Why Jesus Told The Story of The Good Samaritan

By Mary Vee
Luke 10 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. 

The other eleven disciples and I are traveling with Jesus south toward Jerusalem. We are stopping at villages along the way where Jesus is teaching all who come to hear.

Outside one village several rabbis sat among the people. These rabbis are intelligent men, trained in the Holy Scriptures.

One of these rabbis stood. He whispered to the other rabbis then said to Jesus, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

As a trained rabbi he would have had an answer for any citizen who asked the same question. He only asked Jesus to test him.

"What is written in the Law?" Jesus replied. "How do you interpret the answer to that question?"

The rabbi said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. Also, Love your neighbor as yourself." 

"You have answered correctly," said Jesus. "Do this and you will live."

The rabbi talked with the other rabbis again. They seemed to want to justify how they lived and what they did. "Tell me teacher, who is my neighbor?"

The other rabbis laughed softly. 

Jesus said, "I will answer you with a story. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when a band of robbers attacked him. They tore his clothes away from him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

"A priest happened to be going down the same road. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side."

I thought, this made sense because the priest is not to touch a dead person.

"A Levite walked the same road and crossed to the other side like the priest.

"The sun bore down on the beaten man. He wanted water desperately. After some time, a Samaritan traveled on the same road. He saw a man on the road ahead and ran to him. 'What has happened?'

"'Robbers took everything I have then beat me.'

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

"The Samaritan felt pity for the injured man. He opened his supplies and took out bandages, oil, and wine and attended to the man's injuries. When he finished, he lifted the man and placed him on his donkey. 

The Samaritan led the donkey to the nearest inn. He took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Care for this injured man. When I return, I will reimburse you for any other costs you may have.''

Jesus said to the rabbi who asked the question, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?"

The rabbi said, "The one who had mercy on the beaten man."

Jesus then said, "Go and do the same for others."

The answer surprised the rabbi. He returned to his friends. 

They stood and walked away.

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Since You're Here, Elisha...

By Mary Vee
II Kings 2

From the Elisha's Journals

Before Elijah left me, he asked, "What can I do for you." 

More than anything in the world, I wanted to serve God and the only way I knew I could do that well was to ask for a double portion of the spirit that was in Elijah. So I did.

After Elijah left me I took his coat and wondered how I should get back across the Jordan River. God spoke to me plainly. I knew immediately what to do. 

I had an amazing sensation, a knowledge of God's presence.

I hit the water with Elijah's coat as he had and God divided the waters for me to cross. He did that just for me!

If God is willing to do something so big for one so unworthy as me, than He is willing to take care of all of those who love Him.

The fifty prophets of Jericho met me on the shore of the river. They asked if they could go look for Elijah. They thought God moved him to a high mountain or a valley. I knew they would never find him. God had taken him up to the heavens. But they didn't understand. I finally gave them permission to search for him. 

While they were gone, I went to Jericho and waited for them there. At some point the prophets would return. Perhaps confused. Perhaps understanding.

The fifty men did return days later. They came to me and said what I knew they would: "We didn't find Elijah." 

Yes, of course they could not find him. They had to see for themselves, though. 

Men from the city joined our conversation. One man said, "Since you are here, Elisha, we'd like to present our problem to you. Jericho is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive."

The Almighty spoke to me right away. He told me what He wanted me to do. I asked for a bowl and requested salt to be poured into it. The men did as I asked.

I took the bowl with the salt to the spring and threw the salt into it and said, "This is what the Lord says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'" 

I didn't have to go back days or months later to see if the water was good. I knew it would be, because God said so.

Still, there have been a few occasions when a man from Jericho came to me and happily reported the water was still delicious and the land grew healthy crops thanks to the good water..

And they thought it wouldn't? If God says it is--it is.

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Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

1. When the prophets returned from searching for Elijah the men of Jericho told Elisha about a problem. What was the problem.
2. What did Elisha do?
3. What did he ask for?
4. What did he do with those objects?
5. What message did he give the people as he poured salt into the spring?
6. Did the water stay good?

Ambush Ai

By Mary Vee

Joshua 7-8

Joshua's Thoughts

Achan's confession surprised everyone in the camp.

I'd sent messengers to his tent right after he told us the robe, gold wedge, and money pouch had been buried there. What I can't understand is why he took those things.

Before our battle with Jericho, the Lord gave clear instructions not to take anything except offerings for Him. God wanted to remind us to give the first of everything to Him.  I thought all the Israelites understood.

The messengers dug under Achan's tent and found everything where he said. They brought the robe, gold wedge, and money and set them on the ground before me and all the Israelites. I pointed to the stolen things and asked Achan, "Why did you bring us this trouble? You knew we couldn't keep anything from that battle."

He didn't answer.

We took Achan to a valley nearby and punished him as the Lord's instructioned including burning the robe, gold wedge, and pouch of money he stole.

That night the Lord spoke to me. "Joshua, take an army to battle against Ai.  I will be with you. This time, you and all the Israelites may keep any animals or other things you take." He then gave me a really great plan.

I left right away with a large army to Ai, as the Lord instructed. We camped on the north side of the city for the night.  The next morning I sent some of my best warriors south of the city. But before they left, I repeated God's battle plan. "Listen men. When you see Ai's army chase after us, leaving their city unprotected, run in and conquer it."

Everyone said they understood what to do.

I waited for those men to sneak around to the south side of Ai then led the rest of my men forward. Sure enough, once we reached the valley, Ai's guards saw us. The battle cry rang from the city's walls. "Here come the Israelites. Chase after them and leave no prisoners!"


God's plan worked perfectly!  The city gate opened and their army poured into the valley chasing after us.

We ran toward the woods crying and screaming as if we were scared they'd kill us all.  Ai's army followed, laughing with each step.  "You call yourselves warriors, yet you run.  We'll show you who has the better army."

Once we'd run a far distance, I turned and saw smoke rising from Ai. The army commander saw me signal my army to look back at the city.  He looked back, also.  Black smoke bubbled higher into the air.

Ai's army commander yelled, "It's a trap! Flee back to the city!"

Too late.

With the help of the Lord, my men and I chased Ai's army back to the valley and conquered them.  My best warriors, still inside the city, found the king of Ai and brought him to me.

I killed the king then sent my army back to the city to get their reward. They gathered animals, clothes, food, and anything else they wanted before setting fire to the rest of the buildings.

That night I built an altar to the Lord. We offered our thanks and sang praises to the Lord.  I wrote a copy of the law of Moses in front of all the Israelite people then read every word to them. The men, women, and children of Israel listened and worshipped God. 


I am thankful for God's plan today.


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1. Where did Achan hide the things he stole?
2. What did Joshua do with the stolen things?
3. Now that the thief had been found, what did God give Joshua permission to do?
4. What was the battle plan? Who gave the idea for the plan?
5. Who won the battle?
6. What did Joshua and the people do after the battle?
7. What did you learn from this story?

Temptation

By Mary Vee
Joshua 7

Achan's Thoughts

I ran straight into Jericho, like all the other Israelites, through the cloud of dust left from the collapse of the great city walls. In truth, I didn't have a drop of fear. No soldier from Jericho or citizen could harm me; God told Joshua He would give us the city.


I climbed over bricks once mortared together to form the wall until I reached the city streets. Further up the road I found a magnificent home. The arched doorway led to a cedar door finely carved with swirled and lined pictures of fruit, trees, and beasts. 


I pressed with both arms to open the heavy door then peeked inside. Whoever lived there must have fled.  The room before me contained cedar tables set on a marble floor. I wanted to run back to the camp, grab my wife, and bring her back to see this place. 


That's when I remembered Joshua, our commander's, words. He told us the Lord's instructions: all plunder from Jericho belonged to the Lord, since it was the first battle in the Promised Land. Plunder from the rest of the battles will belong to us. 


I could have left the moment I remember Joshua's words. I should have. But my feet moved forward throughout the house on their own.  


In one room I found  a colorful robe neatly draped over a chair.  I brushed my hand over the soft material and found no seams. Fine golden threads filled in spaces between purples, reds, and blues. Never in my life had I seen such a garment. 


I put my arms into the sleeves and wrapped the remaining material around my body. My heart pounded. I wrapped my arms together and closed my eyes.  How I wish my family could see me dressed as royalty.

Noises from other Israelite soldiers grew louder.  I pulled the robe off and folded it tight into a small bundle and hid it under my clothing.  Joshua said anything not taken as an offering to the Lord would be burned. I couldn't let this robe be burned. If God wouldn't use it why couldn't I?  I'll hide the robe in my tent until a day when no one would wonder where it came from.


Yes. I will keep this robe and hide it.


On my way out of the house, I noticed a sack of money and a wedge of gold weighing about fifty shekels.  Imagine what I could buy with this money.  Once I am given my property in the Promised Land I could build my own home with marble floors and cedar doors. I couldn't keep a smile from bursting across my face.


I hid the sack of money and gold wedge under my clothes until I returned to my tent. While my wife made dinner over the fire outside, I dug a hole and safely buried the robe, sack of money and gold wedge then set a chair over the place.  


There.


Now I will be rich and happy. 


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1. What did God say the Israelites could take from Jericho?
2. The Bible tells us we should always give the first of our money or things we have to Him as an offering. Why do you think God said the Israelites could not keep anything from Jericho?
3. What two things could be given to God from the city of Jericho?
4. What would be done with everything else in Jericho?
5. What 3 things did Achan find?
6. What did he do with the things?
7. Do you think Achan will be rich and happy? (be sure to read the next story to see what happened next.)


photo courtesy of:  christianimagesource.com

Crashing Walls

By Mary Vee
Joshua 6

Thoughts of an Israelite Spy

We marched around the city of Jericho a couple of days ago. Just one time. 


I was assigned to the rear guard, behind the priests. Our orders simply said: guard the rear, don't talk. That's all we did the first day--march--march--march around the city of Jericho.


The rest of the day we played games with our families, made our meals, laughed, and sang. This  was not what I expected for our first battle in the Promised Land.


On the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth days we did the same thing--marched once around the city of Jericho then returned to the camp.  


While doing my duty, I looked way above my head to the top of the wall. Soldiers and citizens leaned over the edge staring down at us. Each day more people gathered to watch us march. I couldn't understand their words, but some screamed with angry voices, some sobbed and cried with fear, and a few mocked us. 


I was surprised they didn't throw anything down at us. No one dropped stones on our heads or shot arrows at us. Why didn't Jericho's army even try to defend itself?  Rahab, the woman who help my friend and I escape from the city soldiers, said Jericho's king and all the people were afraid of us. Then why didn't they attack from their city wall?


On the seventh day we awoke early and prepared to leave. We lined up and marched around  Jericho once, twice, three times. Old people children and women from the city squeezed in between soldiers on the city wall watch us march around. Some laughed, others shouted, but no one threw anything down at us.  


We continued our march a fourth, fifth, and sixth time around the city. The noise from the people on the wall grew as loud as a roar. We ignored them and followed commander Joshua in silence the seventh time around the city, as the he commanded.


As we completed the seventh march the priests stopped and faced the city walls. We did the same. The priests blew a long, loud blast  from their trumpet for all of Israelites to hear. That was the signal! I smiled at the guards next to me then shouted with them and all the other Israelites as loud as I could. We shouted until we couldn't shout any more.


The wall in front of me rumbled and cracked. I looked to the right and left and saw those walls split, too.The people on top of the city wall leaped off the wall toward the inside of the city. With a thunder and roar the entire city wall crumbled to the ground. A cloud of dust rose into the air. 

The Israelites knew their duty. Conquer the city!  My friend and I hurried to the place where a red chord hung, leaping over fallen bricks from the wall. We found the door to her home and yanked it open.  "Rahab?"


"My family and I are here, my Lord."


I held my hand out to her, like she did when she hid us. "Come. we'll take you to safety."


Once Rahab and her family reached safety, we joined other Israelites, and conquered the city of Jericho in the name of the Lord.


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1.  How many times did the Israelites march around the city of Jericho all together?
          (hint, more than 7)
2.  What did Joshua command the soldiers to do while marching?
3.  What was the signal?
4.  What special job did the Israelite spies have assigned?
5.  Why was Rahab and her family saved?

March On

By Mary Vee
Joshua 5 and 6

Joshua gazed over the hill at the city of Jericho.  No merchants or city folk went in or out of the city gate. And even though it was the middle of the day, the gate had been closed and locked.


He stepped closer to the road and saw a Man holding a sword in his hand standing on the other side. Joshua didn't recognize him. "Sir, are You for us or against us?"


The Man said, "I am the commander of the Lord's army."


Joshua gasped. "Oh, my Lord, I am Your servant."  He fell to the ground to worship Him. "What message does my Lord have for me?"


The commander looked down at Joshua's feet. "Take your sandals off. This is holy land."


Joshua pulled his sandals off then bowed in worship again.  The Lord turned toward Jericho and pointed. "I have given this city, its king, and their mighty men of valor to you. Here are your instructions:


1. Take all your warriors and march around the city of Jericho one time. Do this for six days.
2. Tell seven priests to carry seven trumpets made from rams horns and follow the warriors. 
3. Priests assigned to carry the ark are to march next in line followed by the remaining priests.
4. A smaller group of warriors shall march behind the priests to guard the rear.
5. On the seventh day, everyone is to march around the city of Jericho seven times.
6. After the seventh march on the seventh day, the priests are to make a long, loud blast with their trumpets as a signal for all Israelites.
7. Tell your people to shout when they hear the trumpet sound. After all this is finished, the city walls of Jericho will fall, allowing your army to enter."


The commander of the Lord's army said, "Do you understand?"


Joshua nodded. "Yes, my Lord." 


Joshua hurried back to the Israelite camp. "Gather around, everyone! The Lord just told me what we're to do." 


Messengers ran throughout the camp calling out:  "Hurry, go to the meeting place. Joshua has a message from the Lord."


Women and children ran behind the men to the meeting place. "The time has come!" They laughed and congratulated each other. "The Lord be praised. He promises to help us win the battle."


Joshua held up his hands to quiet the people. He waited until even the children hushed. "I have exciting news. Listen everyone to the Lord's words." He watched the people shush each other. "A few moments ago, the Lord gave me instructions for this battle. I know this message sounds weird, but we must do exactly as He said to win this battle." 


He looked at their excited faces and waited again for the people to listen.  He repeated the instructions from the Lord then said, "You must not say a word while marching. Only the priestly trumpets can make a sound. Everyone understand what to do?"


The people shouted "Yes" then raised their hands in praise to the Lord. "Praise the Lord, Halleluia."


Joshua smiled then waved them forward. "Let's go."


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The story will continue next time.


1. Who did Joshua receive instructions from?
2. What were the instructions?
3. What did Joshua tell the people?
4. Were the people willing to obey.
5. Who promised to help the people? 

Escape from Jericho

By Mary Vee
Joshua 2

Thoughts of an Israelite Spy

Screaming and shouting in the streets had stopped shortly before Rahab returned to the roof. Apparently she convinced the soldiers to look somewhere else for us. I'm not sure why she hid my friend and me, but I'm thankful.


She dragged stacks of flax from our hiding place and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The guards left. You have time to escape if you go now."


She led us downstairs to a room with a window. Since her house had been built into the city wall, the window faced a valley outside the city. 


She uncoiled a rope and dragged it to the window. "Look, I know your God is the God of heaven above and earth below." She  sighed as a tear fell. "I beg you, please, spare my family. Reward my kindness to you today, my Lords. Spare my family and all they have. Please, deliver us from death."


What could I say? We didn't plan to spare anyone from Jericho. Then again Rahab did hide us from the soldiers and she planned to help us escape. "If no one, not you or anyone from your family, tells the king about us, we will save you and your family the day our army attacks."


She smiled. "Thank you, my Lord." She handed me the rope. "I'll lower both of you to the valley below, run to the mountains and hide for three days. The soldiers will stop looking for you after that time."


I wound the rope around my wrist and stepped toward the window. "Remeber, we'll only keep our promise to save you and your family if you keep our secret, and hang this same red rope in the window. Also, your family must stay inside this house. If any one leaves during the attack, we won't protect them."


She nodded. "I understand, your secret is safe. My family and I will be here as you said and this red chord will be in the window."


She tied the rope to the doorknob then lowered me down to the ground outside the city wall. My partner followed.


We search the area and saw no one. All the merchants had retuned to their homes since the city gate had closed. We dashed through shadows away from Jericho and up into the mountains. 


We set up camp in a secure place on a peak overlooking the city. Three days later we crept safely down the mountain, hiked back to the beach then swam the high waters of the Jordan River to our camp. 


Joshua, the Israelite leader, called us to his tent to report. "What did you find? Has the Lord blessed?"


"Yes, my lord, our journey went well. We sneaked into the city and listened to townspeople complain about the Israelites and their God. Some said the king and his soldiers feared our army. A woman named Rahab hid us from soldiers. She asked for protection and we agreed. I'm convinced the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands because the people of Jericho are afraid of us."


"You promised protection? I didn't plan to spare any one from Jericho." Joshua pushed his shoulders back and nodded. "All right. God has shown His will. We'll spare her, but you must take care of her and her family. Good work on this mission. We leave for the Jordan River shore tomorrow."


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1. What did Rahab want the spies to promise?
2. What instructions did the spies give Rahab?
3. Where did Rahab tell the spies to hide for three days?
4. Did the spies plan to help anyone from the city?  Did Joshua?
5. Who planned to save Rahab and her family?  (If you need help with this question, email me, mimary_vee@yahoo.com or leave a comment)

Quick, Hide

By Mary Vee
Joshua 2

Rahab's Thoughts

I've had many visitors come to my business, but none looked like the two men who stood in the doorway today.  Their clothes and hair didn't match the people of Jericho,


Maybe they thought they blended in, but I could tell these men came from another land.


I greeted them. Their pupils looked normal, but their eyes had grown wide, like something made them afraid or they needed to hide from someone.  Their breath ran in and out of their mouths. Someone must have been chasing them.  But who?


I peeked behind the two visitors and found three men running down the street searching to their left and right.  That's when I realized my guest must be Israelite spies! 


News traveled fast in Jericho. Our people knew the Israelites camped on the other side of the Jordan River. We also knew they might cross the river and attack our city any day. Their God protected them from enemies and helped them escape from the great Egyptian army.  Which means--Jericho couldn't win against their army. I didn't want to be on the loosing side.


I waved the two men inside, took them to a back room, and locked the door.  They looked hungry. "Here eat to refresh yourselves." They ate like hunted animals. "I've heard of your God's protection." They squinted and signaled something to each other. "You'll need His protection soon, I think. The king is sure to send his guards to search for you."


A clatter from outside interrupted me. I ran to the door and listened. "Quick, you must hide." I took them to the roof where I had flax drying.  "Hide under these flax bundles until those who search for you leave."


They crawled under the grain and let me cover them with thick bundles. I ran downstairs in time to hear pounding on the front door. "Yes, I'm coming. You can open the door yourself, you know."


Three guards pushed their way inside.  "Bring out the men who came into your house today.  They're spies who've come to harm Jericho."


I shrugged and nodded. "Many come into my business."


One of the guards glared. He grabbed my wrist and shouted. "You know who we mean. Go get them, now! They have come to spy out the whole land."


"Oh, I understand who you mean, now. Please forgive me" I jerked my arm away. "Yes, the men stopped here, but I didn't know where they were from. When the sun began to set, they left through the city gate before it closed."


The main guard squinted like he didn't believe me. I walked toward the door and pointed to the gate. "I don't know which way they went, but if you go after them right away you may catch them. Hurry."


They looked around the room then stomped toward the door. "She may be telling the truth. We better hurry before we loose the last specks of light." The guards ran toward the city gate and ordered it to be held open. Once the guards left the city, the gate closed for the night.


I ran back to the roof and yanked the flax off the spies. "I know the Lord has given this land to you. The people of Jericho are afraid. If I help you escape you must promise to spare me and all my family." I pushed my tangled hair off my face. "Do you promise?"


They stood and brushed flecks of flax from their clothes. "Yes, we promise. Our lives for your lives."


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How will the spies escape?  Will they get caught outside the city gate?  Come back next week to read what happened next.


1. Who helped the two spies?
2. Who did the spies run from?
3. What people did the spies belong to?
4. Why were the people of Jericho afraid?
5. Why did Rahab want to help the spies?
6. Rahab lied to protect the spies. Will she be punished for lying?

Sneaking into Jericho

By Mary Vee
Joshua 2

One of the Spies thoughts

This is the most exciting news! 


OK, usually I don't get this excited, but life has been on the BORING side lately. We've camped by the Jordan River for a long time waiting for the Lord to tell us we can move forward.  Waiting...waiting.


I see it. It's over there!  Across the river!  I see the shore of the Promised Land.  


Of course no Israelite would dare cross the river before the Lord says.  After all the bad choices already made, we've soft of learned to obey commands exactly as the Lord says...kind of. 


Are you ready? Here's my news: Joshua, our new leader called me and another soldier for a meeting this morning. He said, "I have a good report. The Lord has given us permission to go into the Promised Land. I want you two to cross the river, sneak into Jericho, and learn their defenses. You're to leave right away."


My partner and I swam across the deep, chilly waters of the Jordan then crept behind bushes, groves, and trees toward the outer wall of Jericho. 


We hid until many merchants from nearby farms crowded toward the city gate. They pushed carts filled with goods to sell. We slid in between two fishermen hauling their catch of the day and acted like we were part of their group. Once inside the gate we slipped through the city streets and alleys searching for information. 


We found small clumps of city people talking. Although we couldn't hear their words, they waved their arms as though angry and afraid. We tried to move about unnoticed but our clothes might have given us away. Three men walked in our direction. I signaled to the other spy to follow me inside a doorway to our right.


A woman came to the door. Her eyebrows pushed down on her face as she looked at our clothing. Something or someone must have moved behind us because she tipped her head to the side then whispered, "You're not from around here."


Of course we didn't want to tell her who we were. We stood there silently. 


"Come. You can hide in here." I looked back at the street and spied another man squinting in our direction. We had to move inside right away. She led us to a back room and closed the door. "You're Israelites."


We nodded. 


She held her finger to her lips. "We must be cautious. There is much fear in Jericho. If the king's soldiers find you, they'll kill you." She brought bread and drink then sat with us. "I've heard much about your people. Word around Jericho is that your God saved you in Egypt. Is that true?"


"Yes, and He's also done much more for us." 


She stepped back to the door and listened for a moment. "I think the men in the street have reported their suspicions. The king will send soldiers to search for you." She walked back toward us and looked at our faces for a moment.  "My name is Rahab. I believe you have a powerful God. Maybe we could help each other."


She cleared our food and drink then opened the door a little. "The soldiers will come soon. Follow me. I'll hide you on the roof until they leave."


We hurried after her. "The Lord bless you, Rahab. Thank you."


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The adventure will continue next post.


1. What did the Lord give permission to the Israelites to do?
2. Who is Joshua?
3. What did Joshua tell the spies to do?
4. What happened in Jericho?
5. Who helped the spies?