We are in the final week in the series on The Good Samaritan.

The Good Samaritan: The Rest of the Story
Luke 10:25-37 and 2 Chronicles 28:1-15

I am looking forward to week three on the story of the Good Samaritan.  So far, I’ve given you two softballs to hit out of the park when it comes to comprehension and easy to reach ‘action.’  The messages were straightforward and to the point.  This week, the message will require a bit more brain power and exegetical chutzpah.  

In order to grasp a more profound theological and scriptural truth from the story of the Good Samaritan, we will need to dive into the audience of Jesus day, the intent behind Luke’s gospel, and search the Bible for behind the scenes connections to Hebrew Testament Writings.  A mentor of mine once said ‘Jesus doesn’t say anything new.  Anything you hear him say has some grounding in the Hebrew Scriptures.’  I’ve tried to prove this statement wrong.  So far, I’ve failed at it!  

The story of the Good Samaritan is no different.  Jesus reference in the story to Jericho, a Samaritan, the dressing of wounds with oil, giving of clothes and food, a needed donkey ride, the compassion of an ‘enemy’… are all mentioned in 2 Chronicles 28 after Israel defeats Judah and is in the process of hauling them off to ‘slavery’ in Samaria.  Hmmm… think the teacher of the law and the audience of Jesus story can hear the connections to 2 Chronicles 28?  You can believe it.

Sunday’s gonna be a fun deep dive,
See you Sunday, 

Pastor Mark