A priest, a Levite....and the listeners would be expecting a Jewish layman to bethe third and critical character. Three people or situations are often found
in stories of that period, and in our own times. But Jesus changed the formula.
He introduced a new character, the Samaritan.
As mentioned previously, the Samaritans were particularly hated in Jesus' day.
They lived in part of the old Northern Kingdom of Israel and in 721 BC Israel
was conquered by Assyria, and Sargon II conducted a mass deportation of the whole region. He carried off about 27,270 captives and resettled the area with colonists from other parts of the Assyrian empire. This is described in Second Kings in the Old Testament.
Their descendents were looked upon as half-breeds and heretics by the Jews of
Jerusalem. In Jesus' day feelings were definitely hostile between the two
groups. Sometime between 6 and 9 AD at midnight during a Passover some
Samaritans had deliberately scattered bones in the Jerusalem Temple in order to
desecrate it and the Jews were outraged! All that remained now was disdain and
hatred and as the Gospel of John observed, "Jews do not associate with Samaritans."
For Jesus to introduce the Samaritan as the caring person, after a priest and a
Levite had neglected mercy, must have been intended as an especially biting
commentary on what passed for "mercy" among the pillars of Judaism.
The Samaritan is described as feeling pity. The Greek word is related to feel
sympathy, inward parts, entrails. In other words to feel in the seat of the emotions, and as we would say it today, pity felt in the heart. This means that love, sympathy and mercy were motivated by the need of another.
The Samaritan bound up the wounds. Perhaps with his own headcovering or by
tearing strips from his garment? The Samaritan also poured on oil and wine as healing agents. Olive oil was widely used to keep exposed parts of the skin supple, to relieve chafing, to soften wounds, and to heal bruises and lacerations.
Wine may have been poured on for cleansing. Though they had no knowledge of germ theory then, we know that wine fermented naturally is about
7% to 15% alcohol and this would mean it had some disinfectant properties.
It was costly to the Samaritan to love his neighbour. He used his own supplies
to cleanse and sooth. Perhaps his own clothing to bandage him and he used his
own animal to carry him, while the Samariatan himself walked. He used his own
money to pay for his care, and his own reputation and credit to vouch for any further expenses the man's care would require. Love can be costly. But if we have the means to help, we are to extend ourselves.
There was no emergency room to which the Samaritan could take the man. Instead
he took him to what today is a motel, and cared for the man himself that night.
One scholar believes the inn was a khan or hostelry, found by the side of roads
, providing free lodgment to the traveler. They also provided food for both man
and beast, and for that they would charge.
It seems likely that the Samaritan was a merchanat who frequently traveled this
road and had stayed at this inn before. He trusted the innkeeper enough to
advance him money to care for the wounded man, and he promised the innkeeper, who also seems to have trusted the Samaritan -- to repay him for any additional costs when he returned from his trip. The Samaritan's mercy was a generous mercy.
A mercy that doesn't just keep the letter of the law, but its spirit as well.
"Whatever he needs," is the top limit of his mercy, --so there was no limit.
Then Jesus punched home his point. He asked the lawyer which of the three
proved to be a neighbour to the wounded man, and of course, the lawer was forced
to reply, "The one who had mercy on him."
The Greek word for mercy that was used is eleos. In classical Greek that is theemotion roused by contact with an affliction that came upon someone who didn't
deserve it. It draws on the Hebrew concept of faithfulness between individuals
that results in human kindness, mercy, and pity. In the Book Of Micah in the Old Testament it is written:
"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God."
Mercy is required of us. Jesus comanded his disciples very specifically: "Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful". - Luke -
The lawyer began by asking for a definition of "neighbour" in order to justifylimiting his love to his fellow Jews only. Jesus doesn't define "neighbour" in
so many words, but his story makes clear that our neighbour is whoever has a
need. It doesn't matter who they are.
Jesus wasn't content just to define what "neighbour" means. He commanded the
lawyer, and through him all of us, to do as the Samaritan did.
The motivation for doing good must be love for others, an interest in meeting
their basic needs and a heart of mercy that is moved by compassion. There
should be no ulterior motives.
We must examine our own hearts. What motivates us? How much have selfishness
and a dogged adherence to our own agenda leached away the mercy that Jesus holds
dear and wants to see flourish in our hearts? We may be efficient, but are we
merciful? When "push comes to shove" do we put ourselves first, or do we put theneeds of others first? It seems that we must value acts of mercy over personalproductivity.
*********
END
