Some of the parables which Jesus told were in response to a particular question. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is just that. A lawyer, one trained and very knowledgeable in the Torah asked Jesus a question. The question could have been a “gotcha question” or it could have been born of a sincere search for clarification on the law. Either way, Jesus answered with a straight forward response and, when pressed further by the lawyer, shared this parable.

Within the ruling ranks of the Hebrew nation, there was an insistence on following the Law as handed down to Moses and as further clarified by those who studied the Law. Their whole focus was on “getting it right.” So questions like “What is the greatest commandment?” would have been common in their discussions concerning the Law.

However, Jesus uses the Law itself to take this lawyer beyond the Law of the Torah and into the world of Kingdom Law – the true Law He wanted to usher in. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:17 that He didn’t come into the world to abolish the Law, but that through Him it might be fulfilled. The Law was given to show us our sin, but Christ came to fulfill the law and its requirements so that we could be free to live as He commands us. (Galatians 3:18-27)

The lawyer’s final response to Jesus was that the true neighbor was the one who didn’t stand idly by as the man died. Jesus’ final word to the lawyer now comes to us – “Go and do likewise.”

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, January 28, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .

Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

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