JULY 12TH

A CERTAIN SAMARITAN (Continued)

Scripture Reading: Luke 10: 25-37

^{25　And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?}

^{26　He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?}

^{27　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.}

^{28　And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.}

^{29　But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?}

^{30　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.}

^{31　And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.}

^{32　And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.}

^{33　But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,}

^{34　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.}

^{35　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.}

^{36　Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?}

^{37　And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.}

     After Jesus, the Living Word, spoke this parable to this certain lawyer, he then asked him, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? The choices were a certain priest, a Levite, or a certain Samaritan. Without acknowledging the certain Samaritan, the lawyer said, He that shewed mercy on him. Jesus did not say, thou answered right as in verse 28 above. Mercy speaks for Himself! In His Righteousness and without partiality in any form, He simply said, Go, and do thou likewise. Remember, Jesus did not do away with the Law but rather fulfilled It.

     Prayerfully, we will not miss the awesome Power in this parable. Those skilled in the Law may be able to rehearse Law and answer right in matters pertaining to the Law, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). The lack of power in most ministry is the expectation that the Law can deliver, but It cannot. People are constantly bombarded with Law whether intentional or not. Always remember that what speaks to the Law, the certain priest and a Levite, cannot pass on the same side. Many leaders do not want to hurt the people of God, but they do not know the Truth and cannot help themselves or others. We cannot expect the religious system to do that which is impossible. On the same note, it is time to learn Christ!

     By this parable and His Work in Righteousness, Jesus demonstrated that we can be doers and not hearers only. The beauty of mercy is that it is not only kindness shown toward another, but it is paired with a genuine desire to help. Many times people weary themselves by trying to be kind to others for carnal reasons. When Christ becomes resident within, the desire becomes equal to the act, and He then comes forth as Mercy. Pure Mercy! Be blessed, Neighbor!