Lesson 2552

(Lesson 2552)(12-15-18) Luke 10:25-37
    “ 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 neighbour 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 neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, 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. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

    In today’s lesson, as the lawyer tried to tempt Jesus by asking Him what he must do to receive eternal life, Jesus responded to him by relating the parable of the “Good Samaritan”. By doing so, and with His follow up, Jesus established that in order for that young man to acheive eternal life, he must love God with all his heart, soul, and mind; And, he must love his neighbor as he loved himself. In essence, Jesus told that young man that he must live in obedience to every whit of the old law, or in effect, live a perfect, sin free life.
    The very purpose for the sacrifice of God’s own Son was so that mankind could acheive redemption from Adam’s sin and gain eternal life through faith in the perfection of Jesus. As was proven by the Jews from the beginning, it is impossible for mankind to live without sin. We are all guilty daily. Thank God for His grace. ~