Law And Gospel In The Parable Of The Good Samaritan

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LAW AND GOSPEL IN THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Pastor Mike here.

I want to talk to you about Law and Gospel in the Parable of the Good Samaritan today.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW AND GOSPEL IN THE SCRIPTURES

Before I read the text, I want to highlight the difference between Law and Gospel in the Scriptures, hat tip Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller.

The Law is God’s command summed up in the Ten Commandments.

The Gospel is God’s promise summed up in the Apostles’ Creed.

The Law is God’s will.

The Gospel is God’s works.

The Law contains threats and promises.

Threats if you disobey.

Promises if you obey.

The Gospel is only promises.

Promises if you believe.

And belief (or faith) is a gift. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Law shows our sin.

The Gospel shows our Savior.

The Law accuses since we never live up to it and never can.

It’s not possible.

The Law brings death.

The Gospel forgives all our sins.

[A]s far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

The Gospel brings life.

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN TEXT

Which brings us to the text.

In Luke chapter 10, v. 25 through 37, it reads…

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

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.”

28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Which brings us to the parable.

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

And so we have The Parable Of The Good Samaritan.

LAW AND GOSPEL IN VERSE 31, 32 AND 33

Now it’s not my intention to develop the greater context of Christ’s message here as he is answering the question, “And who is my neighbor?,” posed to Him (though it has everything to do with Law and Gospel, also).

Instead, I’m just highlighting three verses: v. 31, 32 and 33.

VERSE 31

In v. 31 we have a priest coming across the injured man, but he passes by on the other side of the road to avoid him.

This is representative of the Law.

It can do nothing to save.

VERSE 32

And then in v. 32 we have a Levite who does the same thing.

He passes by the injured man, also.

This is the Law a second time.

Again, the Law cannot save.

It’s not the purpose of the Law.

The Law shows our sin.

The Law brings death.

VERSE 33

And then now in v. 33 we have a Samaritan (who is a picture of Christ).

He comes upon the injured man, and when he sees him, he doesn’t pass him by, but has compassion on him.

He cares for the man.

He binds up his wounds.

He sees him to his healing.

This is the Gospel.

The Gospel shows our Savior.

It forgives all our sins.

The Gospel brings life.

CONCLUSION OF LAW AND GOSPEL IN THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

And so we have Law and Gospel in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)