The Gospel of Jesus Christ

What God Requires
The Holy Injil—Luke 10:25-37

Then an expert in Moses' Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answered him, "What is written in Moses' Teachings? What do you read there?"

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.'

Jesus told him, "You're right! Do this, and life will be yours."

But the man wanted to justify himself. So he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead. By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way. Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way. "But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll pay you on my return trip.'

"Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?"

The expert said, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and imitate his example!"

1. What did the expert in the law (Moses' teaching) want to know?

2. What was the answer Jesus gave him?

The Word Justify means: To declare righteous or innocent. It is a legal term. It is like a judge in a courtroom declaring you "Not guilty." That is to justify.

3. What does it mean when it says the man wanted to justify himself?

4. Do you think the expert in the law kept the law? Can we keep the law well enough to satisfy God?

5. Why would a person expect a priest and Levite to help the man?

Samaritans: They were enemies to the Jews. They also only believed in the first five books of the Bible and ignored the rest such as the Psalms (Zabur) and the Prophets. Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other. This is why it is surprising that a Samaritan would stop. Yet Jesus is teaching that it doesn’t matter what race or who your parents were. Following God is what is important.

6. What did the Samaritan do?

7. What does God want us to do in regard to other people?