The parable of the Good Samaritan.... Luke 10:30-35
This is such a familiar parable, that we often overlook just how much is going on in it....
Key to this parable is an extremely important question for us... Is it lawful to do good? This is still a poignant question for modern Jews... One not easily resolved by them.....
Just for a refresher... Here's why...
Levites and Priests are held to a VERY high standard for ceremonial purity.... Especially if they have any dealings with Temple duty...... Cleansing requires lots of complicated rituals.... AND.. They were EXPECTED to know the law... ALL 613 Mitzvot....
Now... Go carefully through Numbers 15:22-36
Notice this SPECIFIC passage... 30-31
'But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him."
If that Levite or the Priest HAD stopped to help the man... They would have Intentionally, Willfully, Knowingly VIOLATED maybe 1/3 of the Law.... Exposure to:
Blood and guts
Perhaps bugs, dogs, and other unclean animals
Perhaps an idolater carrying idols
Feces on the side of the road
People who were unclean due to contact with all of above
Dead animals and stuff on the side of the road
Graves/dead bodies on the side of the road
Etc....
This situation was not lost on the Lawyers questioning Jesus there... they clearly understood the Dilemma... that the Levite or Priest would THEN have been liable for willfully breaking God's law..... and the punishment for this is DEATH!
There is NO atonement within the Law.... PERIOD! You willfully violated... You are a LAWBREAKER... Done.... There is ONLY one consequence.. Death! Your guilt is upon YOUR OWN HEAD forever.... Doesn't matter that you were "Doing good".....
We take completely for granted how much Jesus really has set us free... We forget that part of his Atonement on the Cross was dying for OUR WILLFUL, Intentional, knowledgeable VIOLATION of God's Law - Even when we are DOING GOOD... His death for Us sets us FREE to do Good without US having to Choose... Do I do "Good" and face the full measure of the Righteous, never ending wrath of God - or do I stay Lawful and Live.....
This is such a familiar parable, that we often overlook just how much is going on in it....
Key to this parable is an extremely important question for us... Is it lawful to do good? This is still a poignant question for modern Jews... One not easily resolved by them.....
Just for a refresher... Here's why...
Levites and Priests are held to a VERY high standard for ceremonial purity.... Especially if they have any dealings with Temple duty...... Cleansing requires lots of complicated rituals.... AND.. They were EXPECTED to know the law... ALL 613 Mitzvot....
Now... Go carefully through Numbers 15:22-36
Notice this SPECIFIC passage... 30-31
'But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him."
If that Levite or the Priest HAD stopped to help the man... They would have Intentionally, Willfully, Knowingly VIOLATED maybe 1/3 of the Law.... Exposure to:
Blood and guts
Perhaps bugs, dogs, and other unclean animals
Perhaps an idolater carrying idols
Feces on the side of the road
People who were unclean due to contact with all of above
Dead animals and stuff on the side of the road
Graves/dead bodies on the side of the road
Etc....
This situation was not lost on the Lawyers questioning Jesus there... they clearly understood the Dilemma... that the Levite or Priest would THEN have been liable for willfully breaking God's law..... and the punishment for this is DEATH!
There is NO atonement within the Law.... PERIOD! You willfully violated... You are a LAWBREAKER... Done.... There is ONLY one consequence.. Death! Your guilt is upon YOUR OWN HEAD forever.... Doesn't matter that you were "Doing good".....
We take completely for granted how much Jesus really has set us free... We forget that part of his Atonement on the Cross was dying for OUR WILLFUL, Intentional, knowledgeable VIOLATION of God's Law - Even when we are DOING GOOD... His death for Us sets us FREE to do Good without US having to Choose... Do I do "Good" and face the full measure of the Righteous, never ending wrath of God - or do I stay Lawful and Live.....
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