Parable of the Good Samaritan

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The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a famous New Testament parable appearing only in the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37). The parable is told by Jesus to illustrate that compassion should be for all people, and that fulfilling the spirit of the Law is just as important as fulfilling the letter of the Law. Jesus puts the definition of neighbor into an enlarged context, beyond what people usually thought of as a neighbor. ^[1]

Contents 1 The story 2 Historical context and modern recasting 3 Theological analysis 4 Notes 5 See also 6 References

[edit] The story

The incident begins when a religious scholar of the Law tests Jesus by asking him what is necessary to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks the lawyer what the Mosaic Law says about it. When the lawyer quotes the scripture, saying "Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and all your mind (Deuteronomy 6:5), and the parallel law of "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18), Jesus says that he has answered correctly— "Do this and you will live," he tells him. See also this section of Ministry of Jesus. This can be understood as meaning that those who follow the law, Jewish or not, will be able to inherit Eternal life. ^[2]

But the lawyer then asks Jesus to tell him who his neighbor is, Jesus responds with a parable about a man who was attacked and robbed and left to die by the side of a road. Later, a priest saw the stricken figure and avoided him, presumably in order to maintain ritual purity. ^[3] Similarly, a Levite saw the man and ignored him as well. Then a Samaritan passed by, and, despite the mutual antipathy between Samaritans and the Jewish population, he immediately rendered assistance by giving him first aid and taking him to an inn to recover while promising to cover the expenses. He gives the innkeeper two denarii, silver coins equal to an entire days wages for an average laborer. ^[4]

At the conclusion of the story, Jesus asks the lawyer, of the three passers-by, who was the stricken man's neighbour? The lawyer is apparently unwilling to say, "The Samaritan," so he responds, "The one who helped him." Jesus responds with "Go and do the same." So a "neighbor" is anyone who needs your love and help. Jesus has turned the attention away from the question "To whom do I owe an obligation?" and to the question, "To whom do I feel compassion?" ^[5] Jesus is pointing out the nature, or subject, of love, not the object of it. ^[6]

This parable is one of the most famous from the New Testament and its influence is such that to be called a Samaritan in Western culture today is to be described as a generous person who is ready to provide aid to people in distress without hesitation. In many English-speaking countries, a Good Samaritan law exists to protect from liability those who choose to aid people who are seriously ill or injured. Luke might have used this story as a prelude to Acts 8. ^[7] There the Samaritans are shown giving a positive response to the Christian message.

[edit] Historical context and modern recasting

It is important to note that Samaritans were despised by the story's target audience, the Jews. The Samaritans were also largely taught by their interpretation of history to hate Jews. ^[8] Thus the parable, as told originally, had a significant theme of non-discrimination and interracial harmony. But as the story reached those who were unaware of the status of Samaritans, this aspect of the parable became less and less discernible: fewer and fewer people ever heard of them in any context other than this one. To address this problem with the unfamiliar analogy, the story is often recast in a more recognizable modern setting where the people are ones in equivalent social groups known to not interact comfortably. For instance instead of a Jew being helped by a Samaritan one could place a Palestinian in that role, or even a member of Hezbollah aided by an orthodox Jew. One could also have a racist helped by a member of another race, a sexist woman helped by a man, or a devoutly religious person helped by an atheist, or any reverse or combination thereof. The message's essentials is that humanity's bonds in brotherhood transcends social and cognitive segmentations which we adopt in our lives.

Thus cast appropriately, the parable regains its socially explosive message to modern listeners: namely, that an individual of a social group they disapprove of can exhibit moral behaviour that is superior to individuals of the groups they approve; it also means that not sharing the same faith is no excuse to behave poorly, as there is a universal moral law. Many Christians have used it as an example of Christianity against racial prejudice. ^[9], ^[10], ^[11]

[edit] Theological analysis

While modernly this parable is known for its social implications, it also presents a very important contextual spiritual message. During his ministry Jesus was often accused of associating with the publicans and sinners by the Scribes and Pharisees (Luke 5:30). In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus reaffirms his reasons for doing so, which are also reported in Luke 5:31-32. The stricken figure in the parable represents all those who are spiritually sick, such as the gentiles and the sinners. While the devoutly religious refuse to help, Jesus, the Good Samaritan, provides the necessary spiritual healing.^{[citation needed]}

That it was a priest and then a Levite who first passed by is significant beyond the irony of the situation: people who were expected to help, didn't, while someone whom the victim (and Jesus' audience) despised, did. The priest had good reason (read 'excuse') not to help. There's the possibility that the victim was already dead. And touching a dead person for someone so 'holy', while not forbidden, would be, in modern vernacular, such a hassle - all the necessary cleansing rituals prescribed by Mosaic Law. The priest made a judgment call: he decided that being "priestly" was more important than saving someone's life. Jesus' unspoken challenge to all believers seems to be: would we help only if it's convenient, or are we willing to go out of our way to show compassion?^{[citation needed]}

In Mexico Samaritan Day (Dia Samaritana) is a custom in Oaxaca City celebrated on the fourth Friday in Lent. Refreshments are offered to passersby. The tradition is based on the story of the "Good Samaritan." Churches, businesses, schools and government offices offer traditional fruit drinks. (http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/easter.html#samaritan)

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Kilgallen 122
2. ^ Brown et al. 702
3. ^ Brown et al. 702
4. ^ Miller 143
5. ^ Kilgallen 122
6. ^ Brown 245
7. ^ Brown 245
8. ^ Kilgallen 122
9. ^ The Good Samaritan In African American Culture by Brad Ronnell Braxton
10. ^ Christianity and Equality
11. ^ Christian Teachings on Racial Harmony

[edit] See also

• Samaritanism
• Bystander intervention
• Good Samaritan Law
• Seinfeld series finale (1998)
• Expounding of the Law

[edit] References

• Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament Doubleday 1997 ISBN 0-385-24767-2
• Brown, Raymond E. et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary Prentice Hall 1990 ISBN 0-13-614934-0
• Kilgallen, John J. A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Luke Paulist Press 1988 ISBN 0-8091-2928-0
• Miller, Robert J. The Complete Gospels Polebridge Press 1994 ISBN 0-06-065587-9

Parables of Jesus - edit

Assassin | Drawing in the Net | Empty Jar | Faithful Servant | Fig Tree | Friend at Night | Good Samaritan | Good Shepherd | Growing Seed | Hidden Treasure | Lazarus and Dives | Leaven | Lost Coin | Lost Sheep | Master and Servant | Mustard Seed | New Wine into Old Wineskins | Pearl | Pharisee and the Publican | Prodigal Son | Rich Fool | Sower | Strong Man | Talents | Tares | Ten Virgins | Two Debtors | Two Sons | Unjust Judge | Unjust Steward | Unmerciful Servant | Vine | Wedding Feast | Wicked Husbandmen | Wise and Foolish Builders | Workers in the Vineyard