In the parable of the good Samaritan, a man was lying half-dead alongside the road.  “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.”  I think it is the wisdom of God that He started with a priest.  The lack of biblical ministry in any fellowship or church comes about because of the pastor.  If the Word is not being upheld, taught, or lived, if we are hearers of the Word and not doers, the consequence is that we live in deception. 

Well, here was this priest.  It had not happened yet, but look at it from this perspective.  Let us say this man had just preached a message on The Good Samaritan, and here was his opportunity; amen?  Your opportunity, men, is being the priest of your household.  You do it first.  You give an example.  You are the one who denies yourself and prefers your wife, your children, and your brothers and sisters.  Then, your children are being trained in the nurture and the admonition of God.  It is not when we tell them the parable of The Good Samaritan.  It is when we are the Good Samaritan that the message becomes loud and clear.

But the priest passed over to the other side, and then likewise, the Levite.  He came down, looked at him, and passed by on the other side.  Who was the Levite?  Well, the Levite was the one who has the privilege of being adopted by God.  God was their source.  They lived off the tithes.  They lived off the grace and mercy of God.  They lived off free gifts, but then he walked to the other side when there was somebody in need.  Is that a heart of humility?  Is that showing respect of persons?  You have no business in the ministry if you have respect of persons.

So, here was the Levite.  He might have been one of the Kohathites.  He had the privilege of bearing precious articles of the Temple, but did not know what they symbolized.  We can say that because every aspect of that tabernacle, every study of each piece of furniture, points to God’s heart of redeeming men.  He passed to the other side.

Then there came this lowly Samaritan dog.  The Jews thought the Samaratans were dogs.  They would not fellowship with them.  In the eyes of the Jews, they were a cult.  The woman at the well made it clear who their god was.  “Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee—the truth being borne—am he” (John 4:26).  And He said, “I am going to give you water to drink, and if you’ll receive it, you’ll never thirst again.”  Most people thought there was no hope for these Samaritans.  The priest pulled his robe around himself.  The Levite did not even acknowledge him.  We know the Samaritan had compassion for him.  “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” (Luke 10:33).  He took care of him.

I am trying to imagine seeing this beaten, battered, and bleeding man and putting him on the white upholstery in our car.  How far does our compassion go?  How ready are we to offer up?  Some of us are so blessed—I know I am—but would I rather call an Uber than mess up my upholstery?  “Let somebody else do it.  I’ll pay for it.”

A good heart—let us be challenged by this practical goodness that God is looking for in our lives.  We want to be like Jesus.  We want to represent Him.  We want men to encounter us, go away, and say, “I’ve fellowshipped with Jesus.”  Let it be who we are.  Let men see our good works and glorify God.  That is our desire.  We ought to love one another.