Justifying Ourselves
by Bill Levering July 15, 2007
You have heard dozens of sermons about the parable of the Good Samaritan. There are laws named after it. Its message is universal. But today, I want to look at the frame of the story, what is going on around it. There is another drama being played out here. The story that Jesus tells is within an exchange between himself and a lawyer. It occurs at an open Q and A that can be more exciting than any lecture. It was the rabbinic dispositional way of teaching. We get at the truth by investigating it, by asking questions, however cheeky. It was and is the Socratic method of teaching used by teachers and givers of children’s sermons throughout the world.
As any political reporter will tell you, the press conference question and answer period is the most exciting time. The reporter gets to ask questions that the speaker may not be ready for. The reporter can ask questions based on his or her assumptions rather than accepting what the speaker is presenting. A few months ago I was speaking at the Kiwanis club across the street and I decided not to give a presentation at all, but to move right to questions and answers. Folks didn’t seem to mind at all.
We love the children’s sermon because it so often involves asking children questions that may elicit cute responses. How many of you were the good students who were always waving their hand begging for endorsement. If you know the answer, the desire to be called on can be overwhelming. If you know the answer, it is your chance to be correct, to be smart, to be successful. Ooo, ooo, I know, I know! In the rabbinic and Socratic tradition, however, a good question is better than a good answer. Ooo, Ooo, I’ve got a great question!
The lawyer who asks Jesus questions in the gospel lesson today has some great questions. He begins with a stock question about Jesus’ main platform. What do I have to DO to win what God has for me? Jesus asks him a question back about what a religious lawyer would know best: Jewish law. “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” The lawyer’s answer is great. Right to the point, and often used even in our worship services as the summation of the law and the prophets. “Correct Johnny!” Jesus says.
And then the lawyer pushes Jesus a bit. Luke apparently thinks he was trying to be a smart-alek, because he says “but wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
It’s a great question. To whom does Jewish law apply? Just to Jews? What are the lines of our justice? Do we have to treat prisoners in our custody as if they had basic human rights? Are Palestinians due equal treatment? Do we have to give illegal aliens food stamps? If the person who hits me is a criminal, do I have to turn my other cheek? If my sheep is stolen by a Samaritan, whose law applies, his or mine? When someone declares that another nation is my enemy, are those people no longer my neighbors? “Who is my neighbor?” is a great question that may have more applications today than it did then.
But . . . Luke didn’t like the questioner’s motivations. Something else is going on. Luke sees a man using questions the wrong way. Luke calls into question the questioner. Now this is a good looking bright group of people. We are used to asking insightful questions as well. What would Luke’s comments be about our questions of God?
What do we have to DO?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Do I have to believe in Jesus?
Where is a good parking spot?
Isn’t the bible irrelevant to modern life?
What do we have to DO?
How can I get my life back on track?
Aren’t all churches and denominations mere cultural artifacts?
What do I have to DO?
What questions do we have of God and what is our motivation for asking them? More importantly, what question would God as of us in return?
The question that Jesus asks the lawyer about the Good Samaritan does not have a clear answer. It is a Zen koan like what is the sound of one hand clapping. Only if you presume that neighbors are nice people, can the lawyer answer that the man from Samaria was the neighbor. Anyone who is kind is my neighbor and anyone who isn’t is outside the law?? The logic of this whole dialog does not hold up. But the story is not about logic and it is about more than the breaking of moral boundaries.
We approach God with the important questions of our life, as we should. The story in its largest context should cause us to look at our motivations in the interrogations we have of the divine. What tortuous strictures do we use to tie God down so that we can get an answer that makes us feel good? Why are our questions all about us?
Isn’t there a better question than “What do I have to DO to get to heaven?”
More importantly, God has a set of great questions for you. I wonder what they are? Here are most of the questions Jesus asks people in the New Testament. See if any of them fit.
What is your name?
Who are you looking for?
What is written in the law?
Do you see anything?
Who do people say that I am?
Who do you say that I am?
Do you love me?
What do you want me to do for you?
Whose likeness is one this coin?
Why do you bother her?
Why do you call me good?
Do you love me?
Why are you so afraid?
Why do you weep?
How many loaves do you have?
Which one is the neighbor?
Couldn’t you stay awake?
Why don’t you understand?
Do you love me?
You will always have many questions for God. More importantly, what question does God have for you?
Luke 10:25-37
25Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” 29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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