What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
As Pastor of Good Samaritan it is my privilege to give an annual report on Jesus' parable recorded in Luke 10. An antagonist lawyer there asked him to “cut to the quick” and tell what is the main thing!1 Our lawyer in verse 25 is not the shyster we often know lawyers as today. I could tell some lawyer jokes here that are divisive and not at all in keeping with the intent of Jesus' parable, but this lawyer was a Hebrew Levite, with a doctorate in the Law of God and he answers his own question, “What shall I DO to inherit eternal life?” Jesus verifies his correct answer, and so do you and I when we sing Psalm 19:7, 10, 11. This lawyer displays two embedded flaws common to man, he wants to DO something to inherit eternal life, and he is willing to justify himself.
As a preacher of the gospel who tries to “use great plainness of speech” (2Cor.3:12) it is curious that Jesus left this lawyer stumbling around the idea that he could successfully DO something to inherit eternal life. When God leaves a person fumbling around in their own ignorance he likely knows what he is doing. Myself, I would have handled the lawyer differently. That is why I try not to work by myself. In five places we are commissioned to preach the gospel to every creature (Mat.28:19, Mrk.16:15, Lu.24:46-48, Jn.20:21, and Acts 1:8); three solid reasons are given to preach it (2Cor.5:10, 11, 14, 17-18); and Paul rejoiced that the Philippians' “conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” (Phil.1:27). If you will fulfill “love thy neighbor as thyself” you will have to preach the gospel to your neighbor. Lets be about the Father's business this week.
1 (It is important to regularly stop and make sure we are keeping the main thing the main thing; Dr. Luke is making that a point of his 10th chapter. In verse 20 Jesus points it out for 70 emboldened preachers, in verse 42 for Martha fussing about her sister.)
An Essay for week #20 - May 15, 2022
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs220515.mp3
1 (It is important to regularly stop and make sure we are keeping the main thing the main thing; Dr. Luke is making that a point of his 10th chapter. In verse 20 Jesus points it out for 70 emboldened preachers, in verse 42 for Martha fussing about her sister.)
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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