In a recent post, I quoted some comments Derek Thomas made about the peculiar evangelism methods Jesus used with the rich young ruler.  The parable of the good Samaritan is equally as confusing.

A lawyer approached Jesus and asked him a similar question as the rich young ruler, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  Like the rich young ruler, Jesus took him to the law:

He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And 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 answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:26-28).

The lawyer then asks Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  So Jesus tells him the story of the good Samaritan.

But the really astounding thing is that Luke notes here that this man wanted to justify himself:

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)

So it’s explicit:  This man wanted to justify himself by his own works.  And how does Jesus respond to him?  He tells him a story about a Samaritan who shows kindness to a Jew.  And then he concludes their encounter with the command, “Go and do likewise.”

Why?

He knew the covenant of grace was instituted way back in Genesis 3.  And it’s all over the Old Testament.  David understood it:  ”When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions” (Psalm 65:3).  So why wouldn’t Jesus preach like David when Jesus is the very one David is speaking about?  Doesn’t he know it’s confusing to talk the way he does?

Of course he does.  He knows people are going to misunderstand him.  In fact, in Matthew 13:11-16, Jesus seems to say the reason he speaks in parables is so that people will misunderstand him… That is, unless I’ve misunderstood him.

O the great mystery that is the Son of Man!  And I love him so.