Parables 101

There is all the law. Follow it and you shall live. ie: he didn't asked the obvious question "How on earth is one to follow such an impossible law?" Not realising this impossibility and persisting in fallacy of man that he can justify himself by law adhering he seeks clarification on a point of law.He could have picked any point of law - but this one suffices to illustrate his foolishness. Jesus sets him (and all others who would think likewise) and impossible task.You've no doubt seen a filthy drunk strung out on the street. Beaten and stripped by a thief called Satan. Assuming that he isn't currently residing in your home or some other place of refuge paid for by you, then a priest/levite you are. And if you have done such a thing, then you're still a priest and a levite for there are more drunks lying on the street as we speakLog off now - go do likewise.(by the way, I'm a priest and levite too - but I'm not not trying to justify myself)

So what are you waiting for. Log off too and go do likewise - he's lyuing on the road on the main street right now. Okay..the parable does say he came across him - not that he went lookingTomorrow on your way into work. Keep your eyes peeled. And the next and the next...Cos as sure as night follows day, if you were in their shoes you would want it done unto you.I

So are you a goat? Because if not a list the names of all the drunks you've put up in your own house or paid for their refuge and rehabilitation would form some evidence of it.And drug addicts and people who can't afford health care and..and... and. You must have come across many in your life. Ever step (priest/levite like) past one?This message has been edited by iano, 07-May-2006 06:44 PM

Then you don't have to wait to find out if you are a goat or not. Do you follow this law? Unless your a hermit and have no tv you'll come across people regularily who need you to pick them up and care for them (if you were them you would want you to - thus "as you would have done unto you)If you help them when you find them on the 'street' then fine, your a sheep. If you ever walk by then your a goat. The parable doesn't tell us the whole Samaritans life, it doesn't tell us whether he was a sheep or a goat. It gives us the example of the law"Come across a neighbour in need - help"55mph is the law. It doesn't matter how many times you adhere to the law. If you don't adhere to the law once then you have broken the law.Have you ever broken the law Jesus gave to a man should that man decide he wants to inherit internal life by his actions?Ever walk by a person in need. Ever?

You have I suppose a warm cosy house and with central heating and a well stocked fridge. Your not looking after yourself perfectly perhaps - but you get by. The tramp 2 blocks away this winter coming will be in a slightly different position.Would a you as good neighbour invite him into their home to spend the winter? To treat him as you are going to treat yourself?Presumably not. Why not?

The Samaritan came across a victim and helped him. If you're anything like me then you come across victims all the time - and you don't (like I don't) do what the Samaritan did.Jesus said it was a law. Is there anything in the parable to indicate that not following the law would result in inheriting eternal lifeBecause I took it that obeying the law was the point.

Jesus didn't say anything about possibility. He was explaining a point of law when asked to do so. What "love thy neighbour" entails in practice. Whether it is possible or not for anyone is for them to decide. It was possible for the samaritan in that instance.Then he said go and do likewise. "This is the meaning of the law - now do it" I am asking you whether you "do likewise". When you have come across a victim have you stopped or passed by. Its a relatively simple question to answerHave you broken this law in other words?

Our topic is as listed.Jesus didn't talk about possibility. He gave an example of what the law entails. It was possible for the samaritan.The question the lawyer asked was "what do I have to do" He was told what he had to do. He now knew what he had to do. As do you presumably. The instruction was for YOU to love your neighbour in this way. That what laws are for. You decide whether to obey or not Not contained in the text. A man was told what he must do if he wants to inherit the kingdom according to what the law says. The law doesn't state anything about the possibility of it being kept. It simply says it is to be keptGod issues commands. He can issue possible ones or impossible ones. He is under no obligation to make laws we can keep

Your reading things into both what I say and what the parable says which just aren't being mentioned. We are looking at what we can conclude from the parableWhat must 'I' do to inherit the kingdom? In answering what 'I' must do Jesus points to the law and clarifies, when asked, one aspect of the law. The nature of Law is that it is to be obeyed - not questioned as to whether is is possible, fair, a good idea or idiotic. Jesus underlining this says go do likewise. In this case: if you come across someone in need don't be a priest or a Levite - be a good samaritan.There is nothing about doing it sometimes, nothing about trying, nothing about possibilty of doing it. If you'd like to wander into a personal philosphy about what is not written but what you yourself think is inherent in the text then fire away on your own. But lets not pretend the topic is the parable.

The reason for arguing about basic stuff Phat is that it is not all that basic. You are doing precisely what Ringo is doing and adding personal philosophy onto a plain reading of the text.If the parable is that which is being discussed that it is the parable. You cannot conclude all that you add here from it.On the basis of it alone - what do you conclude?

I was thinking that very thought as I ate breakfast in preparation for trying to get some camels through the eye of a needle. But I thought to myself "Can of worms"But I suppose the "Go do likewise" has run its course

Spoken like well... like..how you would expect Lee van Cleef to speak.Its only an avatar Ringo, don't fall head over heels for your own PR there Bud...

On the contrary Ringo?Calling upon someones name is not the same thing as saying unto them face to face. Your mixing things up a little here. The devil is in the detail - literally - causing you to see them as the same thing.

Could you elaborate on this?The context of the section is false pathways, false teachers and, it would appear, false profession. I see nothing in here to indicate that these particular callers on the name of the Lord are anything but damned.

quote:

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21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

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