“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10:25-28
If you are familiar with the gospels you know Jesus on many occasions used parables to teach a spiritual truth. Nelson’s New illustrated Bible Dictionary says that a parable is “a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences.” Another point concerning parables is that they are not necessarily a fictitious stories, a parable can also be based on a personal experience.
When Jesus told the parable in Luke 10:30 to 37, it started out by Jesus answering a malicious question asked by an expert of Jewish religious law, who’s intent was “to test Jesus” (v. 25). So the first point we see is that the basis of the question was not asked from a sincere heart searching and really wanting to know, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 25). The intent of the question was from wrong motives. The question from the expert of Jewish religious law did not faze Jesus, He did not have to prove who He was or defend Himself to anyone.
On several occasions (Matthew 9:4, 12:25. Luke 6:8, 9:47) we read that Jesus knew the thoughts of others because of His omniscience; Jesus knew what others were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” Luke 5:22. Omniscience is a theological term that refers to God’s superior knowledge and wisdom, His power to know all things. (Ps. 139:1–6). There has probably been moments in our past when in a discussion with someone that we were asked a questions or comments with the intent to distract us from the real issue or to promote a negative emotional response. If we ignorantly “took the bait”, we would probably respond in an inappropriate way that the other person benefited from or with sarcasm.
Jesus responded by showing His Love and compassion by the two questions He asked the expert of Jewish religious law, “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” (v. 26). Jesus did not ask these questions because He did not know the answer, Jesus being “the Word” knew what was written in the law to answer the question of this man correctly. John 1:1-2 referring to Jesus says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” And in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Jesus accomplished a few things by asking the two questions. First, Jesus was focused on the man’s pride in giving the expert of Jewish religious law an opportunity to answer His questions. No expert of Jewish religious law would turn down this opportunity. Secondly, this put the expert of Jewish religious law in a position to expose himself (his heart) to the real issue that Jesus was focusing on, the spiritual condition of this man’s heart. Thirdly, by Jesus asking these questions, He was addressing the issue of living out one’s faith.
A person might know the right thing to do, but doing it takes one’s knowledge to a different level. The expert on Jewish religious law knew the law and answered Jesus’ questions correctly. But what Jesus did by allowing the man to answer, it exposed his heart to Jesus. Jesus could have exposed this man’s heart in another way by condemning him and asking him, “Why are you not doing these things”, which would have offended him and or upset him, which would have ended the conversation, but Jesus didn’t. Instead Jesus in His discernment, wisdom and love went further by addressing the deeper and needier issues of the man’s heart.
Just a few words concerning wisdom, discernment and love. The Bible teaches us that God gives us wisdom, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6. In 1 Corinthians 12:4 and others teaches us that wisdom and discernment are gifts from God, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” Verse 8, “To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom.” Verse 10, “To another distinguishing (or discernment) between spirits.” When we are in a situation with someone and the Holy Spirit allows the gifts of discernment and wisdom to work in us it is not to impress, dominate or even destroy the other person. Attacking the other person will happen if God’s agape love is not influencing and motivating our hearts. Agape means “an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does.” “It is a self– giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and it does not consider the worth of its object.” – Spirit Filled Life Bible for Students.
When we continue reading chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians we read how the Apostle Paul explains the importance of agape love as it functions in relation to the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. In verse 27 of Luke, the expert on Jewish religious law gave Jesus the correct answers by quoting directly from the Old Testament. First from Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” And secondly from Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus’ following statements demonstrates to us what Jesus knew about the expert on Jewish religious law which could only be known by the One who could see into this man’s heart and know his life because of His omniscience. In verse 28 there are two points Jesus was addressing concerning this man. First, Jesus complemented him displaying wisdom and love about the man’s knowledge of the law. “You have answered correctly” Jesus replied. But in the second part of His comment Jesus directly addresses an area in this man’s life where Jesus omniscience or discernment with love is displayed, “Do this and you will live.”
Jesus knew that the expert on Jewish religious laws knew the law but did not live out what he knew, “Do this”. When Jesus said “you will live”, He was referring to and answered the man’s question without criticizing him.
Let it always be our desire to seek to be used by God to minister using His gifts to serve others, to build up and not tear down or destroy the one we have the opportunity to show God’s love to.
Pastor John
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts…” 1 Corinthians 14:1a
