 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:45.839 How do you read it? 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:54.439 And he answered, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. 00:02:55.079 --> 00:02:56.780 And he said to him, you have answered correctly. 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:58.099 Do this and you will live. 00:02:58.459 --> 00:03:02.199 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, and who is my neighbor? 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:11.159 Jesus replied, a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:17.060 Now, by chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 00:03:17.359 --> 00:03:21.620 So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place, saw him and passed by on the other side. 00:03:21.979 --> 00:03:27.659 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:31.439 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:35.800 Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.379 And the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, take care of him. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:44.199 And whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:48.740 So which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.159 He said, the one who showed him mercy. 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:55.840 And Jesus said to him, you go and do likewise. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:57.500 Pray with me. 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:01.439 Father, we thank you for your word this morning. 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:09.699 We pray that by the power of your spirit, you would reveal your truth to our hearts, that we would cling to its promises. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:11.520 We pray this in Christ's name. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:11.860 Amen. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.879 So to really understand this interaction, it's important. 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:22.779 It's really important to understand who the main characters are and the social political climate they were in. 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:26.079 There's a lot of context to consider in this text. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:35.959 I just want to give the bare minimum background for us to really absorb the impact of how Jesus poses his answers. 00:04:36.599 --> 00:04:38.979 But the bare minimum is a lot, so hang with me. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:41.979 So the context of this passage is in Israel. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:47.579 After the Israelites have returned from captivity, they have rebuilt the temple that was destroyed, 00:04:47.579 --> 00:04:50.399 and they are living in the promised land once again. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:57.740 During the exile, a remnant of the Jews actually stayed in Israel instead of going to the captive's land. 00:04:58.219 --> 00:05:03.879 And those who stayed back, a few of them went and married Gentiles from the northern region, Samaria. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:09.039 And the product of that interracial marriage were then the Samaritans. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:15.200 So they were sort of a half-breed, but the exilic Jews, the ones who went to the captive's land, would see them as impure. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:21.340 And that caused dissension and animosity between the pure Jews and the Samaritans 00:05:21.340 --> 00:05:27.460 because the pure Jews saw that they were meant to be set apart and not to be unequally yoked with Gentiles, 00:05:27.580 --> 00:05:29.160 so it kind of felt like betrayal. 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:32.400 So therefore, the Samaritans and the Jews were at odds. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:33.580 They didn't worship together. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.140 They did not speak to one another. 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:36.140 They did not live together. 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:39.039 So Samaritans would be considered the worst kind of Gentile. 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:42.339 Calling someone a Samaritan would be a condescending term. 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:47.979 And so the lawyer is one of the exilic Jews, the one that went to the captive's land, 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:50.939 and he studies the scriptures by occupation. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:54.659 He's not a civil attorney like we may think of in our day. 00:05:55.039 --> 00:05:56.680 He dealt in the law of scripture. 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:02.680 He would be occupied with interpreting the Old Testament and how it ought to be applied in their day. 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:08.139 He was a religious leader along with like the scribes, the priests, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees. 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:12.439 He is a pure Jew and would separate himself from the Samaritans. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:14.699 He too would look down his nose at them. 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:22.280 The first two pedestrians, the Levite and the priests, are also part of this religious class of Jews. 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:27.100 The Levites were given the office of priesthood in the Old Covenant. 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:32.860 Not all Levites were priests, per se, but all priests were from the tribe of Levi. 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:34.980 And so these are also pure Jews. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:41.980 And given those contextual realities, the animosity of exilic Jews and Samaritans, 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:44.040 and the disposition of the lawyer, 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:49.960 the parable of the Good Samaritan is a very subjective response to the lawyer's inquiry. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:55.939 The lawyer would never have contributed anything to come from a Samaritan. 00:06:55.939 --> 00:06:59.079 And so this parable hits him in a very particular way. 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:02.279 Remember, this is just an allegory too. 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:03.459 This is not historical fiction. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:07.600 Jesus is not trying to vindicate the Samaritan or condemn the Levite or the priest. 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:14.579 But it is to just show how the Lord tactfully uses the context to address the lawyer. 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:16.459 And that's important to keep in mind. 00:07:16.659 --> 00:07:22.180 So that lays the context of who we are dealing with and what predispositions are present. 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:25.300 And with that in mind, we're going to work through this text in two portions 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:30.720 that both start with a question and end with an exhortation. 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:34.600 The first question being, what shall I do to inherit internal life? 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:37.540 And that's in verses 25 through 28. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:41.660 And it concludes, do this and you will live. 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:44.180 And then the second question is, who's my neighbor? 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:46.819 Found in verses 29 through 37. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:49.800 And that conclusion is, you go and do likewise. 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:52.360 So we're going to look into that first section. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:55.139 What shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:02.079 The text doesn't give us explicit detail on if the lawyer was present 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.459 when Jesus was addressing his disciples just before our text. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:10.219 But even if it had, our understanding and application of this text wouldn't change much. 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:14.060 So either way, the lawyer approaches Jesus on the topic of eternal life. 00:08:14.520 --> 00:08:20.720 The purpose of the lawyer's inquiry, it says in verse 25, is to put Jesus to the test. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:23.880 He's wrong right off the bat. 00:08:24.760 --> 00:08:31.860 By attempting to test Jesus, he's placing himself either above or at best equal with Christ. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:37.480 And either of those would be a highly irreverent and arrogant position to take when approaching the Messiah. 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:42.279 It is the master that teaches and tests the students. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:46.639 So the lawyer is positioning himself as an authority to test Christ. 00:08:46.920 --> 00:08:52.139 Even though the lawyer calls Jesus teacher, I think that's a little tongue-in-cheek. 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:56.820 So the spiritual blindness that the lawyer has as he approaches Christ 00:08:56.820 --> 00:09:00.820 leads him to phrase this question with a faulty heart attitude. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:04.779 He says, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:07.919 As if he can achieve eternal life in and of himself. 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:14.100 The topic of the question, however, it is the most important topic to consider. 00:09:14.699 --> 00:09:16.879 Our time here on earth is very limited. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:21.699 And we can be so consumed with the smaller details of our daily lives 00:09:21.699 --> 00:09:25.279 that we neglect the bigger, more existential questions. 00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:29.199 We often ask things like, where should I live? 00:09:29.959 --> 00:09:32.220 When should I find another job? 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:35.120 What kind of investments should I consider for retirement? 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:36.879 What kind of car should we buy? 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:39.500 These are not inherently wrong questions to ask. 00:09:39.560 --> 00:09:41.120 These are actually good questions to ask. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.860 But an even better question would be, can I know God and have an intimate relationship with him? 00:09:46.540 --> 00:09:48.100 What does he expect of me? 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:49.279 And how can I please him? 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.800 Where do I go after this life? 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:51.700 And how do I get there? 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.879 These are the questions that we would do well to consider regularly 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.440 because they are of utmost importance. 00:09:57.540 --> 00:10:01.019 The lawyer, however, doesn't really want to hear Jesus out on this matter. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:07.319 He's making a public spectacle of the situation and wants to actually boast his own ego. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:13.000 He wants Christ to answer outside of the accepted scriptures so that he can shoot him down. 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:19.120 He wants to draw out a new means of salvation from Jesus so that he could be charged with blasphemy. 00:10:19.819 --> 00:10:23.919 The lawyer was a part of that high class of religious elites that would often gather 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:27.039 and use the scriptures to puff themselves up. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:32.799 They had a system of works-based salvation in place and they did not want Christ interrupting that. 00:10:33.319 --> 00:10:35.639 So therefore, he was just setting a trap for him. 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:40.799 If you would, turn to John chapter 5 with me really quickly. 00:10:41.719 --> 00:10:45.120 Jesus in this text is addressing this very matter, 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:49.399 these very people on this topic about using the scriptures to puff themselves up. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:55.579 John chapter 5. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:57.480 Look at verse 39 with me and following. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:03.259 This is Jesus speaking to this group of religious elites. 00:11:03.319 --> 00:11:03.740 He says, 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:09.379 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:12.200 And it is they that bear witness about me. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:15.779 Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:20.919 I do not receive glory from people, but I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:24.080 I have come in my Father's name and you do not receive me. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:27.139 If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:34.400 How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from only God? 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.980 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:40.820 There is one who accuses you, Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:44.160 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me. 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.879 For he wrote of me. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:50.280 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:57.519 In verse 43, we see that they accept one another's teaching that credits their own names. 00:11:58.220 --> 00:12:03.500 Whoever has that interpretation that is most agreeable with their self-exalting ideology is to be received. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:06.980 They don't want to magnify God in the scripture. 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:08.919 They want to justify themselves. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:13.779 Jesus is saying that all these scriptures witness about him, though, God. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:16.120 And yet they do not come to this conclusion in the scriptures. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:23.340 This is because, by default, humans are affected by sin in such a way that it causes spiritual blindness. 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:28.860 In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul says, 00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:34.799 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:39.980 And he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:45.300 You can't interpret the things of the Spirit if your mind is set on the things of the flesh. 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:51.379 God must reveal himself by the power of his Spirit in order for us to see with our hearts. 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:57.560 It is an attempt to steal glory from God by lying about where spiritual discernment comes from. 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:01.300 They say it comes from within so that they can have something to boast about. 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:04.519 But the scripture says it comes from outside of ourselves. 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:11.659 The lawyer boasting himself has no regard or reverence for his Creator, who is the only one who can provide eternal life. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.000 So as Jesus said in verse 39, it is the scriptures that bear witness about him. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:20.939 The scriptures that Moses authored are filled with shadows of the one to come. 00:13:21.199 --> 00:13:24.559 And they're all pointing to trusting in God alone for salvation. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:30.799 The ark in Noah's story, the torch and the smoking pot in the Abrahamic covenant, 00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:34.979 the walls of Jericho just falling down at the sound of trumpets, 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:38.439 the ram caught in the bush as a substitute for Isaac, 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:41.859 the Passover lamb, the water from the rock, 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:47.759 these are all pointing to a spiritual salvation outside themselves that is provided by God himself. 00:13:48.719 --> 00:13:50.519 Christ is the sacrificial lamb. 00:13:51.119 --> 00:13:52.519 He is the manna from heaven. 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:54.699 He is the snake crusher, the seed of Abraham. 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:58.139 He is the substance that is shadowed in the Old Testament. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:01.399 And he is the only one that can offer eternal life. 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:05.779 So the response in verse 26 back in our text that Jesus gives, 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:11.019 what is written in the law and how do you read it, is very clever. 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:15.600 Christ responds with a question that appeals to the scriptures. 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:21.500 He then is stripping away the authority and the ability for the lawyer to boast in himself. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:25.799 He is now putting the lawyer to the test by asking him a question. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.580 And now he's causing the conversation to bear on the word of God, 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:34.820 not on the lawyer's interpretation or his understanding of those things. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:37.259 So although the lawyer uses scripture selfishly, 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:39.659 Christ doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:43.159 Eternal life can only be provided by the creator of life, 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:46.299 and he has revealed this truth to us through his word. 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:53.159 So today we have his word recorded for us in the 66 canonized books of the Bible. 00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:57.219 These words are breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, 00:14:57.339 --> 00:14:59.919 for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:04.819 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:08.879 The nature of the word of God is a glorious doctrine. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:12.940 His words have physical and spiritual authority, 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:20.220 and that as the Lord speaks, his very breath has precise, effectual power in what he intends to do. 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:21.980 Isaiah 55.10 says, 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:24.779 For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:27.080 and do not return there without watering the earth, 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:28.500 and making it bare and sprout, 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.779 and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:34.960 so will be my word which goes forth from my mouth. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:38.420 It will not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire, 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.840 and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:46.279 Okay, and we see that in a few different physical life-giving realities. 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:49.600 It is his word that spoke creation into existence. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.399 It is his breath that breathed life into man in Genesis 2. 00:15:53.540 --> 00:15:56.800 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, 00:15:56.800 --> 00:16:01.100 and breathed life into his nostrils the breath of life, 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.500 and man became a living being. 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.860 And then beyond creating life, 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:09.879 it is the word of his power that sustains life. 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:14.220 He upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:19.160 Note that it is not the power of his words as in the physical words give life. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.659 But the power behind the words, the word of his power. 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:25.600 But not only does his word give physical life, 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:29.360 he exclusively uses his word to bring about spiritual life. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.379 In Romans 1, the gospel message is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.720 John 5, 24, 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:41.800 Lord, truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.120 Ephesians 1, 13, 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:48.320 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:51.240 and believed in him were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.460 And there's many more. 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:59.900 But God uses specifically and only the gospel message with the power of the Spirit to cause salvation. 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:05.079 There is no other means to gain eternal life except through what is prescribed in his word. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:09.519 Beyond salvation, the Lord uniquely uses his word to sanctify. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.180 In Jesus' high priestly prayer of John 17, 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.880 Jesus prays to the Father, 00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:17.700 Sanctify them in your truth. 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.640 And what is your truth? 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.280 It says, Sanctify them in your truth. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.740 Your word is truth. 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:28.420 The very work of the Holy Spirit is to bring about remembrance of all that Christ has said. 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:31.540 Looking at a broad sweep of scripture, 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:36.560 we see how God uses his word to bring about life and accomplish all of his purposes. 00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:39.000 And at the end of that passage in John 5, 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:42.740 Christ equates belief in his words to belief in the writings of Moses. 00:17:43.300 --> 00:17:47.220 So he's claiming his words are authoritative and divine. 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:51.799 Scripture at this time in our text would be the Old Testament. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:57.600 There was debate within the religious leaders of the time of which books were to be included or not. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:18:01.059 There was no debate, however, whether the Torah was authoritative. 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:04.680 And that is what this man quotes from, the lawyer quotes from. 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:10.180 The Torah is the first five books of the Bible and was often referred to as the law. 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:13.279 And so he quotes Deuteronomy 6, the Shema. 00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:16.460 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:21.600 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:25.039 And also from Leviticus 19, he quotes, 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:32.319 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.159 I am the Lord. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:39.599 So the lawyer answers correctly to the what of Jesus' question or to the what of the question. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.539 But Jesus affirms that so simply in verse 28 by saying, you've answered correctly. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.779 It's almost as if he's just saying like, yep, glad we agree. 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.899 You've answered right. 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:52.980 But then he adds, do this and you will live. 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.800 You will live. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:59.780 So this would cause the lawyer to stop and consider why Jesus thinks he's not currently fulfilling the law. 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:04.460 I believe Jesus was letting the law have its intended effect. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:10.040 John Calvin in his institutes teaches three primary uses of the law. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:13.980 First, it acts as a mirror, as in Romans 3.20, 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:20.440 For by works of the law, no human will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:25.200 Second, it restrains further evil from happening. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:33.220 The moral boundaries drawn within the human conscience can serve to limit the full expression of our sin out of fear of consequences. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:38.759 But also third, it provides God's children good instructions to glorify their father. 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:44.339 So Christ was letting the law act as that mirror to expose the lawyer's sin. 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:50.160 In this way, it guides his mind into seeing maybe two different means for salvation. 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:56.759 He can live in complete faithfulness and submission to God, which would be a works-based salvation. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:20:00.519 Or he will have to find justification somewhere else. 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:07.000 That is, through Christ, who did live in complete faithfulness and submission to God, which would be a faith-based salvation. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:12.220 If we are honest with ourselves and with God, we all sin. 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:15.039 We have all broken the requirement of complete faithfulness. 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:23.160 So we conclude that the one and only way for a human to be accepted and restored to God is to pursue the latter option, the faith-based salvation. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.059 And Galatians teaches that plainly. 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.339 It says, 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:47.079 That's why Jesus says back in John 5 that Moses accused that pretentious group of religious elites. 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:52.619 They have all broken the law of Moses that was recorded in the Torah. 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:59.960 And that law should then act to reveal their blemished hearts and their minds and turn in faith to Christ. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:04.059 So within the lawyer's question, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:10.899 He is assuming he can accomplish the righteousness on his own, this works-based salvation, and receive the reward of eternal life. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:15.179 This leads him to improperly interpret but also apply the scriptures. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:22.420 When you look into those texts that he quoted with confidence and the rest of the giving of the law, 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:29.920 if you approach it with a confidence in the flesh and a selfish ambition, it's understandable that the lawyer has this mentality. 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:38.279 In Deuteronomy and throughout the giving of the law, you see the exhortations to keep the commandments so that it will go well with you, which is true. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:46.200 Through faith and God's promises, the patriarchs found salvation and many other blessings by upholding the law. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:51.779 The lawyer misses the fact, though, that it was by faith that led them to that obedience. 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:54.420 In James 2, you see, it says, 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:57.100 You see that faith was active along with his works. 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.240 He's speaking of Abraham here. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:04.019 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works, and the scriptures was fulfilled that says, 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:07.600 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:13.940 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:19.740 The lawyer's body is apart from the spirit, so his works do not produce life. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:25.740 We all, by nature, fail to obey the foremost law, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:33.920 But because we can't uphold that foundational and most important law in and of ourselves, we are bound to transgress the other laws as well. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:40.200 If, by God's intervention, we are given the spirit to cause us to love the Lord our God, 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:45.779 that we will start to see the spirit working through us to fulfill the other components of the law. 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:53.619 And so what's so condemning about the lawyer's next words is that he doesn't even address the component of the love of God. 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:55.920 He assumes that he has nailed that one already. 00:22:56.759 --> 00:23:02.500 This leads him to think that the misunderstanding must be within the dealing with the love of neighbor. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:09.920 But we know that true love of neighbor has to flow downstream from the love of God and not love of self. 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:15.319 If you're worshiping yourself, you aren't considering others, and nor are you loving your neighbor. 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:23.359 So that leads us into our next section of the passage, who is my neighbor, in verses 29 through 37. 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:31.960 It starts very similarly to the first with a question, but the lawyer has the same prideful approach. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:37.240 In verse 29, we see the lawyer desiring to justify himself. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:41.720 There again, pride is always the wrong approach to scripture. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:46.740 He is trying to find a loophole in Christ's response so that he would be proven right. 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:54.160 By the lawyer's response, we see that he assumes that he has obeyed the command to love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:59.160 But in reality, he has loved himself with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:06.540 The Leviticus text he quotes regarding the love of neighbor has some verbiage in there that I think he's wanting to use for his own agenda. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.640 The text reads, 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:14.300 You shall not take vengeance or bear grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.200 I am the Lord. 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:18.820 So the Lord equates the sons of your people to neighbor. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:24.740 He wants to limit neighbor to his own kin because it's very easy to love those within your own circle. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:32.539 He wants it to read, you shall not take vengeance against the sons of your people, but you may bear a grudge against your neighbor. 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:35.319 But that is not what the text says. 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:40.359 So he suggests there must be a misunderstanding how Jesus defines neighbor. 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:47.200 And with what we have seen of his character and his line of thinking, we're not surprised that he wants to use this text to his own advantage. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:50.700 He studies the law day in and day out. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:56.240 And Leviticus 1934 gives a helpful definition that apparently the lawyer has overlooked. 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:56.600 It says, 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:04.620 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself. 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:09.360 So Jesus, the author of the Torah, defines neighbor this way. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:19.719 Christ goes on to clarify neighbor through this parable so that the lawyer can see his shortcoming, repent of his sin, and then obey the law rightly. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:23.039 So let's look at how the parable achieves that. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:31.599 Because the priests were to be clean and consecrated when performing their priestly tasks in the temple, 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:40.159 There's a requirement of not touching anything said to be unclean, and that would involve blood, sickness, certain animals, injured people, dead people. 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:48.559 And if they did, they had to be made clean and consecrated before entering the temple, which is completely feasible, maybe not efficient, 00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:52.199 but the means of cleansing yourself before entering the temple are there for a reason. 00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:57.839 I imagine the excuse ran through his mind that they were selected for the sacred work of the temple, 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:01.699 and therefore had a higher calling than to stop and help an unclean man. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:06.699 Maybe someone else who doesn't have such a high calling has time to stop and help, not me. 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:11.859 So in contrast, when the Samaritan comes upon the man, 00:26:12.699 --> 00:26:17.019 he stops and does the compassionate act of lavishly helping this man. 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.740 He stops the bleeding wounds. 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:23.279 He sacrifices his cooking materials to soothe and sanitize those wounds. 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:25.399 He gives up his seat on his animal. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.419 He walks in. 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.140 He walks. 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:30.560 Like, he gave his seat up, and he walks him all the way to an inn. 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:34.240 And then he pays for approximately two months of stay. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:40.900 And then he vows to pay for any additional accommodations that the wounded man may acquire over that time. 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:47.400 And this is an incredible act of kindness and benevolence toward an apparent stranger 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:50.200 and someone who is culturally at odds with him. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:54.060 And so the ethnic divide went out the window, and the Samaritans showed compassion. 00:26:54.059 --> 00:27:00.799 The priests who are called to intercede and bring about the Lord's mercy through their temple services 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:07.539 find themselves selfishly and maybe arrogantly unwilling to extend that compassion in all practical ways. 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:15.940 Jesus is showing him that true love for neighbor includes loving anyone we find ourselves interacting with, whether Jew or Gentile. 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:21.319 He is using the Samaritan as the one who is actually loving his neighbor and not the priest or the Levite. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:24.039 This would be inflammatory to the lawyer. 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:27.700 But Jesus goes on to have the lawyer confess this truth. 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:32.399 When you look at his response, the lawyer answers correctly that the member is teeth. 00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:36.240 So nonetheless, Jesus left him with his answer to who his neighbor is. 00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:40.019 And this teaches us what it practically means to love our neighbor. 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:49.940 But it also showed the lawyer that he has fallen short of obedience to the very commandments and the law that he deals with day in and day out. 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:53.460 He has not loved the Samaritan, his neighbor, as himself. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:55.379 He's not necessarily... 00:27:55.379 --> 00:28:02.379 It's not necessarily how the lawyer has failed to maybe help some wounded man beaten up down on his luck. 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:06.680 Though it doesn't exclude that, but it's the Samaritans. 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:12.380 The lawyer has looked down upon them and tried to remove dignity from image bearers. 00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:17.240 And this proves that he can't even win at his own game, the works-based righteousness. 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.080 So now what? 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.420 Jesus leaves him with the marching orders. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.920 You go and do likewise. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:27.860 This hopefully led the lawyer to realize his double standard. 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:34.120 This would require him to look outside of himself to find a right standing with God. 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:37.019 And this is a very powerful use of the law. 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:38.719 It causes us to turn to Christ. 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:48.619 If you are only seeking the gift of eternal life from obedience to the law, then God, the gift giver, is irrelevant. 00:28:49.239 --> 00:28:51.119 And you are worshiping yourself. 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:55.019 This leads to misapplications of the law. 00:28:55.479 --> 00:28:59.959 The Lord instituted these laws so that we would enjoy fruitful relationship with him. 00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.959 He is the reward. 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:09.380 If he is not our main focus in our obedience, then the benefits of obedience will actually not be beneficial to us. 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:12.039 Because on judgment day, the Lord will say, depart from me. 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.460 I never knew you. 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:17.960 Deuteronomy 8 says, take care lest you forget the Lord your God. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:28.700 By not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and you live in them. 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:39.660 And when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up and you forget the Lord your God. 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:48.360 They were not to obey the commandments within the covenant to pragmatically get physical blessing. 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:54.800 The laws were there to continually point them to God who alone can provide spiritual blessing. 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:59.220 The lawyer is looking too much into the what of the law and not at the who. 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:03.900 The law helps us to see and know the mercy and the grace of God. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:08.660 Recall in Romans 5 verse 20, the law came to increase the trespass. 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:12.480 But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:15.900 The law exposes our sin and our fallen nature. 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:25.319 But this tees up the glory of God in accomplishing the work for us and enduring the wrath that we deserved for our transgressions. 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.559 And he did that in Christ. 00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:30.679 Jesus lived the perfectly obedient and righteous life that is required of us. 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:36.960 The law did not increase his transgressions, but proved to show his perfection. 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:40.819 This made him the perfect sacrifice on our behalf. 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:44.159 He was the one who deserved punishment the least. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:49.139 And yet he paid the most in order that we would be given the most fathomable gift. 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.200 Eternal life. 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:54.539 So that eternal life starts here on earth with salvation. 00:30:54.539 --> 00:31:01.440 The law causes us to turn away from ourselves in repentance and to place our faith in Christ. 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:05.079 We are no longer viewed as rebels and criminals through faith in Christ. 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:07.159 We are clothed with a new identity. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:10.139 We are viewed as righteous in Christ. 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:15.319 No longer can Moses accuse us because Christ fulfilled the law. 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:19.420 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:26.500 This free gift of grace when received spiritually then causes the believer to turn in gratitude to obey the law. 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:29.940 We want to honor and display the glory of God in all that we do. 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:34.600 In word or deed, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we do the glory of God. 00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:36.980 It is our Christian duty to do these things. 00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:42.660 The laws, however, are not burdensome because of the love of God dwelling within us. 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:45.900 We forgive others because Christ forgave us, and that's a joy. 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:48.960 We show mercy because we were shown mercy. 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:52.040 We love our neighbor because Christ loved us. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:55.240 These laws are for our good, arbitrary standard. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:59.640 We require them to eat their vegetables because they are good for their bodies. 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:07.040 So similarly, the Lord calls us to obedience, not for some domineering insecurity he has, 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:12.620 or that it would be salvific for us, but because it's what's best for us to spiritually flourish. 00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:17.160 So in closing, I want to make three points of application. 00:32:18.300 --> 00:32:21.020 What does the word say, and how do you read it? 00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:28.500 We should all deploy this rule every time we find ourselves seeking answers to life's questions. 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:30.420 Should I buy this house? 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:33.220 Is it okay that my closest friends are pagans? 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:35.099 Do I really have to go to church? 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.140 Are there multiple ways to heaven? 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.440 Should I spank my children? 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:41.400 Should I attend a homosexual wedding ceremony? 00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:47.079 The scriptures may not speak explicitly to your direct situation, 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:51.339 but if you don't start there, you're not even in the right ballpark to play the game. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:56.339 Scripture does give you all the principles and the theology needed 00:32:56.339 --> 00:33:00.819 by the guidance and the power of the Spirit to apply Scripture with prudence. 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:04.659 And furthermore, it is not enough just to know what the words say. 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:06.240 You must know how to read it. 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:10.679 Read it carefully, and read it like your life depends on it, because it does. 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:16.439 There are many resources at our disposal today, podcasts and sermons and books, articles. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:19.340 You need to filter them all through the lens of Scripture, 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:22.940 and be careful not to follow anyone who doesn't faithfully handle the Word of God 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:25.799 with reverence, humility, and reason. 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:29.860 Most of your guidance, and this should come from within the local church, 00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:33.039 it is wise to consult your pastors on who or who not to follow. 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:37.960 Better yet, seek direct counsel from your pastors on interpreting and applying the Scriptures. 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:41.480 The Lord has gifted the church with overseers for this very work. 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:45.740 Our second point is, Jesus is our ultimate reward. 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:51.680 The comprehensive purpose of the Bible is to glorify God through the gospel message. 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:55.980 From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture is pointing us to bow knee to Christ. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:34:01.980 Are you seeking a works-based salvation for the sake of a thing instead of a person? 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:06.900 If the Lord was not in heaven, would you still want to go? 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:10.900 If not, take time to pray through why that is. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:14.740 And then turn to Jesus in faith and repentance of your idolatry. 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:19.699 And then being born again into God's royal family, 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:25.579 the gifts of God will be rightly administered to you like a true child receives their inheritance, 00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:27.079 not like a thief's. 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:29.719 And your soul will be truly satisfied in Christ. 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:32.480 Then you will be bound for eternal life. 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:36.380 Lastly, love your neighbor as yourself. 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:39.780 If you are Christ's and Christ is within you, 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:44.780 it is your joyful response to do the works of Christ revealed in his law. 00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:47.400 For by grace you have been saved through faith, 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.760 and this is not your own doing. 00:34:49.120 --> 00:34:54.400 It is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:59.080 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:34:59.120 --> 00:35:01.940 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:05.000 Therefore, help the wounded, care for the widows and the orphans, 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:10.260 sacrifice yourself to serve others despite differences like ethnicity or culture. 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:13.039 And even if that neighbor is your enemy, 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:15.460 scripture calls you to feed them if they're hungry. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.039 There's no way around it. 00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.239 Love your neighbor. 00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:20.099 Let's pray.