Parables Series: Part 4, Good Samaritan and Good Shepherd
A Journey Towards the Kingdom of God
he Parable of the Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25-37. This is probably the most popular parables Jesus taught. We will take a deep dive to see what this parable means including the Parable of the Good Shepherd, both which teaches us about love, salvation and our journey as saints towards the Kingdom of God.
Parables of Jesus
Parable of the Good Samaritan Parable of the Good Shepherd
The Good Samaritan Summary
teacher of the law wanted to test Jesus about being saved and how to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by saying “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
- A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
- So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
- But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
The Good Shepherd Summary
Jesus was teaching the Pharisees (an influential religious group within Judaism) saying “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
Key Takeaways
esus illustrated how we should treat others. Our journey towards the kingdom of God involves caring and loving other people who are just not like you only. His life and works are a perfect example of how we should live our lives, Jesus cared, healed and leapers, the blind, the poor, and also saved people from their sin. Just like the Samaritan, Jesus rescues us, heals us and has fully paid the price to get us saved
Jesus clearly tells us that he is the Good Shepherd. Let’s juxtapose the two parables. The hired hand in the Parable of the Good Shepherd is just like the Priest and Levite who walk / run away instead of giving a helping hand. Jesus (The Good Shepherd) is the Good Samaritan who:
- Rescues us from sin
- Finds us, (we do not find Him)
- Heals us
- Protects us
- Pays a price for us (on the cross)
- Gives us eternal life
The list goes on. I want to encourage you brothers and sisters that the hope of glory, Christ in you (Colossians 1:27) is here to save you and give you eternal life. But we also have a role to play in this journey, which is the second greatest commandment; ‘Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31).
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