只是問一下 (23)：選哪個答案？

這麼多問題需要答案。

這樣的一個交叉點。
哪個答案？

事件由一個熟識摩西律法的律法師向耶穌查問開始，他詢問耶穌該做甚麼才可以得到永生，最終使耶穌說出著名的好撒瑪利亞人的比喻。
為方便查閱，文章末尾已經列出了《和合本修訂版》的經文。

這裡是要討論上天堂嗎（該做甚麼才可以承受永生）？
抑或設定愛的界線（誰是我的鄰舍）？
還是否定宗教（祭司和聖殿助理都繞路走，只有撒瑪利亞人肯幫助）？
或是處理人際交往（以憐憫待人）？

當然，上述每一個問題都足以寫作一篇講章。
可是，路加必定有一個主旨。
貪心想找出多個中心的人都會弄錯。

因此必須提問。

提問所得，取決於問題是否恰當。

首先必須用心觀察：
* 開始的敘述，是要找出「摩西律法」如何論「我該做甚麼才可以承受永生？」
* 最後耶穌說：「你去，照樣做吧！」

經文的主旨，莫非是探究摩西律法的核心，找出該做甚麼才符合上帝的心意？
經文的主旨，莫非是討論如何在世上行事為人？
經文的主旨，莫非是「以憐憫待人」，不管是甚麼族裔、宗教和背景？

那豈不就是摩西律法的教訓嗎？

只是問一下。
必須問的。

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路加福音十章25～37節《和合本修訂版》

25 有一個律法師起來試探耶穌，說：「老師！我該做甚麼才可以承受永生？」
26 耶穌對他說：「律法上寫的是甚麼？你是怎樣念的呢？」
27 他回答說：「你要盡心、盡性、盡力、盡意愛主—你的神，又要愛鄰如己。」
28 耶穌對他說：「你回答得正確，你這樣做就會得永生。」
29 那人要證明自己有理，就對耶穌說：「誰是我的鄰舍呢？」

30 耶穌回答：「有一個人從耶路撒冷下耶利哥去，落在強盜手中。他們剝去他的衣裳，把他打個半死，丟下他走了。
31 偶然有一個祭司從那條路下來，看見他就從另一邊過去了。
32 又有一個利未人來到那裏，看見他，也照樣從另一邊過去了。
33 可是，有一個撒瑪利亞人路過那裏，看見他就動了慈心，
34 上前用油和酒倒在他的傷處，包裹好了，扶他騎上自己的牲口，帶他到旅店裏去，照應他。
35 第二天，他拿出兩個銀幣來，交給店主，說：『請你照應他，額外的費用，我回來時會還你。』
36 你想，這三個人哪一個是落在強盜手中那人的鄰舍呢？」
37 他說：「是憐憫他的。」耶穌對他說：「你去，照樣做吧！」

Enghave Church, Children's altarpiece: The Good Samaritan (Gunnar Bach Pedersen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Just asking (23): Which path to take?

So many questions needing answers here.

Such an intersection.
Which path?

The episode took place when a lawyer of the Mosaic Law asked Jesus about what to do to inherit eternal life, which eventually led to the famous parable of the Good Samaritan.
For ease of reference the passage is listed at the end here in New Living Translation.

Is it about getting to heaven (what to do to inherit eternal life)?
Or is it about defining boundaries for love (who is my neighbour)?
Or is it a negation of religion (priest, and temple assistant passed by, only Samaritan helped)?
Or is it about dealing with all interactions (show mercy)?

Granted, either one warrants a full sermon.
But Luke must have a main thrust.
A greedy mind misses it.

Therefore asking is imperative.

What one gets out of this episode in large measure, depends on asking the appropriate question.

A good observation deserves to be registered:
* In the beginning it was framed as finding out “the Law of Moses” says about “what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
* At the end Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Isn’t the main thrust about getting to the core of the Mosaic Law, to find out what to do to be in line with God’s heart?
Isn’t the main thrust dealing with how to conduct one’s life here on earth?
Isn’t the main thrust is “with mercy” disregarding race, religion and background?

Isn’t that what’s the Mosaic Law meant to teach?

Just asking.
Have to.

=======================

Luke 10:25-37 (NLT)

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
32 A Temple assistant[d] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.
34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”