Good Samaritan

[paulnoel]

To the expert in the law, the wounded man was a subject to discuss.​

(LUKE 10 vs 25)...On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

To the robbers, the wounded man was some one to use and exploit.​

(LUKE 10 vs 30)...in reply Jesus said; "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jerico, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead".

To the religious men, the wounded man was a problem to be avoided.​

(LUKE 10 vs 31-32)...A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

To the Samaritan the wounded man was a human being to care for and love.​

(LUKE 10 vs 33-34)...But a samaritan as he traveld, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Confronting the needs of others brings out various attitudes in us. Jesus used the story of the good Samaritan to make clear what attitude he expected from us. from this parabel we learn three principles about loving our neighbour. ​

1...Lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right. ​

2...Our neighbour is anyone of any race, creed, or social background and who is in need.

3...Love means acting to meet the person's needs.

Wherever you live there are needy people close by. There shouldn't be any reason for refusing to help.​

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Why not take the time and read the parable of the Good Samaritan, you can find it in LUKE 10 vs 25-37.​

 

[StAnselm]

1...Lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right.

Indeed, it's easy to miss just how easy it is to justify this lack of love, according to the story.

The priest, for example, had probably just been serving his stint in the temple. This could well mean that he had his entire year's salary in his money bags... and there were robbers about.

Plus, the guy was naked, so the priest didn't know who he was... he might be a gentile! And the man was half dead, and if the priest touched a corpse he would be ritually defiled and would have to go all the way back to Jerusalem...

Our neighbour is anyone of any race, creed, or social background and who is in need.

This is true, but I don't think it's the main point of the story. The lawyer asked "Who is my neighbour?" but notice how Jesus turned the question right back on him. He asks, "Who was the neighbour to the man who fell among robbers?" The 'neighbour' in the story is not the man who was attacked, but the Samaritan! (And the lawyer can't even bring himself to name him!)

Jesus is telling us, "Be a neighbour!"

 

[paulnoel]

The point of the story is to put it into application of your own life​

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And that is to help those less fortunate than ourself'​

 

[filosofer]

This is true, but I don't think it's the main point of the story. The lawyer asked "Who is my neighbour?" but notice how Jesus turned the question right back on him. He asks, "Who was the neighbour to the man who fell among robbers?" The 'neighbour' in the story is not the man who was attacked, but the Samaritan! (And the lawyer can't even bring himself to name him!)

Jesus is telling us, "Be a neighbour!"

But it is even a stronger indictment than that. Go back to what instigated the parable, Luke 10:25 a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?". How can you do something, if you inherit? Notice the essence of this whole section is "how to get eternal life" or in doctrinal terms "justification". When Jesus asks him about what is written in the Torah, the man replies, "Love God, love humans" (filosofer condensed version!). Jesus then tells him "Continue doing this!" In other words, if you want to do something to inherit eternal life, you have to do the Law, and keep doing, the Law, and keep doing the Law, and keep doing....

Now, notice how it describes the lawyer in 10:29 "desiring to justify himself. After the parable, Jesus says in 10:37 "go and keep on doing, and doing, and doing...." If a person wants to earn his/her way to eternal, then "inheriting" is thrown out. Inheriting means that someone else does something and it is given as a gift by the person when he/she dies. When Jesus dies he provides the free inheritance, not something earned by us but given to us.

Jesus is the Good Samaritan, and reviled for it, by the religious leaders and "righteous" ones. Heis the only one who can do it, and keep on doing it, and keep on doing it. We cannot "justify ourselves". Rather God is the one who justifies us on the basis of what Christ has done for us.

 

[rmwilliamsll]

i'm resurrecting this old thread to see if anyone has done a close study on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It figures prominently in my current Sunday School class and i am looking for more material and ideas. thanks.