路加福音10:23-37

救赎、恩惠和平安归于所有信靠耶稣基督并且爱他的人。阿们。

在今天的路加福音经文中，有一位律法师，就是精通旧约圣经并且教导他人的人（说的不是律师），去试探耶稣，说：“夫子！我该做什么才可以承受永生？”（路加福音10:25）这不仅是他一个人的问题，也是全世界所有人的问题：我们怎么做才能得到永生？这个问题背后的假设就是：积德行善即可进天堂，用善行抵消罪恶就可以进天堂。这不是所有人的想法吗？你随便问一个不信的人：谁可以进天堂？答案很可能就是：好人进天堂啊，好人一生平安，好人一路走好，好人天堂相见。

弟兄姐妹们，这是最错误的想法，但也是所有人所制造的宗教信仰的本质，无论是穆斯林，还是佛教，或者其他任何宗教，背后都是要靠着善行进天堂，得永生。耶稣今天就是要斥责这个律法师的试探，并且给出正确的答案：人若要永生，不是靠着行为，而是靠着应许，信靠和拥抱我们的邻舍耶稣基督，祂是怜悯我们的主。我们一点点来学习这一点。

首先我们看，主耶稣第一次回应律法师：你不是问“‘做什么’吗？”那律法上怎么写的？你是律法师应该很清楚。律法师说，当然是爱神，爱邻舍如同自己了。耶稣说：“你回答得对；你这样行，就必得永生。”（路加福音10:28）我们看下，根据耶稣这句答案，难道基督教跟所有宗教一样，可以靠着行为、善行得永生吗？难道基督教不过是跟其他所有人的宗教一样，可以靠着自己的功德进天堂？

要回答这个问题，我们先看下今天的书信经文加拉太书里面说的最清楚。律法是好的，律法是良善的，如果一个人能够完全遵守律法，都做到了，能不能得到永生？“若曾传一个能叫人得生的律法，义就本乎律法了。”（加拉太书3:21）律法可以给人生命，前提是你得行得完全，一点儿也不亏缺律法所规定的善事，不仅是外在的行为，而且包括心思和意念都要良善和圣洁，并且没有一丁点儿的恶。试想谁能做到？

今天的福音经文中，这位律法师非常精通律法，而且他们还制定了额外的规条，帮助人行得完全，就是我们听说过的旧约的613条诫命，是犹太人律法师基于圣经总结出来的。他真的以为自己完全遵守了律法上的诫命，所以他要接下来为自己辩护，要“显明自己有理”，意思就是“让自己显得是义人”（to justify himself）。他就反问耶稣：“谁是我的邻舍呢？”意思就是，我还有谁没有爱的呢？哪个邻舍我没有爱呢？

我们继续看，耶稣怎么回答他。耶稣没有直接告诉他答案，而是给他讲了一个故事。从前有一个人从耶路撒冷圣城下来，半路上被强盗打了半死，而且一无所有，赤裸着躺在路上。前面有两个人经过，一个是祭司，一个是利未人，而且都是从耶路撒冷城下来。大家说他们是不是互为邻舍？当然是，更何况他们都是从耶路撒冷下来，很可能是刚从圣殿朝拜完回老家去的。他们有停下来帮助这位受害人吗？完全没有，无视他的存在，径直走过去了。耶稣讲到这里，律法师应该很清楚这是指着他说的，因为律法师通常跟祭司和利未人放在一起说，他们都是宗教领袖，都是一类人。

我们虽然不是宗教领袖，其实我们也在这个行列当中，我们的罪性都是相通的。多少时候，我们也是睁一只眼闭一只眼，事不关己高高挂起，都是图个自己的方便。多少时候，我们也会找各样的借口不去帮助身边有需要的人，不去帮助陌生人。多少时候，我们并不爱人如己，并没有把别人的事当做自己的事，没有把别人的担子当做自己的担子。我们记着赶路，赶往下一站，赶往下一件任务，有自己的时间计划，有自己的日程表等等，生怕突然临到的需要和帮助人的机会给打乱了我们自己的生活和规划，打乱了我们日子的风平浪静。我们都没有完全遵守圣洁的律法和诫命，没有“尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主我们的神，没有爱邻舍如同自己。”

是的，诫命的总归就是爱，但爱这个吩咐也可以定我们的罪，因为爱不是空洞的，不是随意而为的，不是凭着感觉走，不是凭着喜好，事实上，爱的形体就是上帝清楚启示的律法诫命。这个时候，律法师知道，我们也明白，没有一个人可以靠着行为，靠着“做什么”承受永生。

耶稣的故事没有讲完，他继续说，但有一位撒玛利亚人也从耶路撒冷下来，他也有事情和自己的计划，他也很忙，后面我们知道，他把受害人带到客店，第二天交代店主继续照顾，并且承诺还会回来结算一切的花费，就赶往下一站，自己需要办的事情了。他看到受害人在路上，就动了慈心，给他清理伤口，包裹好，这真是一位细心的男人，随身携带着可以帮助人的工具，一样也不差。然后把他扶上自己的驴驹，自己徒步走到了客店。这真是一位了不起的人。

好，我们听完了耶稣讲的故事，我们还需要知道一点背景信息，撒玛利亚人那个时候在犹太人眼里是血统不纯的以色列人，是跟外族通婚的后代，是不被尊重的一群人，他们到耶路撒冷圣殿朝拜神，是不被允许进入圣殿的，只能在外院朝拜和祈祷。我们从其他地方，还可以看到他们如何鄙视撒玛利亚人。约翰福音8:48犹太人侮辱耶稣时说：“我们说你是撒马利亚人，并且是被鬼附着的，这话岂不正对吗？”这是耶稣在圣殿教训人，指责文士、法利赛人、祭司、律法师时受到的抵挡和蔑视。

我们继续看，耶稣怎么回答这位律法师：“你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的人，即那位受害人的邻舍呢？”请留意一下，耶稣没有问，这位受害人是谁的邻舍。按照整个故事的线索，这个时候，耶稣应该问，你看，谁谁谁是你的邻舍，因为律法师前面问的是：“谁是我的邻舍呢？”这两个区别很关键。我们的目光当然可以盯在需要我们帮扶的邻舍身上，也就是所有有需要的人身上，去践行神的诫命和爱的吩咐。但这不是今天耶稣要我们学习的重点。

整个故事的结论要远远大过这个“做什么”的主题。谁是这位落难之人的邻舍？是撒马利亚人，是这位被宗教领袖们鄙视的人，是心存慈悲和怜悯的这位拯救者。而耶稣自己就是拯救者，是好撒马利亚人，是不嫌弃我们这些被罪所压伤，被世界弄瞎眼，被私欲所奴役，被人的宗教所欺骗的人。他不仅是路过，而是专程从天上来到人间，知晓我们的疾苦，我们的麻烦，我们的绝望境况，他知道人是如何的专顾自己，像该隐一样，不知道看顾自己的弟兄，专为自己谋取利益，不惜损害自己的同胞和邻舍。

你要“做什么”才能承受永生？相信并且爱这一位邻舍，怜悯我们的主耶稣基督，祂是唯一有能力怜悯我们，拯救我们脱离罪恶的主，我们的好邻居。约翰福音6:28-29“众人问耶稣说：‘我们当行什么才算做神的工呢？’耶稣回答说：‘信神所差来的，这就是做神的工。’”信靠、爱和拥抱耶稣基督，我们就能够承受永生了。因为永生不是靠着善行赚取的，而是靠应许来的。

加拉太书3:18“因为承受产业，若本乎律法，就不本乎应许；但神是凭着应许把产业赐给亚伯拉罕。”3:22“圣经把众人都圈在罪里，使所应许的福因信耶稣基督，归给信的人。”什么是应许？就是承诺，保证履行的誓言，是说话算数，必定成就。神说了要给我们永生，我们信就领受了，我们信就是我们的了。没有任何的附加条件。你会说难道这么简单吗？是的，唯独信心，因为所需用的工耶稣基督都为我们做了，为我们的罪死在十字架上，第三天从死里复活，凭着信这些都是我们的了。任何的善行都不能让我们承受永生，因为永生是在乎应许，天堂也是在乎应许。

这个道理很简单，就像你结婚宣誓，我承诺娶你为妻、嫁给你，无论生老病死、贫富贵贱都要相随。没有人会在结婚誓言中加上条件，你不会说，我要一直跟你在一起，只要你让我开心，只要你对我好。虽然人是这样的诡诈，对不对？所以有很多离婚的事情，随随便便。你应许承诺要在一起，然后互相信任，就结婚了。再举个例子，你给孩子留遗产，写遗嘱的时候，你承诺了这些都是孩子们的，你不会说，除非他们表现好，死后还纪念你等等，这些才是他们的，不会，你不会这样做，因为应许就是应许，没有附加条件。

弟兄姐妹们，你们明白吗？如果我们再靠自己的善行去得救，去进天堂，如果我们还以为自己是好人所以能进天堂，我们还以为自己认识的谁谁谁，无论是普通人还是明星，可以进天堂，因为是好人，那我们就大错特错了。我们基督徒是信主耶稣，信神的应许和承诺。神是信实的，是可靠的，祂应许的必要成就。阿们。

Luke 10:23-37

Grace, mercy, and peace be to all who trust in Jesus Christ and love him. Amen.

In today's Gospel reading from Luke, a lawyer—someone who is an expert in and teacher of the Old Testament Scriptures, not a modern-day lawyer—comes to test Jesus. He asks, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). This isn't just his question; it's the question of the entire world: How can we obtain eternal life? The assumption behind the question is that we can earn our way into heaven by doing good deeds and that our good works will outweigh our sins. Isn't that what most people think? If you ask a non-believer, “Who gets into heaven?” the answer is most likely, “Good people. Good people have a peaceful life, they're on their way, and we'll see them in heaven.”

Brothers and sisters, this is the most misguided idea, yet it's at the core of all religions created by mankind. Whether it's Islam, Buddhism, or any other religion, the underlying belief is that you gain eternal life through good deeds. Jesus' purpose today is to rebuke the lawyer's temptation and give the correct answer: We don't obtain eternal life through our deeds but through a promise—by trusting in and embracing Jesus Christ, our neighbor who has mercy on us. Let's explore this point step by step.

Who is My Neighbor?

First, let's look at Jesus' initial response to the lawyer. “You asked, ‘What shall I do?’ So what does the law say? You're a lawyer, you should know.” The lawyer replies, of course, that we should love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus says, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:28). Looking at this response, does it mean Christianity is just like every other religion where we can earn eternal life through works and good deeds?

To answer this question, let's first consider what our Epistle reading from Galatians makes clear. The law is good and righteous. So, if a person could perfectly keep the law, would they obtain eternal life? “For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law” (Galatians 3:21). The law could give life, if you could obey it completely, without a single deficiency in any of the good deeds it requires—not just external actions, but also your thoughts and intentions, which must be good, holy, and without a trace of evil. Who among us can do that?

In our Gospel reading, the lawyer was an expert in the law. They even created additional rules, what we know as the 613 commandments of the Old Testament, to help people obey the law perfectly. He truly believed he had fully kept the commandments, so he wanted to justify himself. He asked Jesus in return, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). What he was really saying was, “Is there anyone I haven't loved as a neighbor?”

Jesus didn't answer him directly. Instead, he told a story. There was a man traveling down from the holy city of Jerusalem when he was attacked by robbers, beaten half to death, and left naked on the road. A priest and a Levite, both also coming down from Jerusalem, passed by. Were they neighbors to the victim? Of course, especially since they were all coming from Jerusalem, likely returning home after worshiping at the temple. Did they stop to help? Not at all. They ignored him and walked right past. When Jesus said this, the lawyer would have understood that Jesus was speaking about him, because lawyers were usually grouped with priests and Levites as religious leaders.

Although we may not be religious leaders, we are in the same boat. Our sinful nature is the same. How many times do we turn a blind eye and avoid getting involved? How many times do we make excuses not to help those in need around us or a stranger? How many times have we failed to love our neighbor as ourselves, to make their burdens our own? We're so focused on our own schedules, our own plans, and our next task that we're afraid an unexpected need will disrupt our comfortable life. None of us have completely kept the holy law and commandments. We have not loved the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves.

The sum of the commandments is love. But the command to love can also condemn us, because love is not empty, random, or based on our feelings or preferences. The truth is, the form of love is the law and commandments that God has clearly revealed. The lawyer now understands, as do we, that no one can obtain eternal life by “doing” good deeds.

The Good Samaritan

Jesus' story continues. A Samaritan also came down from Jerusalem. He too had his own business and plans. He was busy. We know that he brought the victim to an inn, gave instructions for his continued care, and promised to return and cover any additional costs before hurrying off to his next destination. When he saw the victim on the road, he had compassion. He cleaned and bandaged his wounds—what a thoughtful man, carrying with him everything he needed to help. He then put the man on his own donkey and walked alongside him to the inn. This was truly an amazing person.

Now, we need to understand a bit of the background. At that time, Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be an impure people—descendants of intermarriages with foreigners. They were not respected. They were not allowed to enter the temple in Jerusalem to worship God; they could only pray in the outer court. We can see how much the Jews despised them in John 8:48, when they insult Jesus by saying, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Jesus then turns to the lawyer and asks, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36). Notice that Jesus did not ask, “To whom should the victim be a neighbor?” The lawyer had asked, “Who is my neighbor?” The distinction is crucial. We could focus on loving our neighbor, all who are in need, and fulfill God's command to love. But that is not the main point Jesus wants us to learn today.

The conclusion of the story is far greater than the theme of "doing." Who was a neighbor to the fallen man? It was the Samaritan, someone despised by the religious leaders—a savior who showed compassion and mercy. And Jesus himself is our Savior, the Good Samaritan who doesn't despise us, who are bruised by sin, blinded by the world, enslaved by our desires, and deceived by man-made religions. He didn't just pass by. He came down from heaven specifically to be with us, to know our suffering, our troubles, and our desperate situation. He knows how self-serving we are, like Cain, who didn't care for his brother, seeking only our own gain even at the expense of our fellow human beings.

So, what must you do to inherit eternal life? Believe in and love this neighbor, our merciful Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one with the power to show us mercy and save us from sin. Our good neighbor. In John 6:28-29, when the crowd asks, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus replies, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” By trusting in, loving, and embracing Jesus Christ, we can inherit eternal life. Because eternal life is not earned by good deeds; it comes by a promise.

Galatians 3:18 says, “For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” And in 3:22, “But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” What is a promise? It's a commitment, an oath that will be fulfilled—God's Word is true and will be accomplished. God has said he will give us eternal life, and when we believe, we receive it. We believe, and it is ours. There are no additional conditions. You might say, “Is it really that simple?” Yes, by faith alone, because Jesus Christ has done all the work for us. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day. By faith, all of this is ours. No good deed can earn us eternal life, because eternal life is a promise.

This is a simple truth, like the vows you make at your wedding. You promise to take someone as your husband or wife, to be together in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. No one adds conditions to their wedding vows. You don’t say, “I will stay with you, as long as you make me happy, as long as you are good to me.” Yet, people are often so deceitful that many divorces happen so easily. You promise to be together and trust each other, and you get married. Another example: when you leave an inheritance for your children, you promise it is theirs. You don't say, “Unless they behave well, or remember me after I'm gone.” You don't do that, because a promise is a promise, without any conditions.

Brothers and sisters, do you understand? If we still rely on our good deeds to be saved, to get into heaven, if we still think we are good people and can get into heaven, or that some famous person can get in because they were good, then we are completely wrong. As Christians, we believe in the Lord Jesus and in God's promise. God is faithful and He is not lying. Paul says in Titus 1:2 He is “in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” What he has promised, he will accomplish. Amen.