Disinterested Passersby
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. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. Luke 10:30-32
Read 1 John 3:9-16
The Lord Jesus answered the lawyer’s question regarding who his neighbour was by using a parable. He spoke about a traveler who was making his way from Jerusalem to Jericho. Perhaps he had gone to the temple to worship the Lord. On his way home he was attacked and overpowered in a remote area. He lay injured and helpless alongside the road. Thankfully, two individuals passed by him. They too were engaged in the temple service for the one was a priest and the other a Levite. They had probably completed their work in the temple and were on their way home. What might we expect from such individuals? God’s grace had been displayed to them in the temple. The Levite may have sung the songs of Zion that reveal the Lord’s care for those who are afflicted. Certainly we would expect the hearts of such men to be full of compassion when they see the afflicted man on the side of the road. But no, they were not moved by the plight of this man at all. Unwilling to get involved, they consciously kept their distance from the robbed man and passed by on the other side.
Are you familiar with this attitude? Coming back to the subject of foreigners and those who are outside our circle of acquaintances: is it easier to see them being deported from the country than a colleague or someone you know well, for this would affect you personally and touch your heart. The heart of the priest and the Levite remained closed. They did not apply the lesson taught in the temple service. When we make a separation between our attitudes on Sundays and the other days of the week, something is seriously wrong!
Thought: Is there a difference in your attitudes on Sundays than during the week? If so, why? Can you justify this behavior before God?
Psalter 24:1 (based on Psalm 15) Who, O Lord, with Thee abiding, In Thy house shall be Thy guest? Who, his feet to Zion turning, In Thy holy hill shall rest? He that ever walks uprightly, Does the right without a fear, When he speaks, he speaks not lightly, But with truth and love sincere.