WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 discussions on topics of law and morality and faith. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:08.759 And in Jesus' case, this was often done in the form of parables, which we're going to see today. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:16.240 Now, in the West, we're conditioned from a very early age that when someone asks us a question, 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:18.839 we should respond with the best answer possible. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.240 However, as you look at the Jewish model of teaching, that wasn't the case. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:27.460 Your understanding of a topic wasn't based on the answer you would give. 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:33.340 Rather, it was often determined based on the question you would ask about the question you had been asked. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:37.020 So, being foreign to us, let's take a look. 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:42.340 We'll just dive right into our text in Luke chapter 10 that Alex just read for us. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:45.760 And we'll see an example of this right off the bat. 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:49.480 It says, on one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 00:00:49.980 --> 00:00:54.820 Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:57.500 What is written in the law, he replied. 00:00:58.060 --> 00:00:59.079 How do you read it? 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:03.380 So, right here, you can see Jesus doesn't just come right out and answer his question. 00:01:03.539 --> 00:01:06.200 He asks him a question about his question. 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:09.739 And if you follow through scripture, you're going to see that over and over again, 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.840 especially in conversations with Jesus. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:16.340 We obviously know that we are going to be working through this passage in Luke, 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:18.799 this very well-known parable. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:24.019 Now, the thing about parables is that if you go through and teach about them, 00:01:24.399 --> 00:01:28.500 you can make a parable say a whole bunch of things that it was never really intended to say. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:35.140 The idea behind a parable is to connect with this teaching style, 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:37.140 is to connect with the people that you're talking to, 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:40.819 which is why Jesus would use this form of teaching so often. 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:45.979 So today, we're going to spend some time understanding the context of what's going on, 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.280 understand the setting of the story and the people that are involved in it, 00:01:49.899 --> 00:01:53.239 so that we can get a better understanding of what they might have been thinking 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:54.239 as they would have heard this. 00:01:54.419 --> 00:01:58.379 And I think as we do this, it'll shed some new light on this amazing story. 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:02.619 One of the interesting things we see about this passage 00:02:02.619 --> 00:02:05.419 is that while it's often taught as a parable, 00:02:05.419 --> 00:02:10.000 many scholars would actually say that this was probably an actual occurrence. 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:14.280 Whether or not it did, whether or not it was, 00:02:14.379 --> 00:02:17.259 won't really affect the outcome of the story. 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:23.979 But the nature of the story suggests that it probably did happen 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:29.060 because if Jesus were to have told a story like this about a Samaritan to a Jewish audience, 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:32.259 they wouldn't have given it any credence because they didn't like the Samaritans. 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:37.400 And they probably would have just dismissed it as outrageous had it not actually been true. 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:43.580 So, the story takes place on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:46.500 Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:54.360 So this is a stretch of road that traverses a patch of land that's about 17 miles down this road, 00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:57.200 and it actually travels down from Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:03.240 You descend about 3,400 feet in elevation as you go down from Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:06.780 So, it's a very rocky stretch of road, 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:11.040 and it's changed very little in the years since Jesus would have told this story. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:16.379 To give you an idea, it takes about eight hours to travel down by foot on this path of road. 00:03:17.200 --> 00:03:18.560 So, if we go to the next slide, 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:22.460 you can start to see it travels down the side of that road, 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:27.219 and it really winds down and descends down all this elevation. 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:29.020 And if you go to the next slide, 00:03:30.320 --> 00:03:32.219 you can see there's not a whole lot out there. 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:33.340 It's very barren. 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:35.000 It's very rocky. 00:03:35.379 --> 00:03:36.020 If you're traveling down, 00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:39.000 you would have been able to see for miles and miles ahead 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.760 because it would have kind of wound down. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:44.719 And so you could see what was going on on the road in front of you. 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:47.740 Well, it was a very heavily traveled road, 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:51.340 and during Jesus' time, it was known also as the Way of Blood. 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:55.820 Because it wound down through these craggy hills, 00:03:56.460 --> 00:03:59.860 there were several places along the road that made for a good ambush spot. 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:03.000 So, robbers and thieves would commonly hide out, 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.879 and as they were traveling along this road, 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:07.060 they would ambush people and steal their things. 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:10.400 And that's the backdrop for this story. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:13.000 In fact, roughly halfway down, 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:15.280 there's still a massive boulder to this day 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.079 along a narrow pass in this road, 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.180 and it's very possible that that was the actual setting for this story. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:25.199 Now, the last thing to note about this location 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.040 are the cities that lie on either end of it. 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:30.480 So, obviously, Jerusalem was the site of the temple. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:34.300 That was the place where the Jews would flock to worship. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:37.860 And Jericho, at this time, 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:39.920 was kind of a bedroom community to Jerusalem. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:41.819 There were thousands of temple workers 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:45.379 that served on a regular basis in the temple, 00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:46.780 and many of them lived in Jericho. 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:49.199 So, it was very common for them to travel up and down this road 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:50.800 in their service in the temple. 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.560 So, now that we have a better idea of where the story transpired, 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:59.020 let's dig into the various people mentioned in the story. 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:01.639 Now, the reason I want to talk 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:03.960 and spend some time on the background of this, 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:05.460 that with a story like this, 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:07.160 it's very easy to just kind of read it 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:10.640 and say, well, yes, of course, as I read this, 00:05:10.700 --> 00:05:12.480 I understand that I'm supposed to love my neighbor. 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:17.160 But as we better understand who the people in the story are 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:18.660 and where it's taking place, 00:05:18.700 --> 00:05:20.600 all of a sudden there are nuances to this 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:24.420 that bring depth and meaning to the motivation behind what's happening. 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:29.620 And I personally believe that God cares more about why we do things 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:32.700 than he necessarily does about the particular things that we do, 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:35.060 and I think that's very much at the heart of this story. 00:05:36.019 --> 00:05:41.000 So, if we open back up to Luke chapter 10 and verse 25, 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:45.459 the first thing we're going to see is that Jesus is speaking to an expert in the law. 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:48.779 Now, so the NIV calls him an expert in the law. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:51.980 Other translations would simply call him a lawyer. 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:57.279 So, obviously, he is well-versed in the Old Testament law, the Jewish law, 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:01.179 and he would have been learning this his entire life. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.199 So, at this point in Jesus' life, 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:06.859 he's come into regular opposition with the Pharisees. 00:06:07.119 --> 00:06:11.539 So, this lawyer was probably a part of the religious sect called the Pharisees 00:06:11.539 --> 00:06:14.859 that were part of the Sanhedrin, the larger Jewish governing body, 00:06:15.479 --> 00:06:17.819 and they were not real happy with Jesus. 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:22.359 They were becoming increasingly upset with him 00:06:22.359 --> 00:06:23.719 because of the things he was teaching. 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:27.680 For example, if we turn to Matthew chapter 5. 00:06:27.880 --> 00:06:29.340 I'm going to just turn back a little bit. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:34.880 Now, Jesus has been teaching. 00:06:35.200 --> 00:06:39.400 By the time we get to this point where he's talking about the story we're going to read today, 00:06:39.460 --> 00:06:41.040 he's been teaching for some time now, 00:06:41.400 --> 00:06:43.340 and he's stirred up a very emotional response, 00:06:43.440 --> 00:06:44.200 and you're going to see why. 00:06:44.260 --> 00:06:45.480 If we look at chapter 5, 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:50.480 and we're just going to come in, let's see, 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.920 we'll come in at verse 21. 00:06:56.100 --> 00:06:59.759 So, Jesus has been talking to a group of assembled believers here, 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:00.980 and he says, 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:02.780 You have heard that it was said that 00:07:02.780 --> 00:07:04.340 to the people long ago, 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:05.140 do not murder, 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:07.620 and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:10.640 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother 00:07:10.640 --> 00:07:11.840 will be subject to judgment. 00:07:13.540 --> 00:07:14.460 Verse 27, 00:07:14.460 --> 00:07:16.520 You have heard that it was said that. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:17.360 Verse 28, 00:07:17.780 --> 00:07:18.860 But I tell you that. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.120 Verse 31, 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:22.019 It has been said. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:23.120 Verse 32, 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:24.819 But I tell you. 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:26.139 Verse 33, 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:27.500 You have heard that it said that. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:28.120 34, 00:07:28.379 --> 00:07:29.259 But I tell you that. 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:30.060 38, 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:31.740 You have heard that it was said that. 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:32.519 39, 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:33.980 But I tell you. 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:36.899 And he keeps hammering this point home 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:38.699 to the audience, 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:40.019 and the Pharisees are hearing this, 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:40.579 and he's saying, 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:41.939 All this time, 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:43.259 for millennia, 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:45.680 you have been hearing these things. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:46.800 You have been taught these things. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:47.920 You have been told these things. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:50.199 But what you have been hearing is incomplete. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:52.800 Listen to what this really says. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:53.939 But I tell you that. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:55.800 And you can imagine how these teachers 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:56.900 and the experts in the law 00:07:56.900 --> 00:07:58.740 might have started responding to this, 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:00.780 that they'd been teaching it wrong all these times, 00:08:00.840 --> 00:08:02.100 and the people who had taught them, 00:08:02.140 --> 00:08:03.480 and the people who had taught them 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:05.400 had been wrong all this time. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:06.420 It had been incomplete. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:09.340 But the thing that really gets them 00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:11.000 is what he says in verse 17. 00:08:12.580 --> 00:08:13.640 Do not think that I have come 00:08:13.640 --> 00:08:15.580 to abolish the law or the prophets. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:17.560 I have not come to abolish them, 00:08:17.900 --> 00:08:19.740 but to fulfill them. 00:08:20.580 --> 00:08:21.480 Now the fact that he says 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:23.100 that he's come to fulfill them, 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:24.460 to fulfill the law, 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:26.360 is blasphemy to the Pharisees. 00:08:27.400 --> 00:08:29.100 But he goes even further 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:31.620 in verse 20. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:31.900 He says, 00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:41.860 Now you see, 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:42.899 the Jews largely believed 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:44.980 that the kingdom of theirs 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:47.100 was theirs alone by their birthright, 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:48.480 simply because they were Jewish. 00:08:48.579 --> 00:08:49.620 They were born into that. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:52.079 And they've been living their whole lives 00:08:52.079 --> 00:08:52.779 under the assumption 00:08:52.779 --> 00:08:54.259 that if they simply follow the rules, 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:54.840 they'll be in. 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:57.699 But now, 00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:58.319 Jesus, 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.519 this blasphemer in their eyes, 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.539 comes onto the scene 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:02.559 and says that he is 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:03.759 the fulfillment of the law 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:05.980 and that no amount of clean living 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:07.139 is going to get them into heaven. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:08.579 Well, again, 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:09.240 you start to see 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.199 why he's probably not 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:11.699 real well liked by the Pharisees. 00:09:13.079 --> 00:09:14.100 So as we think about 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.259 that mindset, 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:16.539 that's kind of the backdrop 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:17.519 of what this lawyer, 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:18.439 this expert in the law, 00:09:18.500 --> 00:09:19.319 would have already been thinking 00:09:19.319 --> 00:09:20.819 as he comes into this conversation 00:09:20.819 --> 00:09:21.340 with Jesus. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:22.720 So let's turn back 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:23.879 to Luke chapter 10 now. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:24.539 Sorry, you're going to have to 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:25.759 flip around a little bit with me, 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.299 so stay with me here. 00:09:28.579 --> 00:09:30.500 So back to Luke 10, 25. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.480 The lawyer stands up 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:34.960 to test Jesus, 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:36.480 which is never really a good idea. 00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:37.399 And he says, 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:37.799 teacher, 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:39.759 which I can imagine 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:40.699 he was just kind of 00:09:40.699 --> 00:09:42.120 scoffing this word teacher. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:43.620 You know, 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:45.059 I don't think he really believed 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:46.120 that Jesus was a teacher. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.720 What must I do 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.799 to inherit eternal life? 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:49.960 Well, 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:50.659 if you remember 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:51.620 what we talked about before, 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:52.939 Jesus isn't going to come right out 00:09:52.939 --> 00:09:53.720 and give him an answer. 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:55.659 He responds with a question. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:56.159 Well, 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:57.379 what is written in the law? 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:58.460 How do you read it? 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:00.600 And the lawyer answers 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:01.660 in the way you would expect. 00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:02.860 He quotes the law. 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:05.460 He cites Deuteronomy chapter 6 00:10:05.460 --> 00:10:06.200 and verse 5 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.900 and Leviticus 19, 18. 00:10:08.660 --> 00:10:09.240 And he says, 00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:10.120 love the Lord your God 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:10.759 with all your heart, 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:11.420 with all your soul, 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:12.240 and with all your mind, 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:13.160 and all your strength, 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.339 and love your neighbor 00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:16.360 as yourself. 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:18.219 He was clearly 00:10:18.219 --> 00:10:19.860 a very good Hebrew school student. 00:10:20.319 --> 00:10:21.819 He knew the exact two verses 00:10:21.819 --> 00:10:22.559 he should cite. 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:23.939 It was the right answer. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:24.399 In fact, 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.899 if you read later 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:28.419 in Matthew chapter 22 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:29.719 and there's a passage 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:30.360 where they try 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:31.620 and trap Jesus again 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:32.299 and they ask him 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:33.519 what the two greatest commandments are, 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:34.439 these are the two 00:10:34.439 --> 00:10:35.319 that Jesus would answer. 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:37.179 He clearly got the answer right. 00:10:37.939 --> 00:10:39.240 But he didn't stop there. 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.620 And this is what's really interesting 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.940 about this passage. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:46.279 If you remember back to me 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:47.680 saying that God is more concerned 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:49.700 about why we do things 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:51.820 or another way, 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:53.220 he's concerned about your motivation, 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:54.340 he's concerned about your heart. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:55.919 Jesus says to the Pharisee, 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.740 yep, you got it right. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.360 Do that and you're going to live. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:00.799 But the lawyer then, 00:11:01.060 --> 00:11:02.940 and this is a really pivotal verse here, 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:06.039 says he wanted to justify himself. 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:09.159 He wanted to justify himself. 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:11.419 This is at the very heart 00:11:11.419 --> 00:11:12.099 of the problem 00:11:12.099 --> 00:11:12.799 for the lawyer 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:13.719 and for the Pharisees 00:11:13.719 --> 00:11:15.179 and for much of the Jewish generation 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:15.879 at this time. 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:18.019 They'd become so wrapped up 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:19.120 in what they did 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:19.899 and how they did it. 00:11:19.959 --> 00:11:22.719 They'd completely lost sight 00:11:22.719 --> 00:11:24.500 of why they were doing it 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:26.019 and who they were doing it for. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.740 Let's go forward a little bit 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:30.240 to Romans chapter 3. 00:11:31.599 --> 00:11:33.219 We're going to start in verse 9, 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:35.019 or actually verse 19. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.120 Now we know that whatever the law says, 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.659 it says to those who are under the law, 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:43.799 so that every mouth may be silenced 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:46.419 and the whole world held accountable to God. 00:11:47.219 --> 00:11:49.659 Therefore, no one will be declared righteous 00:11:49.659 --> 00:11:51.980 in his sight by observing the law. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.500 Rather, through the law, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.480 we become conscious of sin. 00:11:57.819 --> 00:11:59.319 So as he would personally say, 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:00.759 the author of this passage, Paul, 00:12:01.099 --> 00:12:03.039 was one of the most pious Pharisees 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.939 prior to his conversion to Christ. 00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:07.000 And he knew the law intimately. 00:12:07.400 --> 00:12:09.820 But it wasn't until his eyes were opened 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:12.480 to the gospel that he finally got a hold 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.620 of the reality that 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:16.660 no one will be declared righteous 00:12:16.660 --> 00:12:18.600 in his sight by observing the law. 00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:20.040 Rather, it's through the law 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:21.600 that we become conscious of sin. 00:12:22.280 --> 00:12:24.600 There's absolutely a purpose for the law, 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:26.000 but it is not, 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:28.560 however, the means of justification. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.599 So after this, 00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:32.679 after Paul tells us this, 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.939 he spends the next few chapters 00:12:33.939 --> 00:12:36.500 outlining the true source of justification. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:40.579 If you look at the very next verse in verse 21, 00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:42.379 it says, 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:44.220 But now righteousness apart from, 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.439 a righteousness from God, 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.620 apart from the law, 00:12:47.939 --> 00:12:49.000 has been made known, 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:53.059 to which the law and the prophets testify. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.740 This righteousness from God 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:56.600 comes through faith in Jesus Christ 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:57.700 to all who believe. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.799 There's no difference, 00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.840 for all have sinned 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.480 and fall short of the glory of God, 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:04.740 and are justified freely by his grace 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.799 through the redemption 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:08.240 that came by Jesus Christ. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.879 Now in verse 26, 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.220 we find out that justification 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:14.000 comes through a person, 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:14.980 not actions. 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:17.180 He did it to demonstrate his justice 00:13:17.180 --> 00:13:18.519 at the present time 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:20.419 so as to be the one 00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:22.180 who justifies those 00:13:22.180 --> 00:13:23.940 who have faith in Jesus. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.639 And in verse 28, 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.460 this is really the heart 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:29.940 of the matter in this story. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:32.180 For we maintain that a man 00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:33.539 is justified by faith 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:36.279 apart from observing the law. 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:39.319 Well, now we begin to really see 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:41.100 why Jesus is sharing this story 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.779 with the lawyer. 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:43.699 I think on the surface, 00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:45.459 it's a great example of a story 00:13:45.459 --> 00:13:47.240 that talks about helping others in need. 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:49.120 But at a much deeper level, 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:51.199 it's a story about the source of life 00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:52.319 and salvation 00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:54.559 and shows the huge gulf 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.459 that exists between our ability 00:13:56.459 --> 00:14:00.000 to find justification on our own 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.799 and our opportunity 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.120 to find it in Christ. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.159 So let's keep going. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.799 Paul turns right around 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:07.559 in chapter 4 and verse 1 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:08.079 and he says, 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.439 What then shall we say 00:14:09.439 --> 00:14:10.759 that Abraham, our forefather, 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:12.139 discovered in this matter? 00:14:12.479 --> 00:14:13.399 If in fact Abraham 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.799 was justified by works, 00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:16.259 he had something to boast about, 00:14:16.359 --> 00:14:17.519 but not before God. 00:14:18.079 --> 00:14:19.019 What does scripture say? 00:14:19.099 --> 00:14:20.500 Abraham believed God 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.759 and it was credited 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.979 to him as righteousness. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.279 So now he's using 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.319 their own patriarchs 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:25.979 as examples 00:14:25.979 --> 00:14:27.979 for someone who had lived 00:14:27.979 --> 00:14:29.339 as their justification 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:30.679 was not by their works, 00:14:30.859 --> 00:14:32.559 but it was in God. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.899 It wasn't Abraham's doing, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.839 it was God's doing. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:38.619 And if you look at chapter 4 00:14:38.619 --> 00:14:40.039 and verse 25, 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:40.519 it says, 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:42.259 He was delivered over to death 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:42.979 for our sins 00:14:42.979 --> 00:14:44.799 and was raised to life 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:47.000 for our justification. 00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:52.619 Paul just keeps on going back 00:14:52.619 --> 00:14:53.299 to this message 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:54.439 over and over again. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.099 Chapter 5, verse 1, 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.939 Therefore, since we have been justified 00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:58.679 through faith, 00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.879 we have peace in God 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.000 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.500 Now we see the outcome 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.779 of this justification 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.840 is peace and joy. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.740 And in verse 9, 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.039 since we now have been justified 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:08.899 by his blood, 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.580 verse 16, verse 18, 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.539 he keeps going back 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.179 to this message 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:13.220 and back to this message 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:14.000 because he knew 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.600 it was central 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:16.059 to the heart problem 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:17.419 that these people were having. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.279 So now we see 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.519 that Jesus has very acutely 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.019 identified the source 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:25.080 of this expert's problem 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:26.019 and more generally 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.679 the problem of the people 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.460 of this time. 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:30.480 And then he proceeds 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.360 to tell the story 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.440 in Luke chapter 10. 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.700 I bet when I stood up, 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.220 you didn't think 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.160 we would spend this much time 00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:37.080 talking about the context 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:38.180 before we actually told the story, 00:15:38.280 --> 00:15:39.240 but we're going to get on to it. 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.759 In verse 30, 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:43.420 the expert has just replied, 00:15:43.540 --> 00:15:44.440 and who is my neighbor? 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.080 When replied, 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:46.660 Jesus said, 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.720 a man was going down 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:49.120 from Jerusalem to Jericho 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.360 when he fell into the hands 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.000 of robbers. 00:15:51.280 --> 00:15:52.000 They stripped him 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.720 of his clothes, 00:15:53.400 --> 00:15:54.000 beat him, 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.700 and went away, 00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:55.840 leaving him half dead. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.780 Well, now that we have 00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.440 a better understanding 00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.019 of this road 00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.639 that he's traveling, 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.740 we understand that this was 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.420 a common occurrence 00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.560 for someone to be robbed 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:04.660 along this stretch of road. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:06.840 The point I want to make here 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:08.879 is that not only was he robbed, 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.860 but he was stripped 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.460 of his clothes, 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.300 and it seems like this 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.500 is kind of an odd detail 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.100 to include. 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.320 But the thing to keep in mind 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.860 is that during this time, 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:18.740 the way you dressed 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.720 had a connection 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.840 to your cultural heritage. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:24.060 And we don't see this much today 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.119 in this culture, 00:16:25.739 --> 00:16:28.739 but in some of my trips 00:16:28.739 --> 00:16:29.259 to Kenya, 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.039 I've seen this. 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:31.039 There are several distinct 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.899 tribes of people 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:32.799 that live there, 00:16:32.859 --> 00:16:34.000 and especially in the more 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.779 rural areas, 00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:36.679 it's very easy to identify 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.819 which tribe of people 00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.919 somebody belongs to 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.659 based on the clothing 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:39.979 they wear, 00:16:40.079 --> 00:16:42.019 especially the Maasai tribe. 00:16:42.059 --> 00:16:43.139 It would be very easy 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:43.819 to pick them out. 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.719 Well, in Jesus' time, 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.339 this would have been 00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:48.059 much more prevalent. 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:50.019 And this is important 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.739 to note, 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.339 because if you can identify 00:16:52.339 --> 00:16:53.839 someone's cultural identity, 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.379 we might be much more inclined 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.359 to help that person. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:58.399 We tend to like people 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.219 that are like us. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.719 I'm in sales, 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.159 and at work, 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.359 we have a saying that 00:17:02.359 --> 00:17:03.339 says people buy 00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:04.200 from people they like, 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.119 and people tend to like 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.779 people that are more 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.259 like them. 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.960 And so as salespeople, 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.799 we try to adapt 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.619 to the people we talk 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.319 to on the phone. 00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.399 Well, here, 00:17:11.919 --> 00:17:12.859 this guy has been stripped 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:13.480 of his clothes, 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.819 so essentially his cultural 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.259 identity has been removed. 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.659 And we're going to come back 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.599 to that in just a minute 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.039 to see why that is, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.279 why that's going to be important. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:23.480 So, 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.359 they beat him 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.039 and went away, 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:27.059 leaving him half dead. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.200 So from that, 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:28.859 we can infer that 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:29.899 the guy's in pretty bad shape. 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.299 He's probably beating, 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.759 bleeding badly, 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:34.339 he's possibly unconscious, 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.539 and he's clearly not 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.000 in a position 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.720 to help himself. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.879 Well, in verse 31, 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:39.879 it says, 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.920 a priest happened 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.660 to be going down 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.240 the same road, 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.319 and when he saw the man, 00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:44.519 he passed by 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.480 on the other side. 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:46.960 Well, 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.440 if this is the first time 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.279 you've read this story, 00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:50.119 or you think back 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.720 to the first time 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.380 you heard this story, 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.019 this is the point 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.539 at which you start 00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.240 scratching your head. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.140 You think, 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.380 why would the priest 00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:57.480 pass by on the other side 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.600 and not stop to help? 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:00.220 Well, 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:01.920 does he just have 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.660 a callous heart? 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.220 Does he not care? 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.579 What's going on here? 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:06.259 Well, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:06.640 I think there are 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.480 a number of factors 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.059 that are at work. 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:08.920 Some of these 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:09.920 are very practical, 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.819 and some are more 00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.620 religious in nature. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:11.940 So, 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.920 let's take a look 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.920 at practical. 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:15.279 Well, 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.039 as we discussed before, 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.220 this was a common route 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.559 for workers in the temple 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.000 to take as they go down, 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.420 and again, 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:21.819 it was known 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.660 for its violence. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:23.620 Well, 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.059 the priest, 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.059 as he's traveling down 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.819 and he sees this guy 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.180 laying beaten 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.059 on the side of the road, 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.900 could very rightly 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.600 have been concerned 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.299 for his own safety. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.839 If he stops 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.460 to help the man, 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.819 the robbers could be hiding 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.759 right around the other side 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.279 of that boulder 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:38.039 and come and lay upon him 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.380 and beat him 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:41.500 and take his things as well. 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.039 So, 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.839 he could be thinking, 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.100 well, 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.440 I need to keep going 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.200 or else the same thing 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.059 could happen to me. 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:49.039 You know, 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.000 and maybe 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.759 the guy is in such bad shape 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.240 that the priest 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.159 thinks he's already dead. 00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:54.319 Well, 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:55.619 if he thinks he's already dead, 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.779 what would the implication 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.559 of that be? 00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:58.720 Shouldn't he just 00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.579 check on the guy 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.799 to make sure, 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.980 to see if there is 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:02.759 anything he could do? 00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:03.980 Well, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.700 this gets us to some 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.679 of the religious factors 00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:06.159 at work. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:06.899 Now, 00:19:06.919 --> 00:19:07.460 you have to remember 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.059 that the Jews 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.379 were ultra strict 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:10.460 about keeping the law. 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:11.759 So, 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.359 if we turn back 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:13.559 to Leviticus, 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:15.039 chapter 21, 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:19.000 we'll get a little insight 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.619 into what he might 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.179 have been thinking. 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.779 Leviticus 21, 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.379 verses 1 through 4, 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:28.160 the Lord said to Moses, 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.420 speak to the priests, 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.560 the sons of Aaron, 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.500 and say to them, 00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:32.940 a priest must not 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.400 make himself ceremonially 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.120 unclean 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.080 for any of his people 00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:36.660 who die, 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.420 except for a close relative, 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.260 such as his mother 00:19:39.260 --> 00:19:39.700 or father, 00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.480 his son or daughter, 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.040 his brother, 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.420 or an unmarried sister 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.920 who is dependent on him 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.860 since she has no husband, 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.100 for he may make 00:19:46.100 --> 00:19:47.100 himself unclean. 00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.500 He must not 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.760 make himself unclean 00:19:49.760 --> 00:19:51.040 for people related 00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:51.920 to him by marriage, 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.640 and so defile himself. 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:54.640 Well, 00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:57.540 that's a new wrinkle. 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.340 Now, 00:19:59.360 --> 00:19:59.820 do you see why 00:19:59.820 --> 00:20:00.860 the cultural identity 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.480 of the man 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.280 could have been important? 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.980 And you might imagine 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.500 the thoughts 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.000 that are going 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.980 through the priest's head. 00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:08.320 First, 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.000 he sees the man 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.180 lying there badly injured, 00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:11.580 and then he realizes 00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:12.540 that the guy is naked, 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.820 so he can't even identify 00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:14.620 if he's possibly 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.759 related to the guy, 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.680 but then his legalism 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.420 kicks in, 00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:20.040 and he immediately knows 00:20:20.040 --> 00:20:20.980 that he can't 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.800 even pass near the man, 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.440 or else he would have 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:26.220 been made ceremonially unclean. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:28.039 Why does that matter? 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.759 Well, 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:30.059 one, 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.779 in the priest's mind, 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.700 he is commanded 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.859 not to do it. 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.960 And then there's even 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:36.000 a more practical side to it. 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.980 So let's turn to Numbers, 00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.759 chapter 19, 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:44.460 verses 11 to 13. 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.720 Whoever touches 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.819 the dead body 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.480 of anyone 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.619 will be unclean 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.519 for seven days. 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:52.400 He must purify himself 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.279 with the water 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.200 on the third day 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.420 and on the seventh day, 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.720 then he will be clean. 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.660 But if he does not 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.559 purify himself 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.180 on the third 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.779 and seventh days, 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.579 he will not be clean. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.259 Whoever touches 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.980 the dead body 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.559 of anyone 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:05.059 and fails to purify himself 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:07.879 defiles the Lord's tabernacle. 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.059 That person 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.779 must be cut off 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.400 from Israel 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.660 because the water 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.160 of cleansing 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.099 has not been sprinkled 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:13.420 on him. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.339 He is unclean. 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:15.839 His uncleanliness 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.240 remains on him. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:18.480 Well, 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:18.960 now it becomes 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.099 even more complicated. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.960 If he does walk over 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.619 to the dead man 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.339 and touches him 00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.619 and he turns out 00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.160 to be dead, 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.119 then he's got to go 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.859 through the purification 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.740 exercise again. 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.319 That means he'd have 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.819 to turn around 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.500 and walk the four 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.180 or so hours 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.079 back up the road 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.680 to Jerusalem 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:34.240 and begin the purification 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.220 ritual all over again 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.720 that would take 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.700 another seven days. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.599 So not only would he 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.720 have broken the rules 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.900 that he was expressly 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.980 thinking he was 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.700 supposed to follow, 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:42.220 but he'd spend 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.859 the next week 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.839 having to go through 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.639 the purification ritual 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.579 to become clean again. 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:48.419 And he's probably 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:49.079 also thinking 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.179 maybe he's got 00:21:50.179 --> 00:21:50.839 other commitments 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.619 down in Jericho 00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:52.500 and the synagogue there 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.039 and all of these 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.019 other things going on. 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:55.359 We have no way 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.139 to know some of that. 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.359 So you see, 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.819 purity was very important 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.919 especially for the priests 00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:01.639 and the Levites 00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:02.240 that were serving 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:02.720 in the temple. 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.259 I read this about 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.079 purity this week. 00:22:05.919 --> 00:22:07.179 Purity qualified one 00:22:07.179 --> 00:22:08.279 to participate in worship, 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.480 an activity central 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.099 to the life 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.939 of ancient Israel. 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:12.380 breaking that purity 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.759 was a serious matter. 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:16.100 Blood related 00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.100 to the mysterious 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.140 power of life 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.320 and any loss of blood 00:22:19.320 --> 00:22:20.400 called for purification. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.279 Ritual impurity 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.559 also came as a result 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.840 of contact with a corpse 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:26.080 since death 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:27.500 was the enemy of God. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.720 Well, as we begin 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.779 to think about 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.539 what the priest 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.259 was thinking, 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.340 hopefully you're 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.080 beginning to see 00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:35.279 that not only did he 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.960 probably not feel bad, 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.620 not feel guilty 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:40.200 about not stopping 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.920 to help the man, 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.059 but it's possible 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.940 that he even felt good 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.400 about the fact 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.080 that he was keeping 00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:44.640 the law the way 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.299 that he was supposed 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.440 to in passing on by. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.660 Now this starts 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:49.440 to feel a whole lot 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.600 like he's being justified 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.840 by his works. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.480 Now if we flash back 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.360 to what the lawyer 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:54.940 was thinking 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.640 as he's hearing 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.320 all of this, 00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:57.460 what do you think 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.200 is going through 00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.720 his mind? 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.559 He's probably thinking 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.660 through the same laws 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.220 and rules 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.980 that the priest 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.740 was thinking through 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.380 in the story 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.920 and going through 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.840 that same process 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.779 of rationalization. 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.500 At this point 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.279 he's probably still 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.980 a little bit bored 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.539 with this story 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.700 that Jesus is telling him 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.299 and hoping that he's 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:13.000 going to get to the point 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.339 soon. 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:16.659 Little did that lawyer 00:23:16.659 --> 00:23:19.180 know that the ultimate 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.859 purification for our sins 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.920 was the one that was 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.539 speaking to him 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.519 at that very moment. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.920 Well then back 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.539 to our story, 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.639 along comes a Levite. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.779 So to a Levite, 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.799 when he came to the place 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.339 and saw him, 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:34.079 passed by on the other side. 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.299 Now if you remember 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.619 the topography of the road 00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:37.839 as it winds down, 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.239 if you're traveling 00:23:39.239 --> 00:23:39.859 down this road 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.839 for several hours 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.519 on foot, 00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:43.000 you would easily see 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.639 the people that were 00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:44.699 traveling in front of you. 00:23:45.199 --> 00:23:46.099 Well the Levite says 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:46.799 people who served 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.239 in the temple 00:23:47.239 --> 00:23:48.019 would have recognized 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.979 the priest and he would 00:23:48.979 --> 00:23:49.739 have known that this guy 00:23:49.739 --> 00:23:50.619 was in front of him. 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.579 So as he comes upon 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:54.000 this man who is lying dead, 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.079 there are a number of things 00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.039 that go through his head. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.319 First, he would have 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.239 recognized that the priest 00:23:59.239 --> 00:24:00.039 had kept on going 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.039 because the priest 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.939 was not their stop 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.680 to help the man. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.880 Then his religious 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:08.360 and legalistic side 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.100 kicks in as well 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.759 and he starts going 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.840 through the rules and laws 00:24:10.840 --> 00:24:12.500 and decides that the best 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.480 thing to do is pass by. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.940 And with that additional 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.700 piece of information 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.340 that the priest 00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:18.180 had already done it, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.460 it wiped out any doubt 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:19.980 in his mind 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.580 that he should just 00:24:20.580 --> 00:24:21.279 keep right on going, 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.160 that that was the right 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.740 thing to do. 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:24.240 Because when all else fails, 00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.299 you do what the priest does. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.360 So now we get to the part 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:28.799 in our story 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.660 where we actually come 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.360 to the Samaritan. 00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:35.199 Verse 33. 00:24:35.439 --> 00:24:36.219 But a Samaritan, 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.119 as he traveled, 00:24:37.459 --> 00:24:38.559 came where the man was 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:40.019 and when he saw him, 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.939 he took pity on him. 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:42.000 He went to him 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.959 and bandaged his wounds, 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.539 pouring on oil and wine. 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.399 Then he put the man 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.279 on his own donkey, 00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:47.979 took him to an inn 00:24:47.979 --> 00:24:48.939 and took care of him. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.179 The next day, 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.619 he took out two silver coins 00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.619 and gave them 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.319 to the innkeeper. 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.119 Look after him, 00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:54.539 he said, 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.319 and when I return, 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.359 I will reimburse you 00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.359 for any extra expense 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.819 you may have. 00:24:58.679 --> 00:24:59.979 So, this is the part 00:24:59.979 --> 00:25:00.299 of the story 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.440 we will be very familiar with. 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:03.139 So, the Samaritan comes 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:03.960 and finds the guy 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.819 and he helps him. 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:07.059 He bandages his wounds, 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.019 he spends his own money 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.639 to have the man 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.460 taken care of. 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.720 And you could preach 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.079 an entire sermon 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.539 simply on the morality 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.899 of an action like this. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.480 But I think that this 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.940 could have been 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.980 any person 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.519 and this story 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.559 would have still been 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.919 effective on so many levels. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.839 However, 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.559 the fact that it's 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.440 a Samaritan 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:25.319 just has to grate 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:26.059 on the lawyer 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.799 even more. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.659 You see, 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.139 the Jews 00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:30.139 considered the Samaritans 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:30.960 inferior 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.839 as they were 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:33.279 a race of people 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.159 who were of mixed 00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:36.339 Jewish and Gentile heritage. 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.079 Just to give you 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.659 a bit of insight 00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:39.680 into the Jews' 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:41.019 feelings for Samaritans, 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.440 if we look back 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.359 at chapter 9, 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.259 just before this, 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:44.839 chapter 9, 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:46.319 verses 51 and 56, 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:49.180 we'll get an idea of this. 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.519 And if we go back 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.180 to our slide, 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:52.659 yep, 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.519 one more forward. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.700 Nope, 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.299 other way. 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.580 Nope, 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.220 other way. 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.220 That one. 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.180 So, 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.420 as you can see, 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:07.160 if you're here in Judea 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.299 and you're in 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.279 Bethlehem 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.799 or Jerusalem 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.400 or Jericho 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.160 or any of these ways 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:11.720 and you need to go 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.279 to Galilee, 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.240 which was a common 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:15.539 passage for people, 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.519 they had to go 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.259 through Samaria. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.180 That was the most 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:18.779 direct route. 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.500 But the Jews, 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.080 most of the time, 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.940 wouldn't even travel 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.500 through Samaria. 00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:22.140 They didn't even want 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.279 to defile themselves 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.180 by going through Samaria, 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.720 so they would take 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.799 a much longer way 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.860 to go around Samaria 00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:27.620 to get to Galilee. 00:26:28.340 --> 00:26:28.920 So they wouldn't even 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.960 travel through this land. 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.140 And if we look 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.560 in chapter 9 00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:33.340 and verse 51, 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.180 it says, 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.100 as the time approached 00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:36.039 for him to be taken 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.580 up to heaven, 00:26:36.820 --> 00:26:37.560 Jesus resolutely 00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.539 set out for Jerusalem. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.500 And he sent messengers 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.120 on ahead 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:41.759 who went into 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.680 a Samaritan village 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.400 to get things ready 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:43.779 for him. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.860 But the people there 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.900 did not welcome him 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:47.880 because he was heading 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.900 for Jerusalem. 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:51.240 When the disciples, 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.060 James and John, 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.480 saw this, 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:52.880 they asked, 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.200 Lord, 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:53.760 do you want us 00:26:53.760 --> 00:26:54.760 to call down fire 00:26:54.760 --> 00:26:55.420 from heaven 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.800 and destroy them? 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.880 But Jesus turned 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.600 to rebuke them 00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:59.400 and they went 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.960 to another village. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.500 So, 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.800 these are Jesus' 00:27:04.040 --> 00:27:04.840 own disciples 00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:05.920 asking if they want 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.040 to, 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.160 if they want, 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:08.420 Jesus wants them 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.020 to call down fire 00:27:09.020 --> 00:27:09.380 from heaven 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:09.880 and destroy 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.700 this Samaritan village. 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:11.240 So clearly, 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.220 they were not good friends. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.280 So, 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.880 this is where 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.400 there's a school 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:15.720 of thought 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.340 that suggests 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:17.300 this was an actual 00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:17.800 occurrence, 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.440 this story, 00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:20.360 because had Jesus 00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:21.000 made this up 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.479 and taught it 00:27:21.479 --> 00:27:21.959 as a parable, 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.439 as I mentioned, 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.500 people would have 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.299 given no credibility 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.179 to the story 00:27:25.179 --> 00:27:27.539 where it had 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.240 a Samaritan 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.519 doing the right thing. 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:30.899 However, 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.500 had this been 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.500 a well-known occurrence, 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.379 something that people 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.119 would have known 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:36.199 through the local news, 00:27:36.699 --> 00:27:37.639 then he would have been able, 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.740 they would not have been able 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.319 to refute it. 00:27:40.199 --> 00:27:40.619 So, 00:27:40.699 --> 00:27:42.319 Jesus finishes the story 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:44.299 and at this point 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:44.619 in the story, 00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:45.419 he knows full well 00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:46.459 that the lawyer 00:27:46.459 --> 00:27:47.839 has been now trapped 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.159 in terms of standing up 00:27:49.159 --> 00:27:50.059 and trying to test him 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.599 and now he's kind of 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.159 caught in a snare 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.179 because Jesus 00:27:53.179 --> 00:27:54.179 has told this story. 00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:56.419 And he simply asks him, 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.539 which one of these three 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.639 was a neighbor to the man? 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.639 I can only imagine 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.559 what's going on 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.679 with the lawyer's 00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.980 non-verbal stuff now. 00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:05.480 Because he's kind of 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.119 standing there. 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:07.199 By nature of the fact 00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:08.199 that it says he stood up 00:28:08.199 --> 00:28:09.099 to ask this question, 00:28:09.199 --> 00:28:10.319 it suggests that there was 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.779 a gathered group of people 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.399 that were around 00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.119 and he was going to try 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.839 and be the smart guy 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.699 and stump Jesus. 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:15.619 So, 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.720 he's standing up 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.740 and he had kind of 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.519 puffed out of his chest 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:19.880 at first 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.500 and now Jesus 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.200 has him trapped 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.620 and the guy's stuck 00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.519 and he's standing there 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.220 and he's probably 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.779 starting to sweat 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.360 a little bit 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:27.279 and his face is getting red 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.980 and a little bit of steam 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.519 is starting to come 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.160 out of his ears. 00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:32.600 And all he can do, 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.900 his response, 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.140 is he says, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.100 the one who had mercy on him. 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.400 And I'm just sure 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.240 this response came 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.160 through gritted teeth 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.779 because he was just 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.480 so unhappy about this. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:45.140 He couldn't even say, 00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:46.960 he loathed the Samaritan 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.640 so much 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:48.580 that he couldn't even say 00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.640 the Samaritan helped him. 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:49.980 He said, 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.759 the one who had mercy on him. 00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:54.700 And Jesus simply says, 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.759 go and do likewise. 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.060 So, 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:00.220 what do we take away from this? 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.660 Well, 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:01.980 hopefully, 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.700 we've unraveled 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:05.280 this fascinating story 00:29:05.280 --> 00:29:06.160 enough to see 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.800 that it's more 00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:07.780 than a simple tale 00:29:07.780 --> 00:29:08.440 of morality. 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.120 It'd be easy enough 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.460 to walk away from this 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.420 with just kind of 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.259 a feel-good message 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.240 about helping people 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.720 in need. 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.039 But there's so much 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.579 more here. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:17.660 You see, 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:19.259 every time Jesus spoke, 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.700 he challenged 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:22.680 everything his audience knew. 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.539 He turned everything 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.599 that they had been taught 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.079 and they had learned 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.940 their entire lives 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.480 on its head. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.980 And that's the very essence 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.620 of repentance. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.880 It's not a slight deviation 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.880 from the course you're on. 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:34.680 It's a 180 degree turn 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.579 toward something else. 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:37.019 That's what Jesus was doing 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.559 over and over and over again 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.099 as he taught. 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:41.319 This could have very easily 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.859 been taught 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.819 with the Sermon on the Mount 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.419 where we looked at 00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:44.159 all those passages 00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.899 that says, 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.679 you have heard 00:29:46.679 --> 00:29:47.439 that it was said, 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:50.000 but I tell you that. 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.779 This is what you've learned 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.419 before, 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.839 but this is the way 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.000 it really is now. 00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.659 Jesus is trying 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.659 to help them see 00:29:58.659 --> 00:29:59.919 that it's not possible 00:29:59.919 --> 00:30:00.759 for them to find 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.319 justification 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:03.240 through their own actions. 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:05.179 It's only through faith 00:30:05.179 --> 00:30:05.779 in Christ 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.919 that we can find 00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.899 our ultimate justification. 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.220 We see clearly 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:10.859 in Ephesians 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.500 that it says, 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.279 it is by grace 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:12.939 we are saved 00:30:12.939 --> 00:30:13.599 through faith 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.039 and this not of ourselves. 00:30:15.699 --> 00:30:17.079 It is the gift of God 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.379 so that no man can boast. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.199 We can't do it on our own, 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.539 but fortunately, 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.659 we don't have to. 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.819 Jesus died 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.759 so that we could be 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:27.299 fully justified in him. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:29.299 And as we read Romans, 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.599 chapter 3, 00:30:30.719 --> 00:30:32.159 verses 23 and 24, 00:30:32.959 --> 00:30:34.259 we looked at those before. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:34.539 It says, 00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.799 for all have sinned 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.879 and fall short 00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:38.000 of the glory of God 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.960 and are freely justified 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:41.019 by his grace 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:42.359 through the redemption 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.500 that came 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.659 through Jesus Christ. 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:45.740 Let's pray. 00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:48.159 Father God, 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.879 you are almighty 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.559 and magnificent 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:51.740 in every way. 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:53.460 Father, 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.159 we thank you 00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:55.259 that you came 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.960 into a lost 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.879 and dying world 00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:58.279 and provided 00:30:58.279 --> 00:31:00.460 the ultimate justification 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.460 for us all. 00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:02.579 That you brought 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:04.819 that amazing act of love 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.399 into the world 00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:05.939 in the person 00:31:05.939 --> 00:31:06.439 of your son, 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.240 Jesus Christ. 00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:08.659 And through relationship 00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:09.099 with him, 00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:10.379 we can be reconciled 00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:10.720 to you. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.480 We can be brought 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.939 into a right relationship 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:15.439 finally with the author 00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.500 and perfecter 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.079 of our faith, 00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:17.599 with the God 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.319 of the universe. 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.359 And Father, 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:20.779 it's just, 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.119 it's miraculous 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.159 that you even 00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.579 offer that to us. 00:31:25.139 --> 00:31:25.839 It's amazing 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:27.159 that we can come 00:31:27.159 --> 00:31:27.799 before you 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:29.079 and speak to you 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.980 and we have someone 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:31.099 that will speak 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.919 on our behalf 00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:33.279 in the form of your son. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.940 And Father, 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.420 we thank you 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.000 for this story, 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.519 for the truth 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.539 that's contained in it, 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:39.039 for the idea 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:41.180 that we can't do it 00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.700 on our own, 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.759 that we need help, 00:31:44.399 --> 00:31:45.319 that we need someone 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:46.019 to step in 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.680 in our place 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:48.339 and do what we 00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.000 could never do. 00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:50.399 We thank you 00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:51.319 for the death of Christ 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:52.079 and the resurrection 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.359 that means we can come 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.059 into that perfect 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.099 relationship with you. 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.700 And it's in Jesus' 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.980 perfect and mighty name 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.379 we pray. 00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.139 Amen. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.279 Amen.