Vital Questions
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Vital Questions

 (ID: 0529)

When an impertinent lawyer stood up to test Jesus, He responded not with an answer, or even a rebuke, but with a story. The parable of the good Samaritan encouraged the lawyer to evaluate the condition of his own heart—a practice that is also necessary for us today. Considering this familiar story, Alistair Begg explores the challenges we face when our pride prevents us from authentically loving our neighbors.


The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25oAnd behold, a plawyer stood up to qput him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to rinherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27And he answered, s“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 tyour neighbor as yourself.” 28And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; udo this, and you will live.”

29But he, vdesiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man wwas going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a xpriest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise xa Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a ySamaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and zbound up his wounds, pouring on zoil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two adenarii3 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.