Luke the beloved physician wrote how a certain lawyer asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you. Which now of these three, do you think, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-seven of his book Luke shared how the lawyer answered, “he that showed mercy on him” where we read:
And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do you likewise.
The verse reads, “And he said, He that showed mercy on him.” Luke began with the words, “and he said” or “and the lawyer uttered, declared, proclaimed and answered”, “he that showed mercy on him” which means “the one who produced, made ready, and prepared kindness and goodwill upon the man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead”. Luke shared how the lawyer responded to Jesus' question by saying the “person” who demonstrated “kindness and goodwill” upon the man who was robbed.
The verse continues, “Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do you likewise.” Luke added the words, “then said Jesus unto him” which means “at that time the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation uttered, declared and proclaimed to the lawyer”, “Go” or “depart, pursue and leave”, “and do you likewise” which means “and you, lawyer, perform, produce and make ready the same as the Samaritan”. Luke shared how Jesus directed the lawyer to “imitate” the “compassion and behavior” of the “Samaritan”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover the “lawyer's” answer to Jesus' question concerning who was “neighbor” to the man who was “robbed, beaten and left for dead”. The lawyer said “he that showed mercy on him” rather than “the Samaritan”. The Jewish people and the “Samaritans” did not get along with one another which makes this story all the more interesting. The lawyer was to “imitate” the behavior of the “Samaritan”, and because God is always observing people who will submit their lives to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He becomes the primary example of “compassion, goodness and kindness”. Let all who consider Jesus' story yield their lives to Him and receive the “care” God has for all mankind.
Next time Luke shares concerning Jesus that, “a certain woman named Martha received him into her house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment