An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25 (NKJV)
Samaritan Lessons – Part 2
Go to PART 1
There are two questions you should ask yourself before, during and after reading a parable:
1. Where am I in the story?
2. Where is God in the story?
As being the nature of parables, the answers change and bend and flex over time, depending on your circumstances and situations. And each time you read the parable, it should sink deeper and hit harder in your heart. Take some time to read over “the Good Samaritan.” Try and forget everything you know about the parable and have a look at it with fresh eyes.
Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)
An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 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. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, 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. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Help the poor, right?
Don’t be like the priest and the Levite, right?
Be generous with your life, right?
Everyone is your neighbour, right?
Well, yes.
But there is so much more to this story. While this parable should always be fresh and new and applicable to people and where they’re at, speaking to them on a personal level, it also has its own historical context. Over the last few weeks, it has crawled under my skin, which, by the way, is the point of Parables (See yesterday's devotion, Parables, Poking and Provoking – Part 1).
Today, there are many organisations, charities, hospitals and events all titled around the concept of “The Good Samaritan.” It evokes a picture of benevolence, neighbourly care, unconditional love, rescue, aid, generosity… The Good Samaritan has become a noble and honoured title.
But to a first-century Jewish audience, a Samaritan was anything BUT honoured and noble. The phrase “Good Samaritan” was never uttered, EVER! And Jesus himself didn’t use this phrase when telling his story. He didn’t reply to the lawyer, ‘Hang on a minute while I tell you a parable about the Good Samaritan…” In his audience's minds, “Good Samaritans” did not exist.
Samaritans and Jews were enemies. Their hate and contempt for each other going back generations; 600 plus years of separation and judgement and enmity. They raided each others lands and killed each other's sons. They even took longer routes around each others borders so that they didn’t defile themselves by treading on each other's dirt.
Jesus was not telling a nice story about helping someone in need, or even answering the question, “Who is my neighbour?”
It’s a provocative tale of violence and peace, perception and acceptance, fear and hope.
Would you accept the outstretched hand of your sworn enemy in your most desperate hour of need?
Go to Part 3 – The Lawyer and his Neighbour
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