On July 15, 2007, the three readings assigned for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost are Leviticus 18:1-5; 19:9-18 (Observe My Judgments); Colossians 1:1-14 (Praying for you) and Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan). The verse to look at is Luke 10:37 in which Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.”
Have you not heard how many refer to this passage as the “Parable of the Good Samaritan”? Thinking of it as a parable rather than an illustrative story makes a huge difference in interpretation. For if it is a parable, then it MUST be about how God works in His kingdom here on earth referred to as the holy, Christian Church. Then one has to decide who in the parable is Jesus? Is he the Good Samaritan, or is He the man beaten or is He the beast of burden or…and the list goes on.
To cut to the chase, we do not regard this as a parable answering the question “Who is my neighbor?” In fact, that is NOT the primary question. For the lawyer asks Jesus what he is to “do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus carefully keeps the distinctions between Law and Gospel by answering a question about what to DO to get into heaven with the Law.
Of course, the lawyer imagines that he keeps the Law attempting to justify himself by asking the question who his neighbor is. Jesus then turns the tables on the lawyer. Instead of answering that his fellow Jew is his neighbor, Jesus tells a story that results in what the lawyer considers as his enemey being his neighbor! The last words of the text are a giveaway that this is Law when Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.”
Jesus’ answer to the question about what one would have to do to get to heaven is to obey the Law perfectly. The text is not really about loving the neighbor except for the fact that this is one area of sin which the lawyer has trouble overcoming. To conclude that this is NOT a parable, one only has to look at an almost identical passage to Luke 10 and that is Mark 10.
The same question is asked by the rich man and the same answer is given by Jesus to obey the Law and the same technique is used by Jesus to point out one area in life in which the rich man fails to obey the Law perfectly. What is helpful in Mark 10 is the extended conversation with the disciples in which Jesus answers their question as to who then can be saved with, “With men is it impossible.”
If Luke 10 is a parable then one must interpret Mark 10 also to be a parable which, of course, it is not. Put the two passages side by side and it is clear that Jesus is using Law and Gospel distinctions in not giving the Gospel to the swine; that is, those who do not think they are sinners.
It is unfortunate that most commentaries assume that Luke 10 is about loving the neighbor and Mark 10 is about giving away your money. Instead, both passages are making the clear point that it is impossible for anyone, whether lawyer or rich, peasant or poor, man or woman to do anything to inherit the kingdom of God. But what is totally impossible for man, has been done by God in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Name:Tom Baker
What you said is so ratical. But when one looks at the context it makes so much sence. Unfortunately even Lutheran pastors see this passage as an exhortation to do good to ones neighbor.
Constervative christians think being a Christian mean being good and Liberal christians think being a christian mean doing good. Both would preach the same way and apply the Law and Gospel incorrrectly.