Luke 10:21-37

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         At the return of the 72 disciples, and hearing of the success of their mission, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit.

2.         His rejoicing is not in the numbers of those who received the 72 but in the fact that those who were reached was on the basis of nothing more than grace, something that could only come by means of revelation.

3.         At that point, it would seem, a lawyer (read scribe belonging to the Pharisees), in testing Jesus, asks Him how one can inherit, or receive, eternal life. The reason for and behind this query is not certain. It could be a taunt, an accusation, or a sincere longing.

4.         Jesus asks the scribe about what is written in the law and the response from Jesus is the two great commandments, love God fully and love one’s neighbor.

5.         Jesus proceeds then to tell a story, or parable, whether based on fact or fiction is unknown.

6.         It is the story of a certain man, most likely Jewish, who is robbed and beaten on the Jericho Road, not an unusual event, and left for dead.

7.         First a scribe (a descendant of Aaron), like the scribe Jesus is telling the story to, then a Levite (a descendant of Levi), sees the man and passes on without giving aid, likely to avoid becoming ‘unclean’.

8.         A Samaritan then comes along, and at considerable expense to both reputation and material possession, assists the helpless man.

9.         Jesus then asks which of the three was a neighbor to the robbed and beaten man. Of course, the answer is the Samaritan, the one who showed mercy.

10.       Jesus then says, “go and do likewise.” And we must ask, “Would the scribe standing before Jesus be able to do this?”