August 24, 2025 – “There Must Be Some Misunderstanding”

Calling someone a Good Samaritan generally means they show kindness, mercy, compassion, care to someone in need, and that’s all good. Nothing wrong with that. God honors such behavior. But that’s not what the parable is about.

Luke 10:25-37

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.

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

Hosea 6:8-9

If you do good, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds.

Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid – if not by them, certainly by the Most High.

No good comes to one who persists in evil or to one who does not give alms.

Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner.

Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly; hold back their bread, and do not give it to them, for by means of it they might subdue you; then you will receive twice as much evil for all the good you have done to them.

For the Most high also hates sinners and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.

Give to the one who is good, but do not help the sinner.

Sirach 12:1-7

THE PRIEST CALLOUSLY LEAVES THE MAN TO DIE RATHER THAN SHOWING LOVE AND MERCY.

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

WE MUST ENTER THE DITCH AND ACCEPT A SAMARITAN AS HELPER, HEALER, AND FRIEND.

pandocheion, means a place of “welcome for all.”

Micah 6:6-8

GRACE COMES TO THOSE WHO HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE THAN TO ACCEPT IT.

SALVATION COMES TO THE WOUNDED MAN IN THE FORM OF A COSTLY DEMONSTRATION OF UNEXPECTED LOVE.

Isaiah 53

FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU DRAW SINNERS TO YOURSELF. THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. WE DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO RECEIVE IT. JESUS HAS ALREADY DONE THAT FOR US THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD NEWS…THE GREAT NEWS…THE GLORIOUS NEWS OF FORGIVENESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.