²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

1) What is the significance of going “down” from Jerusalem?
Geographically, Jericho is located northeast of Jerusalem, but sits about 825 feet below sea level, while Jerusalem is about 2500 feet above sea level. The ancient world used directional terms based on ascent and descent rather than north being “up”. Because the Jewish temple was located in Jerusalem, priests and Levites who lived in Jericho were constantly traveling the 18-mile road between the two major cities.

2) Why did Jesus use a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan in his story?
Priests and Levites were instituted by God way back in the time of Moses as mediators between God and the general Jewish population. They were the ones who could enter God’s sanctuary and commune with Him on behalf of the people. In turn, they were supposed to communicate God’s heart back to the people. They were the intercessors, the bridge, between God and His people. Samaritans were the ultimate outcasts. If you were a good Jew, you wouldn’t even consider using the same common utensil that belonged to a Samaritan. They were despised and hated by the Jews for intermarrying with the Jews and so claiming to have an inheritance as the “chosen” people of God. (Of course, the Jews missed the point entirely because having a relationship with God has always been about the attitude of the heart, not your bloodline.)

3) What do the Old Testament cross-references in verse 34 imply?
Verse 34 is a throwback to the prophet Isaiah’s strong words for Israel in Isaiah 1. The temple priests and Levites of Isaiah’s day had led Israel astray. Those who were supposed to shepherd God’s people, tenderly care for their spiritual needs, and show them God’s heart of love, had abandoned Israel for their own personal satisfaction. They had forgotten God’s true character and were simply going through the motions of priesthood, leaving the chosen nation “bruised, with sores, and raw wounds”, like the beaten man in our story. But Jesus, personified by the Good Samaritan in the story, binds up our wounds, our death resulting from sin, by applying not oil and wine, but His very own blood to make atonement for us. He is the perfect shepherd, where all other shepherds had failed. He is the perfect mediator, where everyone else had gone astray.

4) How much is a denarii and why mention it specifically?
One denarius was about a full day’s worth of wages for a laborer. So, in today’s terms, if you made $20/hr and worked an 8-hour day, that would be $160. 2 denarii then, would be $320. Imagine withdrawing $320 from the ATM and giving it to the homeless man on the street. Pretty generous, right? The point wasn’t exactly how much money the Samaritan gave, it was that he was unconditionally generous. He covered the cost without limit to a man he would probably never see again, and one who had done nothing to deserve such grace.

1) What is the significance of going “down” from Jerusalem?
For those who served in the temple, traveling this road between Jericho and Jerusalem was simply a part of their life and regular commute. Who are we missing as we “go along” in our everyday commute and regularity? This isn’t a story of a missionary who went overseas, but rather 2 men, doing their everyday normal routines, but they turned a blind eye to the need for love right in front them.

2) Why did Jesus use a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan in his story?
The Law of Moses, as represented by the Priest and the Levite, will not save anyone, just as these “holy men” did nothing to save the near-death man on the road. Doing all the “right things” and being a “good” person will not save you. But, salvation for the wounded man came in the form of an outcast, the Samaritan. Jesus was an outcast too. He came to His own people, but they did not receive Him or acknowledge Him as their Savior. (John 1:11) In what ways have you kept Jesus at arms length, while holding onto the Law or all those things you feel are making God “smile” at you? Remember that only complete surrender to Jesus brings true abundant life!

3) What do the Old Testament cross-references in verse 34 imply?
As Christ-followers, we are commanded to love one another first and foremost, but we easily slip away from following the single greatest command for much lesser pursuits. We see our busy agendas, our “all-important” service in the church, or our sectioned off group of friends, and we literally walk around the wounded in our everyday lives to avoid them. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see the wounded, to see those needing Christ’s love, and then be the one to extend it, like the Samaritan did.

4) How much is a denarii and why mention it specifically?
Jesus uses the example of generosity to point to His own sacrifice that reflects the heart of God. Unconditional love, priceless sacrifice, a gift we could neither earn nor ever repay; salvation through the spilled blood of the perfect Lamb, Jesus Christ. At the end of the story, Jesus commands his audience to “go and do likewise” referring to the Samaritan’s unconditional love. The same command stands for us. Live generously. Don’t base your decision to love unconditionally upon your own pre-determined set of qualifications and standards. Simply make space to love!

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