25: And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26: He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27: And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28: And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29: But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30: And 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. 31: And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32: And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33: But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34: 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. 35: And 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. 36: Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37: And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 38: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39: And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40: But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

25: And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life

God’s people want to know what they must do to receive eternal life.

26: He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Jesus tells His people to focus on the law and to understand it for themselves.

27: And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28: And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

God’s people know that they are to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength and mind and that they are to love their neighbor as themselves.

29: But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

God’s people think that they can justify themselves by claiming not to know who their neighbor is.

30: And 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.

Jesus illustrates who our neighbor is with the story of the Good Samaritan.

There was a certain man	Jesus
Who left Jerusalem	The new Jerusalem in Heaven
And came to Jericho	Came to this earth
He fell among thieves	Wicked men robbed Him
Who took his raiment	They defamed His character and took away His literal clothing at the cross
And wounded him	They wounded Jesus with a spear and beat Him
And left him half dead	They killed the human half of Jesus

So our neighbor is Jesus!! When we do good to someone, we are doing good to JESUS!! Matt. 25:38-40 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39: Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

31: And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

The ministers of God’s people lack compassion. They are so busy doing their work and going their way that they have forgotten to do God’s Work and go His Way.

32: And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

The people of God, who have been given responsibility by God to minister for Him are too busy and lack compassion for their neighbors.

33: But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34: 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. 35: And 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.

Jesus is also the Good Samaritan.

The Samaritan came to him	Jesus came to us
The Samaritan had compassion on him	Jesus has compassion on us
The Samaritan bound up his wounds	Jesus binds up the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61)
The Samaritan poured in oil	Jesus has given us the oil of joy and the Holy Spirit
The Samaritan poured in wine	Jesus has given us true doctrine
The Samaritan put him on his own beast	Jesus brings His people to His Church
The Samaritan brought him to an inn	Jesus takes care of those in the Church
The Samaritan will come again and repay	Jesus will come again and repay

36: Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37: And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

God’s people are to be like Jesus. We are to show mercy to anyone that needs it. Jesus was not too busy to leave heaven for us and we are not to be too busy to help others.

38: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha [#3136-mistress] received him into her house.

God’s people (woman) need to invite Jesus into the Church (her house).

39: And she had a sister called Mary [#3127 > 4813 – rebellious] which also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word.

God has other people (Mary) in other churches (sister) who are rebellious, but who want to hear the Words of Jesus, besides those in His Church (Martha).

40: But Martha was cumbered [#4049 – distract, drag around] about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

God’s people are distracted with all their much serving and desire that other churches would help them do the work. They appeal to Jesus for help.

41: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The answer that Jesus gives the Church (Martha) is that it is careful and troubled about many things but it needs yet one more thing: to be more like Mary who spends her time listening to the words of Jesus. The Church needs to spend more time studying the Bible. The priority of Mary was right. The Church is too busy doing distracting things and does nor spend enough time studying the Bible to hear what Jesus is saying in it.