Luke 10:30-3530And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10:30‑35)
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
This is the history of humanity from Adam to the present day: going down from the city of God to the city of the curse; going down in the ways of sin and sinful pleasures—thieves and robbers of what he once possessed. It takes in you and me—all of us who have departed from the ways of innocence into the ways of sin.
By chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
The priest, appointed by Moses’ law, should have had compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way. Had the priest forgotten this? He seems cold and indifferent. Ah, but this is a case beyond his ability to help. The man needs life and healing. It is a desperate case, and the priest passes by on the other side.
Likewise a Levite—appointed as Levites were to teach the law to the people—when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
It was not teaching that the dying man needed, but life and healing, which the Levite as well as the priest were utterly incompetent to give. So neither performs the neighborly act. In fact, they were both on the same road as the man lying there stripped and wounded by the thieves.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Here is the blessed gospel of God for every confessed sinner. We joyfully recognize this good Samaritan—Jesus, who came from heaven to seek and to save that which was lost. He had compassion; He did not pass by the needy—the dying—but came where he was. He bound up his wounds in His grace; He comforted and strengthened him with oil and wine. Dear Samaritan! Never did His enemies speak a truer word than when they mockingly said, This Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
The wounded man, having received “first aid” was not left to shift alone as best he could. No, the Samaritan brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Even so does Jesus today care for those who turn to Him in their helplessness, for He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.
“Thousands have fled to His spear-pierced side:
Welcome they all have been—none are denied;
Weary and laden, they all have been blest;
Joyfully now in the Saviour they rest.”