“...How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need
of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the
righteous [or self righteous], but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:
16-17)
We are all in need of the Great Physician, but no one had a greater need
than the man who fell amongst thieves in Luke 10:30-35. This pictures the
condition of all of mankind, though today we see the efforts of man to
heal himself by the use of cheap bandages, bandages that bring about
temporary relief, but no healing.
In verse 30 of Luke 10, we learn of a man who fell amongst thieves. This
is a picture of where we began life. Our associations were with those of
our type, “thieves.” In time we learned of our true state and that there
is no honor amongst thieves. Satan is pictured here in the form of those
who are under his command. Satan cares not for those under him, since he
robs them of their time and innocence, leaving them wounded and half dead
in the ditch. This was our beginning! “For while we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)
In verse 31, along comes a fellow man, a priest. I believe that this man
is representative of a religion that esteems itself far above all others,
a religion that is taken up with its own works and is therefore hindered
by its thirst for acts of duty. Take note that he passes by on the other
side. He has no thought for his brother, but an attitude of indifference
that is shocking. He may even be concentrating upon some form of good
works. But good works do not necessarily express the love of God, for
they can merely be acts of duty or self-serving actions that cover an
evil heart. Through all of our speculating, one fact is sure: he passed
by on the other side of the road.
Through verse 32 we learn of another person who came by, a Levite. A
Levite was looked upon with honor and highly esteemed for his name. He
had no material possessions in terms of land, but he lived upon a portion
of other men’s labors. He does come and look for a moment upon this poor
man in the ditch and then he too goes by on the other side of the road.
In that he looked at him, he reminds me of a world that holds to high
social standards and boasts in its letters of education. A system where
God is mocked. Where indifference was the sin of the first man, the
Levite was bound in by pride and tradition. He would not stoop to such a
level, and so he too passed by on the other side of the road. Then along
came the Samaritan.
The Samaritan is a picture of Christ, for the Samaritans had an uncertain
lineage. They claimed to be true Jews, but no one believed them and they
were despised and hated. Jesus was thought to be the son of Joseph. We
know that He was not only the Son of man (in that he came in the flesh,
born of a woman), but the Son of God, for He came not from the loins of
Joseph. He was born from above (conceived in the womb by the Holy Ghost -
see Matthew 1:18) by a virgin birth. Jesus himself proclaimed this in
John 8:23. “You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world;
I am not of this world.” He was even spoken of by some as having been
conceived through fornication, since Mary and Joseph were not married at
the time of conception. He told them who He was, and whence He came, and
yet they would not believe Him. Instead they despised and hated Him for
the truth that He brought to them.
The Samaritan, when he saw the man in the ditch, had compassion upon him.
He was moved by the man’s condition to act and to show forth
unconditional love. There was no requirement that had to be fulfilled to
receive care. The matter of his total helplessness was that which brought
a response and the provisions so greatly needed. In this same way, God
has provided for those who come to Him in their helplessness. Verse 34:
“...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.”
Unlike the world that just places a temporary bandage upon the wounds,
the Samaritan poured in oil and wine. The oil and the wine in some parts
of scripture are referred to as the Holy Spirit which brings life and
regeneration to the inward man. This may be what this parable refers to
in the pouring in of oil and wine.
We see here the power of God manifested, for He has healed our souls and
our hearts, so that we can walk in newness of life. There is no infection
left in our wounds when God applies the oil and the wine to our hearts.
This healing goes beyond the external to the inward being.
Not only does God heal us, but through the actions of the Samaritan we
see God’s daily provision. The Samaritan places him upon his mule and
provides shelter by taking him to an inn. What joy, what care, for one
who is undeserving, to be sheltered by the Savior and to become a part of
the family of God, to not only be taken care of today, but every day.
This is manifested in verse 35, when he gives the inn keeper two pence
and says, “Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I
come again, I will repay thee.” The debts are paid in full, and in the
comfort of knowing the Lord of the Inn we can now abide.
In concluding this short study upon the parable of the good Samaritan, I
pray that we come to realize that salvation is not only of the moment or
just for this specific day, but that it is eternal, everlasting, and a
provision that is continual. God did not supply a temporary fix that will
soon break down. God sent His only begotten Son to open our eyes and to
give us life forevermore.
As you meditate upon this parable, do not only view it as to the goodness
of the act, but look at it in light of the healing and the provisions
that were provided. Let this be our guide when we seek to bring comfort
or aid to those who are lost. May all our acts of kindness and care be
long-lasting, so that others may see the love of God shine forth in its
eternal brilliance.
M. H. G.
E-Mail Matthew H Goins