“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 10:25-37:

We now traverse from the sending out of the seventy to a challenge that brings about one the more memorable parables of the Lord.

Text #1:

Luke 10:25-28 “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it? ”
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and ‘your neighbor as yourself.' ”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

See also: Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34.

Lawyer: Many have speculated that a scribe was one that copied the law, while a lawyer expounded the oral law or traditions of the elders. However, based on the use of the word and its root meaning in translation, there is no difference between the translated terms of lawyer or scribe.

These were those who expounded and copied the Law and at the time of Jesus were equally engaged in the traditions associated orally with the law (Matthew 15:9).

The scribes were associated closely with the sect of the Pharisees and in many cases saw the Lord in the same light (threat) and felt His rebukes directed at their perversion of the Old Law.

This lawyer stood up to draw attention to him and thus give emphasis to the question and the answer he would receive.

Tested Him: The scribes already saw Jesus as a Sabbath breaker and One who despised the traditions of the fathers, thus he probably thought Jesus would introduce something new or against their traditions. Imagine his surprise when he was referred to resource the Law of Moses. There are similarities in this account to that of Matthew and Mark's; however, there are also some stark contrasts. For example; here Jesus asks the scribe for the answer, while in the other accounts He gives the answer. The tests of the scribes and Pharisees were numerous and it should not surprise us to have more than one account with unique similarities, yet separate accounts.

He Answered: Having made himself conspicuous by standing up, the lawyer had to give the best answer he knew or damage his own reputation for knowledge. Therefore he gives two laws of the Old Covenant that encompass and comprise all the rest, if practiced – Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18.

In Matthew 22:40, the Lord would state that on these two commandments hung all the law and the Prophets. In Mark 12:31, Jesus would state that there were no greater commandments than these. Thus the lawyer answered correctly!

Do This: This statement by the Lord was something that the scribe did not expect. With him the law was something to speculate and theorize about. When Jesus told him to “do”, this was startling for him. He had hoped by his question to expose Jesus as one who set aside the law and the traditions of the fathers. Instead, he finds that the Lord has caused him to not just speculate but answer his own question with an answer he must absolutely obey.

Text #2:

Luke 10:29 “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Who is My Neighbor? He thought he could justify his conduct and practice up to this point, if permitted to define the word neighbor. He asked his question in the expectation of securing such a definition of the word as to maintain his public standing and ease his own conscience.

Text #3:

Luke 10:30-35 “Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, 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. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'

The Road: Jesus answers the scribe through the illustration of a parable. He starts by stating that a “certain man”. Parables were for the purpose of casting beside, to reveal a spiritual message through the use of common illustrations. The specifics of whom this man is or even if he was someone specific was unnecessary for the purpose of the illustration and we know that his nationality was Jewish or the Lord would have stated otherwise.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho is approximately 18 miles long and descends about 3500 ft . in elevation; about 2 miles from Jerusalem the road passes through the village of Bethany , but for the remainder it passes through desolate mountains and ravines. In addition, about half way between Jerusalem and Jericho there was an inn. This road was noted for robberies as it was easy for bandits to hide in ambush to attack travelers. The road developed the name, “bloody way” for this very reason.

Priest: There was a large settlement in Jericho for priests, so it was not a stretch to see them travel this road often. Priests were those who prepared and offered acceptable sacrifices on behalf of the people.

Levite: These were those who were the temple ministers, as the tribe of Levi had been set apart by God for His service.

Note: In these first two, the scribe saw his own life, for he saw in them a knowledge of the Law but a failure to practice what they knew!

Samaritan: The Samaritans were the hereditary enemy of the Jews stemming back to the return from Babylonian captivity. They were looked down upon by the Jews for their impure bloodlines and failure to adhere to the traditions of the Jews. However, in the practice of generosity and mercy, the Samaritan was more orthodox than either of those who represented knowledge of the Old Law.

Denarii: The value of a denarii was approximately a day's wage.

Text #4:

Luke 10:36-37 “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Which of These Three: Rather than answering the lawyer didactically “everyone is your neighbor” to his question; Jesus had illustrated the practice of neighborliness in the good Samaritan. His illustration in the parable was so strongly depicted that the lawyer could not dismiss that it was found in an apostate race.

He Who Showed Mercy: The lawyer could not even bring himself to say the word Samaritan, showing how distasteful it was to his lips. Jesus gave no countenance to racial prejudice even though they did not receive Him just a few weeks before this.

Matthew 22:16 “And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.”

Mark 12:14 “When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Luke 20:21 “Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:”

Jesus would be acquitted of the fault of personal favoritism and likewise the scriptures tell us that God is not a respecter of persons, note:

Acts 10:34 “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”

Also see: Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25.

God's word likewise demands that those who serve God through Christ Jesus must serve without favoritism – James 2:1-13.

Go and Do Likewise: In this final statement of the Lord, the lesson is truly unveiled:

1)  The laws and teachings of God are to be generously received! Not debated and theorized in order to abstain from practice or reception.

Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”

2)  The laws and teachings of God are to be embodied in our lives ! Without partiality or prejudice!

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Next: “Mary and Martha”