Sermon for The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2025

Oftentimes, this parable is handled in such a way that it becomes nothing more than a moral object lesson. Yet even when that happens, the certain man who fell among thieves very near to Jerusalem is left ambiguous: a stand-in for whomever. Still, if you’re going to think about this parable in such a way, that is, as little more than an earthly story with a heavenly meaning regarding the Law, well, then, perhaps you should begin by viewing the poor man, beaten and left for dead, as Jesus Himself. 

And so, ask yourself: What have you done? How have you helped? Now, of course, you weren’t part of those who sought to destroy Jesus and put Him to death; you didn’t cast aspersions upon Him, mock and berate Him, or call for His execution, because you weren’t there, you weren’t alive yet. Ah, but do you help? That is: Do you hallow His name? Do you build up your neighbor in the knowledge of Christ? Do you support and advance the preaching of Christ and His Church—wherein He bestows the incalculable gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation—in thought, word, and deed? Do you stop and offer your aid? Do you show compassion? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? As conscience must have pricked this lawyer who then desired to justify himself, so must it prick your heart. Repent. And recognize, in yourself, someone who is unworthy to inherit eternal life. 

So, now, if you are duly frightened by the prospect that there is eternal life, and, more to the point, that you are unworthy to inherit that life, then it’s time to turn the parable around a little bit. See it now, from another angle, which shows sweet mercy and compassion to you from the heart of God. Behold, the certain man that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, is not merely Jesus, it’s you. You have fallen among thieves, that is, you sin. For sin strips you of your clothing, your righteousnes, leaving you spiritually naked and mortally wounded. There, you lay, in the ditch, you lay, guilty sinner that you are. And the priest and the Levite, that is, the Law, pass you by because the Law cannot give righteousness or life. Yet, out of nowhere, comes a certain Samaritan, or better than that, your Lord Jesus Himself, who helps in a way that no one else can. He has compassion on you. He binds up your wounds with the forgiveness of sins. He pours oil and wine, that is, baptizes you in His Name. He places you on His beast, that is, His righteousness; He takes you to the Inn, that is, the Church, where He tends to you, takes care of you, ministers to you. And He speaks to the innkeeper, who, of course, is the pastor, and tells him to continue the same care He has ministered to you—the bandaging, balm, and salve of His mercy and forgiveness—with the two denarii He gives him. And what are these two denarii? They are the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. 

Readings:

• Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 28:8-15

• Epistle: Galatians 3:15-22

• Holy Gospel: Luke 10:23-37

Sermon: