The Box Checker

Luke 10:25-37

What advice does Jesus give the lawyer who asks about inheriting eternal life?

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He 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.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus 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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He 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. The 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.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” - Luke 10:25-37

Jesus tells the man a parable, the parable of the Good Samaritan. But I recall another man, a wealthy ruler, who was told something different by Jesus.

It was in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” — Matthew 19:21

In today’s reading, Jesus tells the man to go and do as the Samaritan has done. Is he being more lenient on this lawyer than on the rich ruler?

I think the difference lies in how Jesus was asked.

The lawyer came to Jesus with sincerity. He seemed to honestly want to know what he should do to inherit eternal life, while the rich ruler wanted validation of what he was already doing.

He was not being sincere, asking because he didn’t know. He was looking fr Jesus to tell him what he was doing was good enough.

I believe that is the message for all of us. Our motivation matters.

If we sincerely love others and want to do things for them to help them, like the Samaritan in the parable, we are following Christ. But if we are checking off boxes to qualify for greatness, we are not being honest in our faith.

We could do all the right things for the wrong reason, and that won’t get God to notice us. When we do what we can with love and compassion, God sees and approves.

More to come...

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