Archive for the ‘Parables’ Category

As I was studying the Parable of the Good Samaritan an interesting question came to mind, it was: What compelled the Samaritan to manifest the Greater Good by showing compassion and mercy to the wounded man, whereas the Priest and Levite did not?

Luke 10:29-37 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 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 spends more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinks thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

In the story Jesus does not tell us who this wounded man is or what his religion is, but we do know the religious and tribal affiliations of the Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. Both the Priest and the Levite were Jews of the tribe of Levi, whereas the heritage of the Samaritan was connected to their common father Jacob (Israel) before they split over religious doctrines around the 4^th century BC, and chose Mt.Gerizim as their place of worship. The Samaritan did not allow his religious beliefs to keep him from showing compassion on a stranger, whereas the Priest and the Levite did….the point that Jesus is stressing is that every living soul is our neighbor

Why Jesus chose a Samaritan to be the man who had mercy and compassion we can only surmise from the context of the Parable. The Samaritan showed by his action the Greater Good of loving his neighbor, this is the message that Jesus is espousing here….when we are confronted with a choice of which path to take, our pledge should be to always choose the path of the Greater Good.

Luke 15:11-32 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

When I think of what best depicts the heart of God, I think of the Proverb of the Prodigal Son; unique to the Gospel of Luke. It gives me a clear image of the eternal concern God has for each of His creations. No matter how long the separation, or how great the distance, God is always there to receive His children back….not only with open arms, but with a celebration of joy and love….and clothing us with the best garments!

Luke is unique amongst the Gospels, in that far and above all the other Gospels, his tends to focus on the Mercy and Compassion of Christ. Over and over again, it is noted in the synoptic parallels that Luke’s Gospel inserts words of mercy, friendship, and compassion that are missing in the other Gospel accounts. This is the case with the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The portrait of Christ that Luke paints in his recording of this Parable is reflective of eternal mercy and compassion that our Father, God has for us. Not only is God ever waiting for the return of His children, but before we even ask forgiveness, He has stretched forth His hand (runs) to us with compassion and love.

What is brought out very clearly in this Parable is the fact that living a sinful life is like living in prison…a person is not really free to do what they want, but rather they are controlled by their environment. As was the case of the Prodigal Son: what he thought was freedom to do as he pleased was not really the case, because he had to rely on his own understanding and that did not get him very far. When he lived at home under his fathers care, he could rely on the wisdom and provision of his father. This is the case with all of God’s creation, when we live outside the care and protection of our Father, God we are on our own, and many times what we think is desirable turns out to be detrimental to our well being. The child, who is wise enough to know that all his father has is his, need not go experience the heartbreak of living separated from his father in a world of sin.

Matt.25:1 -13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

In this parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus uses the imagery of Lamps and Oil to convey a specific message to His 1^st century audience…that message being: those who are filled with the Holy Spirit will hear the voice of the Bridegroom at his coming. The five wise Virgins had oil in their vessels (the Holy Spirit), thus their way was lit by the fire of the Holy Spirit when the Bridegroom came for them, whereas the five foolish Virgins had no oil, consequently they were surprised and unprepared by the appearance of the Bridegroom and could not find their way to the wedding.

Jesus told His followers that He would not leave them comfortless, but would send the Holy Spirit that would guide them in all truth; this is like the flame of the lamp filled with oil which lights the path of understanding. The Holy Spirit would be as a treasure dwelling in earthen vessels (their bodies), giving knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

2Cor.4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Lam.4:2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

Starting at Pentecost and continuing afterwards the Holy Spirit was given to believers as a promise, sealing them with hope unto the day of their redemption and of Christ’s coming epiphany, which was the coming of the Bridegroom and the marriage in the parable of the Ten Virgins.

Luke 21:27-28 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.

Eph. 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemptionpurchased possession of the (peripoiesis = obtain ,possession), unto the praise of his glory.

Eph. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The coming of Christ in power and glory spoken of in the Olivet Discourse as being that which concludes the end the age, is also that which the Apostle Paul refers to as his hope of the soon coming epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tit.2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing (epiphaneia) of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1 Tim. 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing (epiphaneia) of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2Tim.4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing (epiphaneia) and his kingdom;….8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (epiphaneia).