Notice: the lawyer did not try to question the love for God… but thought he could win on his stand with who was the neighbor
vs. 26 -
God requires you to get the answer from the Word.. He wants to know if you know it enough to get the answer.
vs. 29 -
If you have to try to justify something.. it is most likely wrong.
vs. 30 -
"went down" - Jerusalem was the place of the Temple and the place where God resided, to go down to Jericho which is the lowest place on the earth meant to descend away from God's presence. Anytime you move away from God's presence you can expect to be attacked by the devil and left for dead spiritually.
Possible Spiritual meaning of parable:
The Victim = Lost…. The Priest and Levite = Law and Sacrifices - which neither could save a man… The Samaritan = Jesus - who saves - pays the bill - promises to come again…. The inn = the church - which the world (hurting) can come and find comfort and help.
vs. 31 -
Priest had been serving in the Temple and was anxious to get home.. would have been defiled by helping - He placed the Temple and it’s liturgy above the man.
vs. 32 -
Levite - came a little closer - to look - but did not get involved.
Both were interpreters of the law - but missed the essence of the law - the point Jesus made him confess in vs. 26-27.
What kind of eyes are we looking with?
Do we see how we can help others, or leave it for others to do?
If others were watching our actions in a time such as this, what would we do?