The Parable of the Good Samaritan (1) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, what is written in the law? What is your reading of it?
Luke 10:25–26

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (1)
The parable of the Good Samaritan is probably one of the best-known passages in the Bible. First, the background: “A certain lawyer stood up”. This man, who was a legal expert in religious matters, rises from his seat during a teaching session and asks Jesus a question that has been on the minds of many people to this day: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Certainly, the motive behind this question wasn’t good – the lawyer wanted to test the Son of God! But the question itself is understandable: the longing for a never-ending life with God is shared by many people.

At the same time, the question “What shall I do?” reveals an idea that was widespread not only at that time. It could also be called the “religious principle of life”: I lead a decent life and do enough good deeds so that God will reward me with eternal life in the end. Doesn’t this way of thinking ultimately underlie all the religions of the world?

The Lord Jesus’ answer is amazing: “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” With this counter-question, Jesus points to the only reliable source that tells us how to obtain eternal life: the Bible, the Word of God. At the time of the Lord Jesus, the Old Testament with its 39 books was already available in its entirety, and our lawyer was undoubtedly familiar with it.

Today, after an interval of 2,000 years, we have the same source as then, supplemented by the 27 books of the New Testament. Here we find answers to life’s most pressing questions. What do we read in it?

(to be continued tomorrow)

Today’s reading: Job 39:19-40:5 · Acts 19:1-12