The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37

Presented by Jeffrey Bushman, May 2014

Based on John Welch articles; published in the Feb. 2007 Liahona of the LDS Church

And also presented in the BYU Studies v. 38 No. 2 pp. 51-115

Comments:

The Story of the Good Samaritan has been presented many times with many different thoughts, the early church leaders seemed to see things in the story that ties this story to all mankind and is about the saving grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I will not go much into depth, but will share the imagery I used as I taught this in the classroom.  I  believe that this parable is to teach us how to gain Eternal Life.  I will use the text of the parable as recorded in scripture but will insert in red those thoughts I learned from others that have increased my appreciation of the mercy of Jesus Christ.

 25 ¶And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? This is the first of two questions that Christ will answer for the lawyer and also for us.

 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? This is the 2^nd question that will also be answered.

 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man (us or all mankind starting with Adam) went down from Jerusalem (heaven or God’s city) to Jericho, (the world as we now live in) and fell (becoming mortal in a fallen state) among thieves,(mortality and its trial and being tempted by wicked men, who are inspired by Satan) which stripped him (too unendow, remove light and truth through the consequences of sin) of his raiment, (garments representing authority) and wounded him, (the blows of mortality) and departed, (required to leave, or Satan has power only to do so much) leaving him half dead. (two kinds of death, physical by the person becoming mortal, but there is still a chance that he can advert the second death through Christ’s atonement.

 31 And by chance (not part of the plan, the priest did not go down to save the man, but just happened by) there came down a certain priest (or the mosaic law that did not have power to save him) that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (didn’t concern himself about the man’s condition)

 32 And likewise a Levite, (a person called by God to minister to the people like a prophet sent to preach) when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. (could not help)

 33 But a certain Samaritan, ( a Samaritan was half gentile and half Israelite and was despised by most of the house of Israel.  This is Christ who was half God and half mortal) as he journeyed, came where he was: (mortality were he was looking for those who had fallen and came to them to give needed assistance) and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (because of his pure love for all of God’s children)

 34 And went to him, (left where he was and went to where we are) and bound up his wounds, (made binding covenants and teachings designed to save us) pouring in oil (the holy gift of anointing: many ordinances and priesthood blessing, healing the sick with the use of oil and bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost often symbolically given by anointing of oil, also the final anointing of becoming kings and queens unto God) and wine, (sacrament representing the blood of Christ that when applied to our wounds can clean and heal us as we allow Christ to apply his atoning blood in our life) and set him on his own beast, (Christ bears our infirmities and carries us) and brought him to an inn, (Christ’s church where we can be taken care of and allowed to heal) and took care of him. (Christ stays with each of us and watches over us in the darkest moments before the coming dawn of a new day)

 35 And on the morrow (when the light is easier for us to see) when he departed, he took out two pence, (servants of the Lord are paid or blessed as we serve the Lord through serving others) and gave them to the host, (servant of the Lord working in the church) and said unto him, Take care of him; (don’t let him die after I got him through the darkest hours that no one else could) and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again,(second coming) I will repay thee. (rewarded for continuing in good works for others)

 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.

Here is seems that if we try to emulate the Savior and serve our fellow men out of love and a sense of duty to our Savior that we may find eternal life. That is why I love Matthew 5:48 showing that we can at some future point become like him as we try and pattern our life after his and keep our covenants.