 |
I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
 |
|
|
I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
|
Email: Pastor True Gospel
|
|
If video stops, you may watch this video by a click on this link: You-tube video.
Previous link is: "Parable of Good Samaritan."
We have studied the parable of Good Samaritan before. If you have not heard it, and like to hear it, the link for that lesson is just above. The content and the context of the parable is in Luke 10:17-37. We have studied the main lesson of the parable already; and now, let us glean a few more points from the story. "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." This is what happened to the unfortunate man. Teachers of the bible begins saying that this happened because the man is a back slider, since he was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. They say that Jerusalem is symbolic of God's city and Jericho is symbolic of devil's city. However, the half dead man is symbolic and represent all sinners of the whole world. So, we are all half dead. What the thieves have done, is put in there to fit the story of the parable, but it is not in the subject of the parable. The study subject begins with the half dead man lying on the roadside, but not from the thieves. So, let us ignore the interpretations of the thieves, stripping the raiment, etc. Let us begin with the study of the parable with how the three men handled the half dead man, and who is his neighbor.
In the parable you and I are compared to the half dead man, who was left to die on the side of the street. It will give an entirely different perspective, if we were the passerby. If we are the passerby, which one of the three are we? If we are either the priest or Levite, then we are kicked out the parable before it begins. If we are the Samaritan, then we must qualify to be the Samaritan. We must have money, donkey, and compassion. Does a common person have all these possessions? No. So, we do not fit the role of the Samaritan. If we are in the parable, only place we fit is as the half dead man, who was left to die on the side of the street. So, we are the wounded man. "33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 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." In the bible the word compassion is typical of the character of Jesus Christ about 99%. Here, the Samaritan has compassion towards the wounded man, and it is symbolic of Jesus Christ. Again, Isaiah 61:1 says that God the Father hath sent Jesus to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives." So, the good Samaritan was symbolic of Jesus Christ and he went and bound his wounds. Further, Jesus has claimed this verse for himself in Luke 4:18. The Samaritan bound the wounds, using oil and wine. Pouring oil could be symbolic for anointing of the holy spirit, and for the ministry of the Holy Ghost, in cleansing and in purification. For the treatment of any wound, first we must clean the wound and then we apply medicine. Here the oil, the spiritual ministry of God, purifies sinners. Next step is to apply medicine. The Samaritan poured wine. The wine represents his shed blood of Jesus, for the forgiveness of sins, which is as medicine cures the wound. So, it is that the oil purifies the wound, and the wine heals the wound. That is, the spirit purifies the sinners from sins, and the blood of Jesus forgives their past sins.
"34 .., and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, ..." The Samaritan laid the half dead man on his donkey and brought him to the Inn. Let us look at Jesus. Matthew 21:1-7 explains it; 5 and John 12:15 say, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass; this is, Jesus Christ coming on Palm Sunday being hailed as a king. It is on a donkey, but not on a horse, and it is a symbol of a humble vehicle. The spiritual equivalent to the humble majesty that lift the weak believer, is the grace of God. "2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." So, the donkey is symbolic of the grace of God that carries the sinner through, and it brings the half dead man to the inn. So, he was saved by grace. The Inn is not a tavern, or a resort, or such things; it is not a social service center, or a club; but it is a kind of spiritual hospital where sinners are treated to get well, that is being saved. It is the spiritual church, the fivefold ministry, the ministry of the Holy Ghost, and it is the body of Christ. There is a little phrase that I like to high light. It says, "34 .., and took care of him." We may say that he did all these things, and so, it says that he took care of him. But it says, "and" he took care of him; so, it is an addition to other cares. The Samaritan spends time with him in the Inn. It is special care that new or baby Christians receive, at the beginning of their conversion. Jesus Christ gives the holy spirit to the half dead people to make them alive, make them born-again believers, and will have a very intimate relationship with them. They may see visions, dreams, special joy, hear his voice supernaturally, and such thing are common in the beginning. These kinds of experiences may fade away in some time, which is denoted by saying; "35 on the morrow when he departed." Such phrases are also important in the study of scriptures. But we may miss phrases like "and took care of him, he departed," in the teaching and in our studies, if we do not pay attention.
"35 And on the morrow when he departed, ... when I come again, ..." So, the Samaritan leaves with the promise that he will come again. We all believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Preachers preach that he will come at any moment; but it is a lie. "2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?" Verse 1 explains the second coming. Verse 2 says, if anybody say that Jesus Christ may come at any time, do not believe it, since he will not come until two things happen. Verse 3 says that one thing is the backsliding of Christians, and it happened already. The next thing is, that the son of perdition must be revealed. But he is not revealed yet. If he is revealed, who is he, and where is he? If anyone say that Jesus Christ may come at any time, first he must show that the son of perdition, if he is revealed. If the son of perdition is not revealed, Jesus Christ will not come. But most bible teachers are foolish and arrogant liars. However, this subject is not in the parable. But Jesus Christ hands over new believers to the shepherd-pastor in a spiritual church, and Jesus Christ will return to his church to give rewards to his servants.
"35 ... he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, .." About the two pence, many preachers say many things. Some of them say that it is the two testaments, or the two covenants, etc. Jesus came to abolish the old and to establish the second, but not to establish both. So, they are neither the testament nor the covenants. Let us see what the two pence are. The Inn is the spiritual church. Jesus Christ gives two kinds of power to the church. Number 1: "Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Verse 18 says that Jesus Christ is now God with all the powers that are given back to him. Verse 19 tells the disciples to baptize believers in water and to join them in spiritual church. Verse 20 says, then the presence of Jesus Christ with all his power will be with the church until the end of the world. What is number two? "John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, ... Acts 1:5 Jesus Christ says, ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, ..." So, the second is the power and presence of the Holy Ghost. So, Jesus Christ gives these two powers to his disciples, and Samaritan gives two pence to the host of the Inn.
"35 ... and gave them to the host, .." Who is the host? He must be the keeper and master of the inn. It is mentioned as one person, the host. He may be the pastor of the church. A pastor is the shepherd to the sheep, but he must not be a hireling. Shepherd even gives his life to take care of the sheep. Such a shepherd is the host here. The two pence are the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost. Then the host may have to spent more from his own pocket. What could they be? They could be, his own dedication, effort, time, counsel, by feeding the souls with words of faith, sound doctrine, and ministry services; by ministering the gospel to them in a faithful manner; by systematic administration, by keeping a diligent watch over them, with respect to principles and practice; with ceremonies, rituals, ordinances, and teaching of them; and by speaking a word in season to them, etc. The Samaritan tells the host of the Inn, in "35 ... Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Jesus Christ will certainly come again a second time, to judge both the quick and the dead; and then he will recompense his ministers, for all their toil, labor, care, and expense. When all servants receive rewards for their own works, God will remember your works also and Jesus Christ will reward you accordingly.
Note: If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find
an error according to scripture,
Please write to me in the 'Mail Box' below. I will
reply promptly. Thanks.
 |
HOME |
 |
 |
Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven
. John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
 |
 |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
 |
