EPISODE · Dec 2, 2019 · 24 MIN
Greatest Commandment greatest value
from Spiritcode · host Paul O’Sullivan
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT FOR THE GREATEST VALUE Luke 10:25… One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a Levite came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple Priest walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins (denarii), telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” That man is us as humanity and The Samaritan is Jesus as God and the bandits are the devil and the Levite and the priest are all the people hearing the story – the world of indifference (that includes us). The world is indifferent to the plight of a stranger. It is full of its own needs and greeds, and very choosy as to what it gives its time and attention to outside of that, and it justifies that indifference. If the man were dressed in royal robes there might have been a different response – but stripped of his robes and naked? Move along, there’s nothing for you to see here. The Samaritan was heading somewhere with purpose just like the others but for the Samaritan this inner gracious impulse came first. What got into him? Heaven was in him (Jerusalem down to Jericho). Look what he does; He stops on his journey. Has compassion on his naked beaten up state. Binds up his wounds. Supplies oil and wine. Puts him on his own donkey and walks beside him. Takes him to a safe and caring place. Pays two day’s wages for his care. Says he will pay for any extras when he returns. What would have been the man’s thoughts and his response when he was greeted by the man after he had finished his journey and came back to see him? – Only gratitude. When I said that the Samaritan (Jesus as God) was heading somewhere with a purpose for two days I believe that the purpose of the journey was to be continually repeating that salvation and restoration act. That is what the Samaritan (as Jesus), lives for. That gives his journey its meaning. It was his highest value because we are of greater value to him than anything, the same value that the Father has for his Son is that which he has for us. John 17:23… You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
What this episode covers
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT FOR THE GREATEST VALUE Luke 10:25… One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.“By chance a Levite came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple Priest walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins (denarii), telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” That man is us as humanity and The Samaritan is Jesus as God and the bandits are the devil and the Levite and the priest are all the people hearing the story – the world of indifference (that includes us). The world is indifferent to the plight of a stranger. It is full of its own needs and greeds, and very choosy as to what it gives its time and attention to outside of that, and it justifies that indifference. If the man were dressed in royal robes there might have been a different response – but stripped of his robes and naked? Move along, there’s nothing for you to see here. The Samaritan was heading somewhere with purpose just like the others but for the Samaritan this inner gracious impulse came first. What got into him? Heaven was in him (Jerusalem down to Jericho). Look what he does; He stops on his journey. Has compassion on his naked beaten up state. Binds up his wounds. Supplies oil and wine. Puts him on his own donkey and walks beside him. Takes him to a safe and caring place. Pays two day’s wages for his care. Says he will pay for any extras when he returns. What would have been the man’s thoughts and his response when he was greeted by the man after he had finished his journey and came back to see him? – Only gratitude. When I said that the Samaritan (Jesus as God) was heading somewhere with a purpose for two days I believe that the purpose of the journey was to be continually repeating that salvation and restoration act. That is what the Samaritan (as Jesus), lives for. That gives his journey its meaning. It was his highest value because we are of greater value to him than anything, the same value that the Father has for his Son is that which he has for us. John 17:23… You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
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Greatest Commandment greatest value
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