# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S290
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

290

II. THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

divine compassion, a compassion that comes from deep
within “the guts” of Father and Son.9
• Alfred Plummer, who has provided valuable help in dealing with many of the details of our passage, concludes his
discussion,
The Fathers delight in mystical interpretations of the parable … . Such things are permissible so long as they are
not put forward as the meaning which the Propounder
of the Parable designed to teach. That Christ Himself was
a unique realization of the Good Samaritan is unquestionable. That He intended the Good Samaritan to
represent Himself, in His dealings with fallen humanity,
is more than we know.10
Although Plummer’s commonsense caution is an approach
we would usually endorse, where does it leave us in this
case? To conclude that Jesus intends only to say that “not
place but love makes neighborhood” and that He unintentionally gives us a beautiful and comforting picture of how
God graciously rescues us in His Son borders on using the
parable to demean its Author. There is no need to adopt
all of the details of patristic and medieval interpretation to
understand that in this parable Jesus is giving us a picture
of Himself. And in this picture, we see Him as the One who
acts freely out of grace to deliver from death, the One who
makes things right for those under the curse of death and
apart from any merit or worthiness on their part.

Looking Ahead

In light of this session’s discussion, what do you think the
parable is about? What is its message for you? What difference would it make if the passage ended at verse 37a, after
the lawyer’s response but before Jesus’ final words?

He Is Our Righteousness
Pa rt icipa n t ’s

������������� is formed from the noun ���������, usuall� used in the plural and
meaning “inward parts, entrails.” This suggests that it is the bowels or the guts that
are the “seat” of such compassion.

9

10

Guid e

Session 3:
Another Question and Another Test

Plummer, 289.

6 | He Is Our Righteousness | Session 3

He Is Our Righteousness
Participant ’s Guide

Session 3:
Another Question and Another Test
Luke 10:36

1. Does the Parable of the Good Samaritan teach that the
way to inherit eternal life is to keep the Law?

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2. How does Jesus’ question in verse 36 differ from the lawyer’s question in verse 25?

The quotations from Luther’s Works in this publication are from the American Edition:
vol. 79 © 2016 by Concordia Publishing House, all rights reserved.
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Participant’s Guide |

2019 Convention Workbook

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