The Parables of Christ no. 38
The
Good Samaritan
Rev. Brian Kocourek
This morning we shall study the pasrable of
the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this parable as a result of a conversation he
has with a Certain Lawyre who wished to justify
Himself. Therefore, since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and
forever, this parable should be seen as one that is directed towards those who
would seem to have a need to justify themselves. And when one feels the need to
justify themselves, then you should understand that there is a war going on
within that person. For why would you
feel that you have need of justification unless you also feel that you are
being unrightly accused of something you have not done.
LUKE
Now this statemenmt here is the key to
understanding this parable, because Jesus says, You
answered right, now this you must also do and thou shalt live. In other words,
it is not enough to know to do what is right but you must also do it, and then
you shalt live.
The word live is translated from the Greek word ZAO and it means
“to be alive, or to live life and to
enjoy life.” And the word neighbor, does not mean just the person next door. It simply
means others. Jesus is saying we must be willing to live life by enjoying life
and sharing it with others by loving God with all of our strength, with all of
our heart and with all of our energies, and then we must also be willing to
love our neighbor with the same love that we would have for our own selves.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto
Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Now, as I mentioned earlier, if you feel that you are
in a situation that you have to justify yourself, then you are in a situation
where you are suspect of something. In other words, when you feel you have to justify
yourself is when you think someone else is not thinking of you as you are
thinking of yourself. That means your thoughts and focus are on self instead of
others, and that is what Jesus was trying to get this lawyer to
understand. And that is why Jesus tells
the following parable.
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,
Now, do not forget that the Jews and Samaritans had very little to do
with one another. Remember, the woman at the well? When Jesus asked her for a
drink, she said, JOHN 4:9 Then saith the woman of
So we see a scene laid out before us of a man from
Now if you want to apply that to today, we could say this is a man who
was in the Message, and he became hurt, injured, mistreated by someone, anyone,
it does not matter for the story is not who mistreated this man, but those who
could have done something about helping him after the fact and didn’t.
And I find it amazing that eveb within this
most Glorious Message, where God Himself has come down to gather together His
Elect. Where God Himself has given us evidence of His Presence among us showing
us a Pillar of Fire, and a Cloud designating He has come, and still we have
people still who are self centric who actually avoid other persons in this
message who may be down and out and need
their love and helping hand.
Now, I realize that there are a lot of con artists, or what we call in
the mission field, “gold diggers” out there.
But just because there are those kind of people, does not mean that we
should have no compassion on people who legitimately need our help. After all,
Brother Branham said, “Eternal Life is Living for others”, and that is exactly what
this parable is all about. The man wanted to know how to inherit Eternal Life,
and Jesus through this parable is trying to tell him.
THAT DAY ON
15-6
Someone said, "How can you stand and let anyone call you such bad
names?" You don't live for
yourself. You live for others that you might redeem that man. You become sons. And the trouble of it
is that the church has forgot they were sons. You are sons. You're taking Christ's place. You are sons;
so don't live for yourself; live for others.
"Well, Brother Branham,
I can live for this brother because he sure is a nice man." That's not it.
Live for that man who hates you. Live
for that person who'd kill you if they could. That's what they done to Him.
They killed Him, and He died that He might save them. That's Eternal Life. When
you’ve got that in your bosom, you're facing heaven then. But you sacrifice
your own things, give them up like the sheep gives its
wool. You look on towards
15-8
I hope this helps you to get in a place... That's what the Tabernacle,
that's what all people has got to do, is find out what you are and what's the
purpose. Church isn't going to church just to play music, sing songs. Church is
a place where correction... Judgment begins at the house of God. We must reckon ourselves dead and alive to
Christ. Then He made the way that we could sacrifice ourselves to His
service to follow Him. If we follow Him,
we lead the life that He led. That's wonderful. Jesus said, and spoke of
it. Let me just give you a few quotations on it. Listen close. Don't miss it.
16-1 Jesus said at that day He would separate
the people like the sheep and the goats, and He would say to the goats,
"Stand on the left side," and to the sheep, "Stand on the right
side." And He said to the goats, "Depart from Me,
because I was hungry and you didn't feed Me. I was in prison, and you did not
visit Me. I was naked, and you clothed Me not. I was thirsty, and you gave Me
no drink. I was sick, and you didn't visit Me. So
depart from Me." And on the sheep, He said,
"I was hungry and you fed Me. I was naked and you
give Me clothing. I was sick and you ministered to Me." And notice, don't fail to get this, church. Keep this in your
heart forever. It was so unconsciously done. The people don't do it for a
line of duty. A man that gives you something or other because he ought to do
it, a man that feeds you because he
ought to do it, he's got a selfish idea. It should
be your very life, your very action.
16-2
It was so surprising to these sheep that they said, "Lord, when
were You hungry and we wouldn't feed You? When were You hungry, and we fed You? When were You
naked, and we give You clothes? When were You thirsty,
and we give You drink? When were You sick, and we
ministered to You?" It was so automatically, out of love, it's just their
life lived in them. God, let the people
see what
16-5
Now, I say, "When the Lord would--the Lord want
me to do that." It's not that. You're
just part of Him. His Spirit's in you, and you act the
way He acted. Do get it. "There is a way that seemeth
right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. Not all that saith
Lord, Lord, shall enter in, but they
that do the will of My Father," just
from their hearts, just freely. Now, that day at
17-2
Oh, you feel that blessed Spirit, that life, "Not me that liveth," said Paul, "but Christ liveth in me." Just so automatic...
"Well, I tell you, Brother Branham. We are Christians here. We help these
people. We help them people." Oh, my, shame on you. That's not
Christianity. Christianity is just automatically got a--it's to be done. And
you just forget about, all about... Go do it. Christ just completely
surrendered His Life to God. He gave Hisself as a
public Servant to the people. He gave His Life freely. He didn't have to do it.
He didn't begrudgingly do it. He didn't say, "Now, brother, you all ought
to think a whole lot of Me, because I come to die for
you." He never said a word about it. He died anyhow, because it was God in
Him. It's God in you. It's God in me that makes us look at others.
17-5 Sheep on one side. One of them will say,
"Well, Lord, I did this, and, Lord, I did that." He said,
"Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity, I never even knew you." If
the church can ever come to those fundamental facts, that it's not something
you try to do, you work yourself up to do; it's something that's born in you.
17-8
Forgive me, my Pentecostal friends. I am Pentecostal, but my Pentecostal
friends has got to a spot to where there has to be a lot of fast music, beating
of some bands, or clapping hands, or tambourines to bring up a shout. That's
only emotions. They play the bands before they go to battle to get people in
the emotion of battle. I believe in music. I believe in clapping of hands, but
I believe in these things. That's exactly true. We ought to have that, but you
have left the great things undone...?... that
self-sacrifice Life that God lives in you, automatically doing that which is
right, because it's right: just going on, don't even think nothing about it,
just living it. Then watch... You see what's going on, you just--you
don't--you're on the highway. That's what
18-1
Now, now remember, you cannot be half goat and half sheep. They won't
mix. Now, there's a lot of people who say, "Yes,
you know what? We got a organization in our group.
We--we help the poor. We do this." That's all right, but you're tooting
your own horn about it. You don't do that. You do your alms in secret; Jesus
said. Just automatically something to you; it's no more than going and getting
a drink of water. You're thirsty. If the next man's thirsty, you think about
him too. The next man's need, you think about him the same as your own need,
and don't pay no attention to it, just live on.
18-3
Now, you can't be half sheep and half goat. So if you say, "Well,
our church has got an organization. We give to the poor. We do this, and do
that, and do the other." If you had that without that other, the life of
Christ in you, you're just absolutely doing it in vain. Jesus... Paul said, I
Corinthians 13, "Though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and have my
body burned as a sacrifice, it profit me
nothing." Now, this is hard but it's truth. You
got to come to that fact. Recognize what
And so we see in this parable Jesus is telling us that in this Good
Samaritan, there was something in this man that he was willing to help, even a
Jew whom his race of people had very little if anything to do with the Jews and
visa versa. And so we follow this act of
kindness of this Samaritan that was filled with the Love of God in His heart.
And we see by hs actions what was in his heart. 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.
This is our example. This is the way God wants us to live out our lives
here on earth.
PHILIPPIANS 2:1 ¶ If [there be] therefore any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels
and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. 3 [Let] nothing [be
done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
other better than themselves. 4 Look
not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it
not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
I THESSALONIANS 1:2
¶ We give thanks to God always for you
all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your
work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our
Father;
Now, remember the word OF is an acronym which means belonging to or more
specifically, OUT FROM.
Therefore we should read this verse as Remembering without ceasing your work out from your faith, and labour out from your love, and patience out from your hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. And to be more exact, we
should read it as thus, Remembering without ceasing your work produced and characterized by the faith which is yours, and your labor which is
shaped and characterized by the Love you embrace, and evidently manifested
through the patience you possess due to the hope you have in our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the presence of God our
Father.
So you see how that your shapes and molds the very nature of the
expression that comes forth from your being as an evident token that you have
been made alive, and your love expresses itself in self sacrifiicial
acts of charity towards others, with no regard to self, and this then brings
upon you a peace which is characterized by the patience you show forth which is
an evident token of your earnest expectation in our Lord Jesus Christ.
II THESSALONIANS 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that
your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of
every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and
faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 ¶ [Which is] a manifest token of the righteous
judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which
ye also suffer: 6 Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense
tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with
us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them
that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day. 11 ¶ Wherefore also we
pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and
fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and
the work of faith with power: 12 That
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him,
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And our Faith works by Love. In other words, Love is the motivating
force that brings ourr faith into expression. It is
love that takes ahold of your faith and moves it from
a dormant passive Faith into a vibrant acive
faith. Bercause
Faith is not about self, and neither is Eternal Life living for self, but
eternal Life is living for others. Its not the works
that avil anything, buty
the works which have been prioduced because of Love.
GALATIANS 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Because Faith is a revelation, and Hope is an earnest expectation and
Love is the outward expression of that Revelation. Paul said there remaineth, Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these
is Love.
I CORINTHIANS 13:1 ¶ Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become
[as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have [the gift of]
prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I
give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth
me nothing. 4 ¶ Charity suffereth
long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave
itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth
not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things. 8 ¶ Charity
never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies,
they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there
be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in
part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which
is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I
was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a
child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish
things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but
then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am
known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these
three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
JOHN 13:34A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another.
JOHN 15:10 If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your
joy might be full. 12 This is my
commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved
you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I
command you. 15 Henceforth I call you
not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his
lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of
my Father I have made known unto you. 16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love
one another. 18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it
hated me before [it hated] you. 19 If
ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they
will keep yours also.
ROMANS 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not
kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not
covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in
this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. 10 Love
worketh no ill to his neighbour:
therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
I PETER
I JOHN
1 JOHN
I JOHN 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is
of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God. 8
He that loveth not knoweth
not God; for God is love. 9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but
that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another. 12 No
man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth
in us, and his love is perfected in us.