Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 13 - The Good Samaritan, Luke 10 - Alas, Father! although they have not wholly fulfilled thy law, yet I have done so, let this be to their benefit because they believe in Me.

 

Complete Sermon ->Trinity 13 - 

The Good Samaritan - Luke 10

OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.

38. I have often told you, dearly beloved, that the entire Scriptures consist of two parts, of the law and the Gospel. It is the law that teaches what we are required to do; the Gospel teaches where we shall receive what the law demands. For it is quite a different thing to know what we should have, and to know where to get it. Just as when I am given into the hands of the physicians, where it is quite a different art to tell what my disease is than to tell what medicine I must take so as to recover. Thus it is likewise here.

The law discovers the disease, the Gospel ministers the medicine. This you clearly see in today’s Gospel. The lawyer comes desiring eternal life, ‘and inquires what he shall do to secure it! The law tells him, and says: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”

39. He who reads this only superficially as this lawyer here does, will not understand it. One must enter into it and portray and even behold himself in it. For if I try to love God with all my heart, I will soon see how far I fail. So, with all the soul, that is, with the inner soul which I feel in the flesh, that I love and experience love in all my senses; for to love with the soul in the Scriptures means the love that a gallant youth feels towards his beloved. Again, with all thy strength, that is, with all thy members. Again, with all thy mind, that is, all thy senses, thoughts and delusions must be directed toward God. For if I am to love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind, then my eyes dare not give one scornful glance, my tongue speak an angry word, my feet, hands, ears must all be one, and give forth no angry sign. That is to say: Thou shalt love God with all thy heart, so that thy whole body from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet, inwardly and outwardly, goes forth in love, and rejoices in God and honors him.

40. Now find me a man who is chaste or otherwise pious with a burning passion and love; there is none such on the earth. We find ourselves much more inclined to anger, hatred, envy, worldly pleasures, than to tender heartedness and other virtues. And when I find in my inclination such a spark, it is all false, the law is not satisfied. But I find not only a spark in me, but a whole bakeoven full of the fire of evil inclinations, for there is no love in the heart, nor in any member of the body. Therefore I here see in the law as in a mirror, that everything I have is condemned and cursed; for not one jot of the law shall pass away but all must be fulfilled, as Christ says, Matthew 5:18: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.”

41. Now you do not find in yourself, that you do with all your soul and with all your heart, with joy and pleasure, what the law requires of you; therefore you are condemned and the child of Satan; then know by this how to govern yourself in the future. Behold, you must first come to the knowledge to confess that you are the devil’s own property. But if you would know no more than how you are to treat him to be freed from him, you would have to perish. To this end the law serveth, that we may learn that we are condemned, for this evil lust is found in us all, and yet we should not have a spark of it in us.

42. Our sophists failed to see this, and have taught, if a man does the best he can, God then gives him grace. They are blind guides, and themselves confess that man has little desire for the good; yet still, if he go and do it, even though disorderly, unwillingly, indolently, he is nevertheless in favor with God. Christ here teaches the contrary that we should go forth with a passion and love and do the law with a joyful and happy mind. Now, whom would you rather believe, Christ or the sophists? I leave this to you. From such false knowledge the cloisters later arose, into which men entered and contended that if a man were only in a cloister, and it matters not how unwillingly he was there, then he would be saved. So they taught. But now Christ’s will is that man should do good works willingly and joyfully.

Hence, if they are done with a troubled conscience and a heavy heart, it is sin. Therefore cease from all works that you do not perform with pleasure and love.

43. They therefore should have said: Man, do you see, you poor condemned creature, you should have delight in God’s law, and you have no pleasure in it; hence show some delight and love, or you are God’s enemy and the devil’s friend. Thus the people would have bravely forsaken their own presumption and come to a knowledge of themselves and would have said: O God, now I am condemned. Yes, this is right. Here every one might soon know and conclude, that we all belong to satan, as long as we find within us displeasure in the law of God. Therefore, boldly cast away all works from you, then you will find delight in and love for God’s law in your heart. I experience indeed that God’s law is holy, right and good, but it is my death. And if it could be, I would prefer that it did not exist. And thus all people are disposed in their hearts, as St. Paul very beautifully writes in the seventh chapter of Romans.

44. Had we now remained in this condemnation, we would have had to perish forever. Therefore another part is added, the Gospel, which speaks of consolation and teaches salvation, and whence we are to obtain it, so that the law may be satisfied. Now when I see by the law that I am condemned, lying even among murderers, half dead, the devil has stolen my soul and taken it captive in Adam and Eve, with all faith and righteousness, and has left nothing except my bodily life which will soon be extinguished; now here come the Levite and the priest, who render human satisfaction and teach this and that; but it does no good, they pass by.

45. However when the Samaritan comes, he helps, that is, when Christ comes and offers us his mercy, and says: Behold, you are indebted to love God with all your heart, but you have not done it; now believe in me, I will give you my sufferings: this will help me. Here he lifts me on his beast, that is, on himself, and takes me to the inn, that is, into the Christian Church.

After this he comes and pours into me his grace, which is the oil, so that I feel I am lying on his shoulders, this gives me a very joyful conscience; moreover he pours into me wine, which is to devour and drown the old Adam. But even then I am not perfectly well. Health has indeed been poured into me and there is a turn for the better, but nevertheless I am not perfectly restored to health. Meantime Christ serves and purifies me by the grace he pours into me, so that day by day I become purer, chaster, milder, gentler and more believing until I die, when I shall be entirely perfect.

46. Thus when we now come before God the Father and are asked: whether we have also believed and loved God, and have wholly fulfilled the law; then the Samaritan will step forth, Christ the Lord, who carries us lying on his beast, and say; Alas, Father! although they have not wholly fulfilled thy law, yet I have done so, let this be to their benefit because they believe in me. Thus all saints must do, however holy and pious they may be, they must lay on Christ’s shoulders. If even the most holy people, as priests and Levites, could not satisfy the law, how shall we undertake to do so with our reigned works, bald pates and caps? O our wretched and corrupt nature! Let this be sufficient for the present, and let us call on God for grace.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Luke 10 - The Good Samaritan - " For he thinks as St. Paul says, 2 Timothy 3:12: All that would live godly in Christ Jesus shah suffer persecution.”

 

"A Christian need not look for his cross, it is always on his back." - Luther

Complete Sermon ->Trinity 13 - 

The Good Samaritan - Luke 10

25. This Samaritan of course is our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who has shown his love toward God and his neighbor. Toward God, in that he was obedient to him, came down from heaven and became man, and thus fulfilled the will of his Father; toward his neighbor, in that he immediately after his baptism began to preach, to do wonders, to heal the sick. And in short, he did no work that centered in himself alone, but all his acts centered in his neighbor. And this he did with all his powers, and thus he became our servant, who could have well remained in heaven and been equal to God, Philippians 2:6. But all this he did because he knew that this pleased God and was his Father’s will.


26. When he entered upon that high mission to prove that he loved God with all his heart, he laid down his bodily life with all he had, and said:

Father, here you have all, my bodily life, my glory and honor, which I had among the people; all this I give as it is for thy sake, that the world may know how I love thee. My Father, let my wisdom perish, so that the world may look upon me as most foolish. Let me be the most despised, who was heretofore praised by all the world. Now I am the worst murderer, who before was friendly, useful and serviceable to the whole world. Dear Father, all this I despise, only that I may not be disobedient to thee.

27. This is the Samaritan who came uninvited, and fulfilled the law with his whole heart. For only he fulfilled the law, and no one can deprive him of this honor. He alone merits it, and well maintains it all alone. Now this would be no special comfort for us; but that he has compassion on the poor wounded man, takes him under his care, binds his wounds, takes him into the inn and waits on him, this avails for us.

28. The man who here lies half dead, wounded and stripped of his clothing, is Adam and all mankind. The murderers are the devils who robbed and wounded us, and left us lying prostrate half dead. We still struggle a little for life; but there lies horse and man, we cannot help ourselves to our feet, and if we were left thus lying we would have to die by reason of our great anguish and lack of nourishment; maggots would grow in our wounds, followed by great misery and distress.

29. The parable stands in bold relief, and pictures us perfectly, what we are and can do with our boasted reason and free will. If the poor wounded man had desired to help himself, it would only have been worse for him, he would only have done harm to himself and irritated his wounds, and only prepared more misery and distress for himself.

Had he remained lying quiet, he would have had as much suffering. Thus it is when we are left to ourselves. We are always lost, we may lay hold where we will. Hitherto man has always acted thus, he has thought out many ways and methods how we might reform our lives and get to heaven.

One found this way, another that, therefore so many kinds of orders arose: in like manner the letters of indulgence and crusades originated; but they have only made evil worse. Such is the world, and it is thus finely portrayed in this wounded man, it lies in sins over head and ears and cannot help itself.

30. But the Samaritan who has fulfilled the law and is perfectly healthy and sound, comes and does more than both priest and Levite. He binds up the sores of the wounded man, pours in oil and wine, lifts him upon his own beast, and brings him into the inn, takes good care of him, and when he departs he carefully commends him to the host, and besides leaves him a sufficient supply of money, while neither the priest nor Levite would do one of these kind acts. The priest signifies the dear sainted fathers before Moses; the Levite the priesthood of the Old Testament. All these however have accomplished nothing by their works, and have passed by on the other side like this priest and Levite.

31. Therefore, if I had for example all the good works of Noah, Abraham and of all the dear fathers, they would still be of no benefit to me. They have indeed beheld the wounded man lying helpless and half dead, but they could not help it. He who lay there half dead, saw it too, but what of it, he could make it no better. The dear sainted fathers saw very well that the people lay in their sins over their ears, and also felt the anguish of sin, but what could they do to remedy it? They could make it only worse, but not better. These were the preachers of the law, and showed what the world was, namely, full of deadly sins, and it lay there half dead, and could not help itself, notwithstanding all its powers, reason and free will. Go then, thou beautifully painted rogue, and boast of thy free will, of thy merits and holiness!

32. But Christ, the true Samaritan, takes the poor man to himself as his own, goes to him and does not require the helpless one to come to him; for here is no merit, but pure grace and mercy; and he binds up his wounds, cares for him and pours in oil and wine, this is the whole Gospel from beginning to end. He pours in oil when grace is preached, as when one says: Behold thou poor man, here is your unbelief, here is your condemnation, here you are wounded and sore. Wait! All this I will cure with the Gospel. Behold, here cling firmly to this Samaritan, to Christ the Savior, he will help you, and nothing else in heaven or on earth will. You know very well that oil softens, thus also the sweet, loving preaching of the Gospel gives me a soft, mild heart toward God and my neighbor, so that I risk my bodily life for the sake of Christ my Lord and his Gospel, if God and necessity require it.

33. But wine is sharp and signifies the holy cross that immediately follows.

A Christian need not look for his cross, it is always on his back. For he thinks as St. Paul says, 2 Timothy 3:12: “All that would live godly in Christ Jesus shah suffer persecution.” This is the court-color in this kingdom. Whoever is ashamed of the color, does not belong to this king.

                      The Parable of the Good Samaritan

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Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 13 - Good Samaritan - "This Samaritan of course is our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who has shown his love toward God and his neighbor."

 

 Rembrandt

Complete Sermon ->Trinity 13 - 

The Good Samaritan - Luke 10

II. A SERMON ON THE GOSPEL IN A PARABLE.

20. The foregoing is the first part of our Gospel lesson, and it is a sermon on the law. The second part now follows, and it preaches the Gospel, how and whence we are to receive power to fulfill the Law. This the good Samaritan will teach us.

21. How does this lawyer act now after the Lord had thus turned him away? He goes ahead, the Evangelist says, and desires to justify himself and says to the Lord: “And who is my neighbor?”

22. He does not ask: Who is my God? As though he would say: “I owe God nothing, with God I am in good standing. I am also inclined to think that I am under obligations to no man; yet, I would like to know who my neighbor is? The Lord answers and tells him a very beautiful parable, by which he shows that we are all neighbors among one another, both he who does another a kindness, as well as he who is in need of a kindness.

Although the text reads as if Christ said that he is our neighbor who does another a kindness. In this, however, the Scriptures make no difference.

Here they call him neighbor who does a kindness, and at other places him who receives the kindness.

23. By means of this parable the Lord concludes with the words, “Go, and do thou likewise,” so that this lawyer did not only sin against God, but also against his neighbor. He not only failed to love God, but he did not love his neighbor, and never did him a favor. By this the poor man falls into such a sweat that he is only deceived from head to foot. How could he be so mistaken, the highly learned and pious man? His mistake came in this way; he led a Pharisaical, feigned and hypocritical life. He did not look down to his neighbor to help him with his life, but only sought thereby his own vain glory and. honor before the eyes of the people, and with this he stared piously toward heaven.

24. Now you have often heard that a Christian life consists in acting before my God in faith and with a pure heart, but toward my neighbor in right living and good works; and not wait until my neighbor seeks a kindness of me, and asks me for something, but approach and meet him with kindness and freely offer it to him. Let us now see what the parable in itself teaches.

25. This Samaritan of course is our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who has shown his love toward God and his neighbor. Toward God, in that he was obedient to him, came down from heaven and became man, and thus fulfilled the will of his Father; toward his neighbor, in that he immediately after his baptism began to preach, to do wonders, to heal the sick. And in short, he did no work that centered in himself alone, but all his acts centered in his neighbor. And this he did with all his powers, and thus he became our servant, who could have well remained in heaven and been equal to God, Philippians 2:6. But all this he did because he knew that this pleased God and was his Father’s will.

The LCMS and WELS, Priest and Levite - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

KJV Luke 10: 30 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. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. 34 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.

If anyone has read Luther, he knows the Good Samaritan is not a social worker trying to establish man-man justice or a social activist who should have made the road to Damascus safer. The Samaritan is Jesus.

But who are the priest and the Levite today?

The Missouri Synod and its tag-along ELDONUTs are the priest, walking experts and advocates of all the adiaphora. Like the colorful priests of the Old Testament, they are passionate about matters of indifference and indifferent to the truth. 

The Missouri Synod started with Justification by Faith, just as the Old Testament began with true prophetic words (example - the largely forgotten Genesis 15:6 passage, also cited in Romans 4). False prophets like CFW Walther, Edward Preuss, and F. Pieper promoted the false teaching of forgiveness without faith, which is essentially the ELCA position. 

The Wisconsin sectarians are the Levites, all about the Law, or rather, the constantly changing Law. One year they are alone in loving the KJV, unlike "those liberal Lutherans" - who use the NIV and RSV. But - WELS turns around, mocks, and gets rid of pastors who use the KJV.

The ELDONUTs did the same, 100% of them holding Objective Justification a treasure, later pivoting to Justification by Faith. Much like the WELS, they hold the best translation - the KJV - in low esteem, using the ESV (a Calvinist first cousin to the RSV) or admiring the New KJV (which uses frequent footnotes to honor the ESV-NIV-RSV apostasy).

Although Missouri clergy and laity pride themselves on shunning other Lutherans, WELS and ELDONA have taken that attitude to a new, lower level.

The Man Left for Dead

The congregations of Missouri and WELS are the man left for dead, wounded and bleeding along the road, where so many robbers practice their trade.

Jesus fed the multitudes with bread and fish, but the loving/denying Church Growth "conservative" Lutherans feed the laity popcorn, peanuts, and soft drinks during the entertainment [worship] service. The clergy delight in starving their members spiritually while insisting on the need for more expensive materialism to attract even more superficial audiences.

Jesus only taught one thing - faith in Him as the only access to God's grace (KJV Romans 5:2). Everything in the Bible points back to this Gospel and the applications of this message.

The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2021. The Good Samaritan.

 Norma A. Boeckler

 

The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #605             The World Is Very Evil            

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Have respect, O Lord, unto Thy covenant: 

oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed!

Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause: 

and forget not the voice of Thine enemies.

Psalm. O God, why hast Thou cast us off forever? 

Why doth Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Have respect, O Lord, unto Thy covenant: 

oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed!

V. Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause: 

and forget not the voice of Thine enemies. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. O Lord God of my salvation: 

I have cried day and night before Thee. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn # 347                 Jesus Priceless Treasure

 Jesus is the Good Samaritan

The Communion Hymn #292                   Lord Jesus Christ

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660              I'm But a Stranger Here 

Prayers and Announcements

• The flowers on the altar are from Augsburg Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, in memory of Christina Jackson. Many arrangements were distributed at the graveside ceremony.
• Andrea's third birthday is coming up.
• In treatment: John Hicks.
• Medical care: Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris; Dr. Kermit and Dr. Marie Way.

Thank You!

Pastor Jim Shrader (preacher) his wife Chris Shrader (organ), Zach Engleman, liturgist.

 Thank you for the visits and help for Christina Jackson's funeral - Dr. and Mrs. Kermit Way (Maria, her younger sister); Robert Northcut (neighbor); Seth Adams (MG Group); Allen and Kris Jackson (Gregory's brother); Dottie Hagar's family; Martin and Tammy Jackson, Josie, Danielle, Alex (son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren); Pat and John (neighbors); Karen (neighbor), Bill Blumenschein (friend); Terry and Lori Howell (members); Alec Satin (Lutheran Librarian, member, Lutheran Publishing Ministry).

 Norma A. Boeckler

        

KJV Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

KJV Luke 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 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. 31 An by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 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. 35 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 thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Click here for Luther’s Sermons on the Good Samaritan

Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that Thou hast granted us to live in this accepted time, when we may hear Thy holy gospel, know Thy fatherly will, and behold Thy Son, Jesus Christ! We pray Thee, most merciful Father: Let the light of Thy holy word remain with us, and so govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forsake Thy word, but remain steadfast in it, and finally obtain eternal salvation; through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen. 

Jesus is the Good Samaritan

Introductory

The opening verses are especially true today, because the correct explanation of the Good Samaritan has been taught, but is largely lost today. Now - we are the Good Samaritan. We are ordered to make the world a better place. The problem is - we have not done enough.

If people hear this parable in the modern setting, they can only despair, because there are so many individual actions they must copy - and work, work, work. 

Simply understanding the parable puts listening in the top 1% of all those who have heard the parable and comprehend it. Jesus is the Good Samaritan. All other explanations are completely wrong.

KJV Luke 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The basic Gospel - Isaiah 53 - plants faith in the hearts who hear it for the first time, whether as babies or as adults. Faith alone, the work of the Holy Spirit can do this, because man unaided cannot grasp the Gospel or get a clear view of it. So, if you grasp this today, you know what kings and prophets never learned in their day - or social workers in our day - that Jesus is the topic, as He is through the Bible from Genesis 1:1 onward.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

The lawyer is an expert in Jewish law. The back and forth between Teacher and audience member is basic to Judaism and is found in Leo Rosten's The Joys of Yiddish. That shows how old - and new - this is. Challenging the teacher is good for the audience and the teacher. Sick societies have dictators and priests who simple declare "the truth" and do not debate. "What is truth?, said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer." (Francis Bacon, Truth essay.)

The lawyer answered Jesus correctly (and this happens to be found in many if not all religions - the liberals say because they are all alike; Christians realizing that other religions are a shadow of the One Truth but may help people listen to the Word of the Gospel).

By asking, Jesus allowed the lawyer to expose his pride by challenging the Son of God with a follow-up. The lawyer then challenged, as Jesus knew would happen, the definition of neighbor.

The parable, possibly the greatest of them all, makes us realize that every action of the Samaritan, the Despised One in Judaism, 

1. is both a description of the Savior's attitude, work, and ministry AND
2. the example or the fruit of faith in Him.

Not knowing or seeing the Good Samaritan as the Savior will people to think the real story is social activism.

As Walter Rauschenbusch, a rationalist and social activist wrote, to lead his blind followers into the crafts and assaults of the National Council of Churches (Social Justice Statement) - "Do we bind the wounds of the afflicted or do we make the road to Jericho safe?"

Franklin D. Fry, the son of the first LCA President, quoted Rauschenbusch verbatim to the Michigan LCA pastors, and then denied he was a Social Gospel advocate. I said to him, "You quoted Rauschenbusch, the prime example of the Social Gospel."

This is very significant because it became the platform of FDR's New Deal and is the basic agenda (among other things) of every activist  US president. The real challenge, for them, is to make the roads safe, which takes billions and trillions of dollars.

30 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. 31 An by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

The plot depends on a robbery and almost murder on the road, which was common enough for everyone to fear. The first two reactions are common in churches today - the stink-eye and the shun. The stink-eye is focusing an evil look on someone who is worthy of disdain, disapproval, and dismissal. The stink-eye is a warning but also a follow-up, as if to say, "The shun button was pushed and will no cease its warning."

The shun is a complete rejection of the person for asking uncomfortable questions, for questioning false doctrine, for any number of excuses.

Those who miss the meaning of the parable love to dwell on the evils of race relations, the lack of true ecumenism (where all religions can worship together at Yankee Stadium, the ultimate triumph - "faith" without belief. Do not mock it. All the religion departments at the state universities and many private or denominational colleges are the same - the money good, the work, very light). 

Did you know Jesus prayed for the World Council of Marxist Churches to be united? I learned that at a Methodist Conference. Jesus prayed, "That they may be one." It moved me to tears, tears of laughter.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, (1) he had compassion on him, 34 (2) And went to him, and (3) bound up his wounds, (4) pouring in oil and wine, and (5) set him on his own beast, and (6) brought him to an inn, and (7) took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, (8) he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, (9) Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, (10) I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

We can look at this as a series of steps which match exactly what Jesus does and how we are to parallel His actions.

1. Compassion is the first response of Jesus. When someone is wounded, which can happen in many ways, His response is to "suffer with" that person, the meaning of compassion. Many times when we see a mess, our inclination is hardness or the Law. The Gospel teaches us not to look down but to identify with the suffering, whether emotional or physical. Nurses are the prime example (mothers too) - They see the most disgusting messes and rush to help, to love, to clean up, to prevent, and to say, "No I enjoy this. It is my calling." Components of the church do the same, when faith in Christ is foremost. They look to the suffering and respond.
2. Jesus does not wait but moves to the suffering. Moving to is so much more alien than avoiding. In many cases, it does not seem to help, but does that matter in a congregation or a person's life? Success is not in winning but first of all in going there and being there. God does the work.
3. The Jesus figure does not allow bleeding to death, but immediately addresses it. Compassion addresses the pain - which can be fears, loneliness, lack of money, robbery, broken hearts, something as simple as decent clothes. Simple fact - most congregations that close have piles of cash bearing interest in Certificates of Deposit. I was told one bishop's assistant spent a lot of time with the laity fussing over getting better interest rates. Lack of faith -- yes! Lack of money -- No!
4. Luther describes the oil and wine as the sharpness of the Law and the soiling effect of the Gospel. Jesus went to open sinners - no one doubted what their sins were. He taught them the righteousness of faith in Him. Unfortunately, people often start with the sharpness of the Law and stay there. When we kids complained about anything, our father would day, "Do you know what's wrong with you?" Kids - "No, Dad." He would respond, "You are spoiled, spoiled rotten. That's what's wrong with you." Christianity teaches the Ten Commandments, but also the Gospel. There is no healing without the Gospel, and we need that until the last moment.
5. On His own beast - The Holy Spirit created the Church so that people would be brought to the Savior, or the Savior brought to them. Not just invite with silly post cards but boldly say the Name when it is appropriate and timely, yet without holding back. We were in a cafe when the tree began waving, with no breeze. I said, "Call an ambulance. There is a wreck." There was no time to ask, "Can this benefit me in some way? Or not hurt me?"
6. Church bus ministry. There are many ways to do this. The Samaritan did more than bind wounds.
7. He took care of him - Jesus cares for the individual through the congregation (the inn). That is going to happen when the Gospel and faith are present. God makes things develop in many ways, but those things happen with divine timing and divine power.
8. The minister and laity are the staff at the end. Payment in advance - but only two pennies. Ministers should not get rich or aim at getting rich. Congregations should pile of cash for their own glory and luxury. UOP's policy was NOT to get stuck with real estate. They rented almost everything. We can now see how congregations are buried by their own costs in maintaining someone's dream or fantasy or other problems.
9. The congregation takes care of the person brought in by Jesus Christ the Savior. That is their job, not to get angry because someone does not show up!
10. Jesus - I will repay, with a few more pennies. Pastors and congregations worry about pay, in many cases, as if there is some gold standard. Jesus Christ is saying, "Put the need of souls first, and always first. Worry about the budget later."

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

The Samaritan showed mercy. He is the example. This is how Jesus works through the Word. 

And Jesus said to all the mockers, rationalists, and indifferent, "This is how to love one's neighbor, to teach the Faith of Jesus and to follow His example."