Dear Caroline, Tim and any other interested friends,
As you likely know, in the English language we call a person "a Good Samaritan"
if they go out of their way to help another.
This parable of the Good Samaritan was told by Jesus. It is a parable about
excuses. About self-justification. About letting oneself off the hook.
The word parable comes from the Greek 'Parabole' which means a placing beside.
A parable is therefore the placing of one subject beside another, as an illustration. It is usually used to illustrate sprirtual things by familiar earthly
objects or incidents. Many of the Jewish prophets taught through parables, and
ao the Jewish people were very familiar with this way of teaching. Jesus is said to have used parables to veil the truth from those who were not willing to see
it. Those who really wanted to understand wouldn't rest until they found out the meaning.
Jesus and his teachings were opposed by two Jewish factions, the Pharisees and
the Sadducees. They used to engage him in debate because they hoped to make him
say something that they could use to cause him injury, and they hoped to turnpeople away from him.
At another time one of the teachers of the law, a man skilled in interpreting the Jewish Torah, (the first five books of the Old Testament,) came and heard them
debating with Jesus. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer he asked
him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," replied Jesus, 'is this:
'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.'
The second is this:
'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
*********
This is the great Law that has been restated in all the independent world religions. It is usually known as THE GOLDEN RULE.
*********
The Jewish teachers had often interpreted "neighbour" to include only people
of their own nationality and religion. In Luke, another expert in the law
who asked Jesus about the greatest of the commandments wanted justification that
it was only the people mentioned above. so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?"
The writer of the Gospel of Luke placed this story of the lawyer's question and
Jesus' parable in reply immediately after reporting a joyful conversation Jesus
had with his heavenly Father in which he said
"You have hidden these things from the wise and learned,
and revealed them to children....'
The "children" are Jesus' disciples, his humble worker followers whose hearts were pure and who could still see and hear him without prejudices that blinded the
eyes of their souls.
Here's the story of what happened, and the parable told by Jesus.
*********
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Reference: Luke 10:25-37 (Said to be Luke's biography of Jesus.)
On one occasion a lawyer came forward to put this test question to him:
'Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
'What is written in the Law?'Jesus replied. 'How do you read it?'
He answered,
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, with all your strength,
and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.'
'That is the right answer,' said Jesus; 'do that and you will live.'
But he wanted to vindicate himself, so he said to Jesus, 'And who is my
neighbour?'
Jesus replied, 'A man was on his way from Jerusalem down to Jericho when he fellin with robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went off leaving him half dead.
It so happened that a priest was going down by the same road; but when he saw
im, he went past on the other side. So too a Levite came to the place, and when
he saw him went past on the other side. But a Samaritan who was making
the journey came upon him, and when he saw him was moved to pity. He went up and bandaged his wounds, bathing them with oil and wine. Then he lifted him on to
his own beast, brought him to an inn, and looked after him there. Next day he
produced two silver pieces and gave them to the innkeeper, and said,
'Look after him; and if you spend any more, I will repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three do you think was neighbour to the man who fell into the
hands of the robbers?'
He answered, 'The one who showed him kindness.'
Jesus said, 'Go and do as he did.'
*********
