Bible Stories for Adults

The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

Next Week - The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
Note: Ten "I"s for today's lesson are taken from speech by Tom Claus (Chief and Pastor of Mohawk tribe) at 1996 Promise Keepers in Dallas (10/26/96)

What situation led to Jesus telling the parable of the good Samaritan?
Luke 10:25
What would Jews do to find God's will in a given matter?
Judges 18:5-6
Could just any prophet be used to inquire of the Lord?
1 Kings 22:6-7
How could 400 other prophets be so wrong? Wouldn't they be statistically right?
1 Kings 22:20-23

Why did the lawyer inquire of Jesus about a heavenly topic?
Luke 24:19
Why don't we have to go to a priest or prophet to inquire of God's will for our lives?
Hebrews 7:24-25
How do we inquire of the Lord through Jesus?
John 14:13-14

Will God always answer when we inquire through Jesus' name?
Ezekiel 20:31
How can we be certain whether we will be answered?
John 15:5-7

How did Jesus reply to the lawyer's inquiry?
Luke 10:26
Why would Jesus point the lawyer to God's Law for an informative answer?
Joshua 1:7-8
Why would Jesus point to the Scripture to inform the lawyer?
2 Timothy 3:16
Is it important that we are informed by the Scriptures?
Matthew 22:29

Does the Scripture inform us about eternal life?
1 John 5:13
How are we informed about what we are to believe?
John 20:21

What answer did the lawyer give to inclusively summarize God's Law?
Luke 10:27
Would Jesus agree with this reply as an inclusive summary of God's commands?
Mark 12:28-34
Was this greatest command of loving the Lord a new summary to the Jews?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Was the second command of loving our neighbor a new summary to the Jew?
Leviticus 19:18

How did this summary of God's Law instruct the man what he must do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 10:28

How does loving the Lord relate to keeping His commandments?
John 14:21, 23
How do we know what God wants simply by loving Him and living with Him?
Romans 8:5, 9-10
What promise are we given if we love the Lord and allow the Spirit to live in us?
Romans 8:11, 28

Why is the second command to love our neighbor essential to receiving eternal life?
1 John 4:20-21
How do we know what it means to love our neighbor?
1 John 3:16-18
Was this John's idea or was it God's?
John 15:12-13, 17
How important is love?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 13 (Romans 13:10)

Was this what the lawyer was looking for or did he want something more specific?
Matthew 19:16-18a
How did Jesus point out that you have to give your whole self, not just a part?
Matthew 19:18b-23, 29

How did the lawyer show that he wanted an easy task to earn his way into heaven?
Luke 10:29
Did the lawyer have a valid question when asking who should be treated as a neighbor?
Leviticus 19:33-34
Did the Jews practice this love of foreigners?
Acts 10:28
How was this barrier between foreigners destroyed?
Ephesians 2:13-16

How did Jesus find it best to help the lawyer understand who was his neighbor?
Luke 10:30
Why would Jesus use a story about someone who was inflicted to show who we are to love?
Luke 4:18
Who are we actually serving when we serve others in love?
Matthew 25:37-40

Notes: While Jericho was only 17 miles from Jerusalem, it was 3600 feet lower
Road was narrow and rocky with sharp turns - prime area for robbers
Known as the Red Way or Bloody Way because of its danger
Many had few extra clothes, making them valuable to steal

How did upstanding Jews respond to the situation of their brother?
Luke 10:31-32
How would this half-dead Jew have felt?
Psalm 142:3-4

What was the priest and what was his job?
Numbers 3:10
Why would the priest feel he should ignore the half dead Jew and pass around him?
Leviticus 21:1-2
How was this even stricter for the high priest?
Leviticus 21:10-11

What was a Levite and what was his job?
Numbers 3:5-7
While not prevented like the priest from touching a dead body, why would the Levite avoid the man?
Numbers 19:11-12
Why might the Levite have not just ignored his brother's need and gone around him?
Numbers 19:14

After being ignored by two leading Jews, who finally involved himself with the inflicted Jew?
Luke 10:33
What was a Samaritan?
2 Kings 17:22-24, 33
Did the Jews accept Samaritans as their brothers under God?
Ezra 4:1-3
How well did Jews and Samaritans get along during Jesus' time?
John 4:9
What did Paul later explain that the Samaritan already understood?
Colossians 3:11-14

How did the Samaritan invest himself and his resources into serving this Jew?
Luke 10:34-35
How are Christians called to emulate this Samaritan?
Romans 12:13
How does the Samaritan's actions stand out above the sacrifices made by the priest and Levite?
Hebrews 13:16
What did the priest and Levite miss about the importance of being clean for sacrifices?
Hosea 6:6 (1 Samuel 15:22)

Did this parable help the lawyer understand how to be an instrument of God's love?
Luke 10:36-37
Are we simply called to have compassion and feel for the needs of others?
Philippians 2:1-4
How did Jesus respond when he had compassion on those in need?
Matthew 14:14

How does Jesus further describe our calling to be His instrument?
Luke 6:32-36
But isn't faith needed to be rewarded with eternal life? Why are good deeds needed?
James 2:14-17