Just asking (23): which path to take?

Vincent van Gogh, The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix), 1890 (After Eugène Delacroix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

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.

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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.”