Jesus describes my situation and His grace in the parable of the Good Samaritan. In only six verses He describes the entire plan of salvation, including:
- Premortal life and the glory I had before coming to earth.
- The fall of man
- The earth being half-way between heaven and hell
- Satan and his followers and their effects on my mortal existence.
- The purpose of life and mortality.
- How and why religion cannot save me
- How and why the law cannot save me
- The coming of Christ and His mission of healing and salvation
- The love of Christ
- Jesus carries us
- There are only two churches: the religions of the world, and the church of Christ
- The church of Jesus Christ and it’s mission
- Washing or cleansing of sin
- Anointing of fallen man to become kings and queens
- Gifts that are given to the church to take care of each other
- How we love one another
- The second coming of Christ
- The final judgment
- The reward of the righteous
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Luke 10:30-35
A certain man... The “certain man” is each person who comes to earth -- all of mankind -- it is me.
went down... To go “down” is to descend from a higher plane, to a lower one, like coming to earth from heaven.
from Jerusalem... “Jerusalem” represents the Holy City, or the place where God dwells. It represents heaven.
to Jericho... “Jericho” represents the world, the east, the middle-ground between heaven and hell.
and fell... “fell” refers to the fall of Adam. Adam is each man and Eve is each woman. They are the parents of all mankind. We all “fell” to come “down” to earth. I am a fallen man.
... for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.
Helaman 14:16
among thieves...“Thieves” are Satan and the spirits who follow him who are not in the presence of God, but are in the world. They are also fallen, cast out of heaven, where they will never return. They take all they can from those who are on the journey though the world to return to the Holy City. They steal. They offer no exchange. They are thieves and robbers of the heart.
...the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away...
3 Nephi 2:2
which stripped him... They take anything. They strip everything from me. They even take my memories of my home in heaven. I am stripped bare of intelligence, power and glory. The poem Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood, By William Wordsworth is a wonderful account of how I am stripped by the evil of the world of all I had before. One verse has many parallels with the parable of the Good Samaritan:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's star
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
of his raiment... “Raiment” is the clothing of power and authority that I had when I was with God. I had glory, but am stripped of it. This concept of clothing with power and authority is found in many parts of the word of God. Priests had certain clothing which gives them authority to minister in their office as representatives of God. John describes the white robes of those who have followed Christ. Also, Jesus will come back to earth clothed with glory:
I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory;
Doctrine and Covenants 45:44
And wounded him... I am “wounded” by Satan, meaning I have suffering that leaves me dysfunctional. I suffer pain and grief in the lone and dreary world. I suffer loneliness and separation. I have weakness from my wounds. It is as Paul explains:
...there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me...
2 Corinthians 12:7
and departed... They wound me and leave. After they have taken all they can, Satan and his followers depart leaving me alone and wounded.
...and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day...
Alma 30:60
leaving him half dead... “Half dead” is not all the way dead. The evil spirits take my power and glory, and wound me and leave half dead. There I am, lying on the side of the path. Because I am half dead, I cannot make it back to the Holy City. I am lost. I cannot remember my life with God. Though I still live, I am human -- I have a mortal body with an eternal spirit so I am half dead, as Adam was promised if he ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, mortality is being half dead.
...in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:17
And by chance... There are chance happenings. Some happen to run into others. This does not mean God doesn’t know it’s going to happen. God is in all things, and the priest happened to be there at the same time when the wounded man was dying. The religions of the world happen to be in your time and place.
there came down... The priest also comes down from heaven to sojourn on earth at the same time. They are on the same road together. They are in the world together, but not in different parts. They are both “down” or fallen, leaving heaven, at the same time.
a certain priest... The “priest” signifies religion, or those who represent God to the people. The priest stands in the place of God if he is authorized to do so. It is like a lawyer who is called to represent a client, in this case the “client” is God. The priest represents all religion that has a man in between mankind and God.
that way... The priest is going the same way, on the same road. We are fellow wayfarers on the earth. The go-between is just one of us. He is as I am, fallen, wounded, and half dead.
and when he saw him... Religious people see me wounded and dying on the side of the road. They see a sinner. They see a fallen man. They know I am bad because of my wounds and I am stripped naked. I have no glory. I am mortal. I have weaknesses. They see my wounds and fallen nature.
he passed by on the other side... Religious people do what they are supposed to do, and they must avoid the appearance of sin and stay away from sinners. Religion cannot help me in my half-dead state. All the religions of the world are just made up of half dead people. Jesus spoke often against religion, forgiving the sinners, but condemning the religious leaders as hypocrites.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Luke 11:44
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him... The Levites represent the Law of Moses, or the rules and laws that surround our lives. The “Levite” is the keeper of the law, who cannot touch a dead person or body fluids like blood or they become unclean. The Levite is not being mean, he is doing what the law requires of him, to avoid dead people. He keeps the law. Jesus also condemned the lawyers.
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Luke 11:45-46
and passed by on the other side... The rules are given to me in my wounded and half-dead state, but I cannot keep them. I am wounded, and don’t know what I’m doing. I do not have the glory and intelligence I possessed before. The laws are therefore dead. The law is useless in my condition. The law cannot save me, only Christ can save me.
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:19-21
But a certain Samaritan... “A certain Samaritan” represents the Lord, Jesus Christ. A Samaritan is an outcast. When Jesus was accused by the leaders of the Jews of being a Samaritan, He did not deny it, but did deny having an evil spirit. He then explained that He was the only one who could help them to live.
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
John 8:48-51
as he journeyed... This Samaritan, Christ, is on a “journey,” away from home. Jesus is Emmanuel, or “God with us.” He left His home in heaven where He is worshipped and honored as creator and king, to come to earth on a journey of salvation and redemption of all mankind. He came down to save me.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 1:23-25
came where he was... He comes to where I am, leaving heaven to come to earth where I am wounded. He is rejected by His own, but has come to save those who are wounded and half dead. The Lord comes to me. He is on the Earth with me and comes to where I am. He is love.
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28
and when he saw him... The Lord comes near to me and sees me in my lost and fallen state.
he had compassion on him... The Lord has compassion. He is the One with compassion. He is the Outcast with “compassion.” Compassion means “to suffer with.” He has compassion on every person in the world, suffering for them so they can live again.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
And went to him... Jesus comes to me, He actively seeks each person who is half dead, as he explained to the Apostles:
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
John 15:16
and bound up his wounds... He binds up the wounds, meaning He gives grace to those who are weak, and wounded.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
pouring in oil... He pours in oil. Oil represents an anointing. This wounded and half dead person is anointed to become a king, as King David in his youth was anointed.
And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren:
1 Samuel 16:12-13
and wine... The wounds are also washed with wine which represents cleansing. The sacramental cup of wine represents the blood of Christ which makes my garments white and spotless. Moreover, alcohol is for cleansing the body. The physical washing is symbolic of the spiritual cleansing.
And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
Doctrine and Covenants 89:7
and set him on his own beast... Jesus carries me personally. He takes me out of danger to safety.
and brought him to an inn... The inn represents a safe place where I can heal. It is the church. The Lord gathers His people into a group. They are His. He takes the wheat and gathers it into the garners. He brings them. He brings me to the church. Nobody comes into the church unless He brings them there.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:47
and took care of him... The Lord personally takes care of me in the church.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:21
And on the morrow, when he departed... The Lord is martyred and resurrected, returning to heaven, leaving the earth, leaving His wounded people in the hands of the church.
he took out two pence... Money represents the gifts God gives to His servants on the earth. This is like in the parable of the talents. They are gifts of the Spirit. Paul explains that there are different gifts given to each of God’s servants so they can all profit by them.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
and gave them to the host... “The host” represents the keepers of the church, or the leaders. They are the ones who are charged with maintaining the people of the church. They administer the ordinances, and see that all things are done in order, according to the will of the Lord. They receive revelation from the Lord to direct the work of the church.
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mark 10:43-44
and said unto him, Take care of him... The Lord tells the church to take care of the wounded man. As He leaves, He gives the church a commandment to take care of each other, to love one another. I become a member of the church, and I take care of those the Lord brings to the church, who are wounded and half dead.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34-35
and whatsoever thou spendest more... The members of the church are supposed to do whatever it takes to care for the people. We will sacrifice to help the new members grow up. We will help them to be converted so the Lord can heal them. We simply minister to them, and keep them in the church.
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.
3 Nephi 18:32
when I come again... The Lord will come again.
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 1:11
I will repay thee... He will come to give recompense to all. He will judge all when He comes again, to give everyone what they have given to others.
Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man.
Doctrine and Covenants 1:10
There is so much more in this parable than meets the eye. It is dense with meaning. Each of these concepts represented by a single word could be expanded into a book. It is so easy to understand the last words of John in his gospel:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.
John 21:25
There is a plan. Each step is spelled-out in the scriptures for all to see. Jesus is the only means of salvation. He personally works with each of the children of God to bring them back to heaven to be with Him. The parable is all about Him and His relationship with us. As we all lay wounded and half dead we may call to Him for salvation, and He will save each one.
