This week we read about how a lawyer attempts to test Jesus and how Jesus turns it into a teaching moment. Jesus tells the lawyer a parable about what it means to be a neighbor and show mercy. We know this story as the “Good Samaritan.”
Scripture Focus
“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
– Luke 10:36-37
Though this parable about mercy is one of the most famous parables of Jesus, we struggle with its message and how to live Jesus’ command “go and do likewise.”
Preaching Theme
“What does good mean to you?”
Home Devotion Questions
- The parable is known as the “Good Samaritan,” but when the parable was originally told there were significant prejudices against the Samaritan people. At the time, Samaritans were known as anything but good.
Why do you think Jesus used a Samaritan in his story? What point is he trying to make?
Are there groups of people that are prejudiced against today? How are we neighbors?
- When you think of the word “good” what comes to mind?
Are we good by the things we do or are we good by what God has done for us?
