Proper 10. July 10, 2022

Lucas 10,25-37

Rev. Neli ML

 

Sisters and brothers, I would like to begin my sermon by asking you the same question Jesus asks the expert in Jewish law, what is written in the law? What do you read there? (10,26)

This lawyer, expert in Jewish Law, came to Jesus to test him by asking, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (10,25).  Jesus made him respond to his own question by asking him the two key questions above. The lawyer knew the law very well and replied, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus’ response was direct and simple, Do this, and you will live (10,27,28).

Given that his first question was a test, and feeling ashamed, the lawyer raised another question in an attempt to justify himself, And who is my neighbor? (10,29). Jesus responded with a great story, well known as the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is about a man whom we might assume was a Jew. This man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell among thieves who robbed him of his clothes, wounded and left him half dead. Later, a priest and a Levite came down that same way and looking at the wounded man, they passed by on the other side. Both the priest and the Levite were representatives of the Jewish Law observance, but they did not aid this helpless man.

As religious servers, and according to the law, they had to avoid uncleanliness, such as a corpse. Some Bible scholars say that the priest and Levite may have assumed that the man was dead, so they avoided him to keep themselves ritually clean. On the contrary, other scholars say that the fact they were traveling downhill, from Jerusalem to Jericho, may indicate that their religious service at the temple had already been completed, so they could have approached the wounded man without any restriction.  Others have stated that the Mishnah, the oral tradition, made an exception for the neglected corpses, so both the priest and the Levite could have justified approaching the supposed dead man. However, nothing seems to justify not approaching the man and checking if he was dead or alive to help him. It seems their reading and interpretation of the law was a ritual formalism which took precedence over mercy. Possibly, they used the law as a pretext to not help anyone in need.  They knew what was written in the law but chose not to interpret it in favor of the helpless. They were not willing to love their neighbor as themselves.

In contrast to the priest and the Levite, experts in the law, a despised Samaritan is an exemplar of mercy. This Samaritan saw the wounded man, who was not of his own people, and had compassion for him, bandaged his wounds and poured oil and wine over them. Then, he put the half dead man on his own beast and brought him to an inn. When this good Samaritan departed, he paid the host to take care of the wounded man until his return.

When Jesus finished telling the story, the lawyer was ready to answer his own question about “Who is my neighbor”. But before that, Jesus turned this question and asked the lawyer, Which of these three [two Jewish and one Samaritan], do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? (10,36). To which the lawyer responds, The one who showed mercy on him. That is the Samaritan not the religious leaders, experts in the law! Jesus follows with, Go and do likewise (10,36-37.

Sisters and brothers, why does Jesus use a Samaritan to tell the parable if some weeks ago the Samaritans denied Jesus and his disciples entry to their villages? Surely there was no reason to connect a Samaritan with benevolence; yet Jesus does just that! Through the story, Jesus seems to be telling the lawyer that he and his religious systems needed to amend their understanding of neighbor, which traditionally was understood as only “one of their own people” (Samaritans did not apply as neighbors). Now, through the image of someone not considered a neighbor, Jesus teaches that a neighbor is the wounded on the road who is not “one of their own people”.

Sisters and brothers, as disciples of Jesus we should not ask “Who is my neighbor?” but “To whom will I be a neighbor today?”. When we think only of “Who is my neighbor?”, we limit our call only to those we like. However, our call is to make ourselves neighbors to all the wounded and broken we meet along the way.

Today, how might we respond to these questions, "What is written in the Bible about loving our neighbors? What do we read there?"

 AMEN