Jesus used this opportunity to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
One of the traditional ways to communicate with the learned men of Israel was by asking questions. First, one would ask a question, and then the other man would respond to the question and then ask a question of his own. Jesus knew all about this method.
The Good Samaritan would prove to be a profound answer to an important question. This parable unfolded as Jesus was being specifically challenged by a “doctor of the Law” (lawyer) on his (Jesus’) true understanding of what the Law meant.
This challenge was packaged in very respectful language, and it asked a big question: Luke 10:25: “And a lawyer stood up and put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
This question had a very obvious Jewish Law-based answer, whose details could easily be debated by the educated. This indeed was a test for this “rogue” teacher named Jesus.
In Greek, this phrase “put to the test” means “to test thoroughly.”
Jesus’ response to the question was also respectful, and it essentially prompted the lawyer to give an answer to his own question in the manner that was common among learned individuals.
Luke 10:26–27: “26 And he said to him, What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? 27 And he answered, 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.”
This individual, being a doctor of the Law, jumps to Jesus’ challenge to show his knowledge by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 9:18.
Jesus answered by quoting from Leviticus 18:4-5. Luke 10:28: “And he said to him, You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”
But the lawyer has another more difficult question and does not hesitate to ask it for a specific reason: Luke 10:29: “But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?”
This lawyer seems to be pressing Jesus into a battle of words and interpretations based upon the Law. This was his territory, and he was good at it. Would Jesus accept his challenge?
The lawyer is probably looking pretty smug at this point. Jesus had verified the lawyer’s words. He has Jesus just where he wants him?now he will really put Jesus to the test, who is my neighbor? We can sense he thinks he is smarter than Jesus.
How would Jesus respond? He stepped above such chatter, as this had now become a powerful teaching moment. Jesus knew the Law never said to hate those who are different. On the contrary, it commanded the people to be kind and respectful to all (even aliens and strangers in the land). Jesus knows the lawyer is quoting from Leviticus 19, which defines proper action towards neighbors.
Jesus had also already laid out his clear and unwavering perspective on how all of this should work in the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:43–45: “43 You have heard that it was said, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Jesus is secure in the answer to the question. He already knows what it is. Instead of answering the question directly, Jesus would tell a story that had clear and present relevance to each and every listener. He would use a real-life example of a Samaritan, a people against whom the Jews had a generational hatred.
Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1343: “What Does Being a Good Samaritan Really Mean?”
Digging beneath the surface into the real lessons of the Good Samaritan
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
