Tag Archives: luke

The Good Samaritan: A Salvation Story – Only?

What do you think when you hear “The Parable of the Good Samaritan?” Do you think about social justice? Racial discrimination? Illegal immigration? Or do you think about being a good person? There are varying viewpoints, but what do YOU know it to mean?

Recently, I heard a very intriguing perspective on this parable. Self-righteous acts will not gain you salvation. That’s it! Nothing about being a good person or loving your neighbor. I reviewed it multiple times because I’ve never heard it this way before.

While that statement is true, that’s not what I readily gleaned from it. Maybe I’m used to hearing it the common way. Nonetheless, I thought it was interesting. For this post, I figured I’d share this differing viewpoint. I think it will be informative for those who are familiar with the parable and for those who aren’t.

For context, let’s start with why Jesus told the parable and refer to Luke 10:25. A lawyer (one who studied the law) decided to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”1 Recognizing the intent of the lawyer, Jesus turned it back on him. Jesus asked, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?“2

The lawyer replied with the two great commandments. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). To which Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:28).

Here is where it gets technical. Meaning, this is where the perspective turns from “be a good neighbor.” The lawyer’s “what shall I do?” is in the aorist tense. What does that mean? Aorist is defined as an event that is completed. A one-time action as opposed to a habitual or ongoing action. For instance, do you feed a baby once? No. Do you want to starve a baby? No, so you continue to feed the baby.

What the lawyer is saying without saying – I’ve already done these things. What else is there? In essence, the lawyer was asking for a checklist to earn salvation. This wreaks of self-righteous indignation.

When Jesus replied, “do this…” it is present tense and continual. Love God and be a good neighbor not just once, but continually. It’s a lifestyle not just something to do. Surely the lawyer was offended because he began to justify himself. He asked Jesus, “[a]nd who is my neighbor?”3

Jesus then replies with this parable:

“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 Levite4, 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 denarii5 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

After the end of the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer – which of the 3 individuals was a neighbor to the man robbed by the thieves. The lawyer replied by saying the one who showed mercy on the man. Again, Jesus reiterates “…You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

While not detailed in this parable, it is implied that the man who was robbed is Jewish. Why is that important to note? Well, this is what gives the common perspective of the parable. For those who are unaware, there was no expression of “brotherly love” between the Jews and Samaritans.

Jews did not see Samaritans as their neighbors. Recall, that the lawyer asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor?” So, it would come as a surprise that a Samaritan would have compassion for a Jew and vice versa.

Back to the main point. The lawyer did not follow what the great commands demanded. Hence why 2x Jesus told him to go do what was commanded. His self-righteous acts made him fall short. His attempts to justify himself and deny wrong-doings did him no favors either.

You are incapable of obtaining salvation with self-righteous performances. Salvation is a gift, not something you earn. In all, Jesus confronted a self-righteous lawyer. That’s it!

It’s not about racial discrimination or being a social justice warrior. Nothing on DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), acts of compassion, loving your neighbor, or being a good neighbor. Only about salvation.

I see the point, but meh! I find it hard-pressed to believe that Jesus would tell this story with just one deep meaning. Yet, I could be totally wrong.

So, what do you think? Is it a salvation-only story? Or do you think there is much more?

P.S. – Thank you to my new subscribers! I greatly appreciate it! ❤

  1. Luke 10:25 ↩︎
  2. Luke 10:26 ↩︎
  3. Luke 10:29 ↩︎
  4. A member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. They were selected to serve God in the Holy Temple. ↩︎
  5. Roman silver coin ↩︎

The World Is Not Enough: The Prodigal Son

The world is not enough, and it will never be. What does it profit to gain the world and lose everything? Easy, none! You profit nothing, yet, this concept seems foreign. Everything is so in your face! Riches and wealth, power, sex, “love”, etc… The allure of worldly things is seductive. It’s like you “gotta catch em all!” There is a story in the Bible that talks about this. Do you know the prodigal son?

If you know, you know. For those who don’t, let’s talk about him. There was a wealthy man who had 2 sons. The younger son told his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate” (Luke 15:11). I’m sure the father had reservations, but he divided the property between his sons.

Soon after, the younger son journeyed to a distant country and squandered his ENTIRE inheritance on worldly pleasures. He was left with nothing and in need. What made matters worse was famine struck the whole country. One can only imagine what he was thinking. Our flesh would call him an idiot, stupid, and a fool. That wouldn’t be nice to say, no matter how true.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. With nothing left, he hired himself out to a citizen of that country. This citizen in turn sent him to feed their pigs. He longed to fill his belly with what the pigs ate, but no one fed him. Imagine being so hungry that you’d consider eating what the pigs ate because no one fed you. What would you do in this situation?

Well, he came to his senses. One could assume after lamenting, he realized he didn’t have to be there. “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger” (Luke 15:17)! So he gathered himself and thought about what he should say to his father.

“18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants’ “(Luke 18-19).

So, he made his way back to his father. While still a long way off, his father saw him in the distance. Filled with so much compassion, his father ran to his son and embraced and kissed him! This is a great act of love. This is the heart of a good father. Even though his son made a massive mistake, he forgave him and rejoiced at his return.

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21). His father paid him no mind as he continued to rejoice at his son’s return. His father commanded his servants,

“Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found…“ (Luke 15:22-24).

There is more to this story, so I encourage you to read further. There are multiple lessons to be learned from this, but I only want to touch on 1. Chasing vanities, chasing the wind – these things will leave you empty.

Many of us, believers and nonbelievers alike fall into this web of deception and lies. That chasing after love, materialistic things, riches, and more will satisfy our needs. Our fulfillment doesn’t lie in the things of this world but in God’s sufficiency.

If you know Him, trust that He is enough. If you don’t know Him, come to Him. Put your faith in Someone who won’t leave you empty. Remember, the world is not enough, and it will never be.

Get Ready, The Train Has Arrived

No…I’m not talking about the “Trump Train.” I’m talking about a different train. A train that’s ready for believers willing to submit to the will of God. Its destination? The field of the lost who want and need to be found. Get ready, the train has arrived.

A few years ago, there was this park I was standing in. I don’t exactly remember why I was standing there. I just knew I was waiting for something. Anyway, I was standing there dressed in scrubs next to a doctor. We were both waiting for what seemed like an eternity and then the wait was finally over. A HUGE and MIGHTY train stopped in front of us.

The train was a brilliant red lined with gold trimming. It was beautiful and otherworldly. I’ve never seen a train like this before. I climbed onto the steep steps and stood within an open space. A few steps ahead was an open book on a podium. There was an angelic-like light shining on this podium. I was so drawn to this light that I paid no attention to my surroundings.

I walked to the open book and saw a pen. Without hesitation, I picked up this pen and wrote 9:19. I wrote this down as if I were logging my arrival time. I guess I knew what I was doing, subconsciously at least. I placed the pen back on the podium and turned to my right to walk to the back of the train. “Wait, this doesn’t look like a train”, I thought. It looked like I was inside a school bus.

A typical school bus with oversized, hard, and thick cushioned brown seats. Cold metal floor and a lot of windows. Surely this train could have looked as appealing inside as the outside. Never mind that, I had to sit down. I saw about 5-6 people sitting and watching as I began to walk. As I made my way to the back, I noticed how messy the back was.

The mess looked like trash, but within was a mix of items. These items were like toys (a dirty bunny specifically) and other things I can’t recollect. Upon closer observation, I discovered that this was the “lost and found” area. I found my seat at the back and faced forward looking to get to my destination. Then I woke up.

If you’ve read my previous posts One Simple Command, A Wheel Within a Wheel: A Reflection of God’s Providence, and Within the Ark: Are These the Days of Noah? – you would know that I am a dreamer. I believe God can and will speak to people through dreams. This dream, I believe is another call for believers to rise up, follow Jesus and become laborers in the field.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. – Luke 10:2

I’ve expressed this before; I believe something else is coming. I won’t be quick to call it the “End Time Harvest” nor will I say that this is prophecy. This is plain to see, look around you. Seriously, how much did you put in your tank today?

My family brought food 2 days ago, and we have to buy more again. What about your electric bill? Laid off or fired? None of this is you? You are blessed but let’s not pretend. Things aren’t getting better. A disaster of epic proportions is coming. Unless some great miracle happens (I hope for this) to prevent it, many people will be left without hope.

To rise up, follow Jesus and become laborers in the field – why do I believe this? In the dream I was in scrubs standing next to a doctor. It is plain to me that I was a nurse. What do nurses and doctors do? They help those who are sick and in need of healing. They are also servants who labor. Much like the calling of believers, right?

The wait in my dream felt like eternity. I don’t know how eternity feels, but I think we can get the sense of what that may feel like. For believers, we are waiting for Jesus to come back. My goodness, it certainly feels like an eternity! For me, waiting for this disaster to happen feels like an eternity too. No doubt Noah felt that way when he waited for the rain.

It was a mighty train was a brilliant red color covered with gold trimming. I saw this representing the Trinity.

  • Mighty – Almighty like our Father in heaven.
  • Red – Jesus’s sacrifice, atonement, the blood.
  • Gold – The Holy Spirit.

The train arrived to take us to our destination. I stepped onto the train, walked to the podium blanketed in light and picked up a pen. I wrote 9:19, and this took me 3- 4 years to understand why. After constantly praying about the significance of 9:19, I was led to this scripture: “So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples” – Matt 9:19. 

In Matthew chapter 9, a ruler came to Jesus worshipping Him and told Jesus about the death of his daughter. He asked Jesus to lay His hand on her so she could live. Without hesitation, Jesus rose to help the man and the disciples followed. As you can see here, Jesus answered the call for someone who was in need of healing. His disciples followed him. We are to do the same now and always be ready when the time comes.

The 5-6 people on the train were more servants and/or laborers. There were so few for it to be such a huge train. This truly correlates with Luke 10:2 and Matthew 9:37 – “…The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Let me not forget to mention the “lost and found” area.

In the “lost and found,” I saw children’s toys like a dirty bunny and other things. When someone is lost, they WANT to be found. Who wants to be without hope and living in despair? All people – men, women, and children alike need help. Some may not agree with this but, everyone needs a Savior. It became clear to me that those on the train were going out to help save the lost hoping that they would be found.

How do we as believers do this? By suiting up and helping those in need while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether that’s through giving food, resources, shelter or a helping hand. When God is calling, get up and follow Him. Don’t run but jump at that one simple command. Last but not least, suit up because the train has arrived. Are you ready?