Two Fundamental Questions of Life

Pastor Paul Lee

Luke 10:25-37 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 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. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Introduction

v.25 These Jewish lawyers were the Pharisees who studied the Scriptures, O/T - The Law of God – they were experts in the Mosaic Law. And along with it, they also added other oral and traditional laws and regulations.  So, this man – this lawyer and a pharisee was knowledgeable and well-trained in the Scriptures, but they are self-righteous, proud of themselves. And in fact, Jesus criticizes them in Matthew 23 – condemning them – ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees…etc.

Lawyer - Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

1. HOW DO WE INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

What is eternal life?

   The Greek word translated “eternal” means “perpetual, everlasting, forever.”

Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Eternal life begins the moment a person exercises faith in Christ.

Eternal life is our current possession. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in Jesus, the Son has eternal life.” (John 5:24 and John 6:47). The focus of eternal life is not on our future but on our current standing in Christ and the quality of life in Christ.

    NOTE the lawyer’s question - He asked, “What shall I do?” to inherit eternal life?

To him, salvation was by works that God was going to accept him because he was or could become good enough, being religious in his way. He had no concept of the part that God’s love and grace played in salvation - Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - refer also to Titus. 3:5–7.

NOTE - The Bible’s clear message is that the way of salvation has always been through faith.

Genesis 15:6 - Abraham: In the Old Testament, it was faith in the promise that God would send a Savior someday. Those who lived in the time of the Old Testament looked forward to the Messiah and believed God’s promise of the coming Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 53). Those who exercised such faith were saved.

Today we look back on the life, death, and resurrection of the Savior and are saved by faith in Jesus Christ’s atonement for our sins (Romans 10:9-10).

1a. God’s word has the answer to eternal life. 

26 He - JESUS said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

O/T prophets were prophesying the coming Messiah - Jesus; Isaiah 53 – talks about the suffering servant. The Bible does present a clear path to eternal life.

(From the study of the bible - 3 Cs – the light of Creation (Roman 1:18ff); the light of Conscience, (Rom 2:15) the light of Christ – God has given us the answer in the life of Christ.

The Word of God assures us that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will have everlasting life. John 3:16; John 3:36; John 6:47;1 John 5:13. 

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” [references from Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18].  Also, in Matthew 22:35-40  

28 And he-Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

1b. Love God supremely - having a personal relationship with God-Jesus.

Loving God - that God is number ONE!  It means - You are entering into a personal relationship with God-Christ.

28 And he-Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (you do this, and you will live – will have eternal life) Yes, if the lawyer was sincere and would humbly admit his pride of self-righteousness; love God supremely, and exercise faith to follow Jesus, he would have eternal life, but he was unwilling!

1c. Love your neighbor as yourself.

TO LOVE GOD SUPREMELY INVOLVES AN EXERCISE OF OUR FAITH IN ACTIONS.

Loving our neighbor is what proves our love for God. A person may say he loves God, but if he hates and acts unkindly toward his neighbor, then everyone knows his religion/his religious activities are only a profession like the lawyer here!

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

2. WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Vs. 30 - 31 - a Priest. Exodus 23:5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has

 collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.

Vs. 32 a Levite

Vs. 33-35 a Samaritan

Vs. 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the       robbers?” “Who was the true neighbor to the dying man?”

Vs. 37 “Well, the ONE who showed mercy.”

Jesus told the lawyer that everyone is his neighbor - any man who needed mercy, whether a friend or just an acquaintance or even an enemy - like the Samaritans!

         If the lawyer had admitted his humility and helplessness, he would have known the light of eternal life in Christ.

Conclusion

QUESTIONS AND APPLICATION

1. Share briefly about the first time you came to know Christ. How are you growing in the direction of loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind?

2. Evaluate your part in reaching and loving your neighbor. What specific actions can you take?

3. In what ways can we, as a church, reach out and love our neighbors?