"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, what is written in the law? How readest thou? 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 neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbor?"
(Luke 10:25-29)
The parable of The Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10, is well known to people. Although it reveals the great and amazing salvation of Jesus Christ and its secret, many people have an incorrect understanding of the parable.
This Word is not a simple moral lesson for people to be good. It presents a wonderful fact and way of salvation. Jesus’ parable begins after verse 30 in response to the question: “Who is my neighbor?” In verse 25, there is a conversation between Jesus and a certain lawyer. The lawyer asks Jesus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This lawyer comes to Jesus who is the only one who could give an answer to the most desperate and great man’s question on the problem of eternal life. Jesus came to the world to give eternal life. Jesus does not answer the lawyer’s question but rather asks him a question instead. Why did he do that? From Jesus’ perspective, the way of inheriting eternal life is not by the lawyer having to do something but something being done for him.
Even today, there are many people thinking in the same way as the lawyer. People think that they have to do something to inherit eternal life. If they do not come out from this mindset and approach, they can never inherit eternal life. The reason is salvation is not by man’s work but by God’s grace and His method. This is why Jesus asks the lawyer, “What is written in the law? How readest thou?” The lawyer mentions the main subject of the Bible. He replies, “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 neighbor as thyself.” After hearing his reply, Jesus says, “This do, and thou shalt live.” This is the perfect and spotless Word of God and His law, yet is there anyone who could keep it perfectly? The Bible declares that there is no one who could do keep the law perfectly. In Galatians 3:10, it says, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” According to this verse, there is a condition for a person to inherit eternal life. This condition is keeping all 613 laws including the 10 Commandments continuously without ceasing. There is no one among Adam’s descendants who could inherit eternal life by keeping the law according to the way that the lawyer thought.
Now Jesus has to make the lawyer realize that eternal life is not by the deeds of man but it could only be fulfilled by the grace of God in his heart. The good news is that receiving the forgiveness of sin (Gospel), is not through what man has discovered or created, but it is something that God has prepared, sent, and shown. This is the sound of heaven and not earth. The lawyer asks another question, “Who is my neighbor?” after Jesus had said, “This do, and thou shalt live.” Think about this lawyer. He knew God’s commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. Though he was ignorant not knowing who was his neighbor, he tried to justify himself. Even today, I meet many people who think in the same manner as the lawyer. In Mark 7, there are many lawyers of present time who are satisfied with their own ways, efforts, and good deeds. They do not realize that they are in a position of destruction and judgment but rather try to present their righteousness unaware of their true image and situation. Prophets, people who cast out demons, and miracle workers thought they did works of God and believed Him well. However, Jesus says that He does not know them. Why? They believed God according to their thoughts and will, but they did not know the will of God and therefore did not follow His will. Maybe, they thought being a prophet, casting out demons, healing diseases, speaking in tongues, and performing miracles were the will of God? There are so many people who are like this! People who misunderstand the will of God do not realize they cannot please God with their works and deeds. In Isaiah 1:10, God says to people who think in the same manner, “Hear the Word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.” In other Words, the people in their own ways, tried to please God and follow His will regardless of the Word of God and His law (Holy Spirit). The Words in Isaiah shows that this angers God and makes Him tired. This is a spiritual life of a common hypocritical church-goer. God is saying do not come to Him in that manner and all those are offerings in vain. God does not say this because they are not trying hard, lack of diligence, or lack of heart, but because they do not know the true heart of God. Even in Isaiah 55:1, God calls upon the people who are ignorant of the will of God but try and work hard. God sincerely speaks to them to let them know His heart; “Hearken diligently unto me.”
The will of God is for people to listen to His Word, stated in Isaiah 1:18. The Bible is the Word of God. In this Word, God reveals His heart and will. God says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” This verse means God washes the sin away for us. Yes. God does things that people could never do. No matter how much deception and sins people may have, there is nothing that God cannot resolve. Faith is knowing the fact that I am unable but God is able and relying on Him.
In Luke 18, the lawyer tried to gain eternal life through himself, which is why he could not satisfy what Jesus asked for. Jesus said that it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Then who would receive salvation and go to heaven? Jesus’ answer is simple. It is impossible for men but is possible for God. The one who could cleanse one’s sin as white as snow is God. Look at the attitude of the lawyer and the Word of Jesus. Who is my neighbor? The answer of eternal life is meeting and knowing the neighbor. The parable of The Good Samaritan is the answer to eternal life. Who is your neighbor? Have you met your neighbor? And, do you love and serve your neighbor?
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