The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Observations and Reflections
Jesus is known to be a teacher that allows the inquisitor to answer their own questions. This time around the lawyer is able to produce a fairly decent answer. However, it was clear that the lawyer had more in mind then just seeing what it takes to get to heave. He want’s to justify his disdain for certain people. It is quite likely that the lawyer wants to exclude the Samaritans from “love thy neighbor”, since Jesus was passing through Samaria.
But Jesus could tell see what the man was up to. He delivered an answer with a stinging parable. It is hard to know how the lawyer took the answer from Jesus, but it seems clear that the conversation ended at that point, assuming that the lawyer had no further questions.
As Christians we are supposed to treat all people as we would like to be treated, even if they disagree with our politics or they have a different skin color. It is never OK to harbor hate for our neighbors.
Jesus uses this extreme example of the good samaritan to illustrate how we ought to behave as Christians, towards our fellow peers, neighbors colleagues, family and everyone that crosses our path. To show love and kindness is a representation of Jesus Christ living in your heart. To selflessly put others needs before yours, is showing exactly what Jesus Christ does for us.
Jesus set the example of what it means to truly show love to one another and sacrificially give up yourself and your needs for the sake of another person. This Samaritan not only risked his own safety by stopping to help this man but he also went out of his way to make sure he was well taken care of.
This is a true picture of unconditional love. The injured man had no means of every being able to repay him for his kindness. The whole point of this act was that it was done out of a heart of compassion, love and mercy. It was acted with no means of expecting anything back. This is what the heart of the Christian ought to look like and what we should strive to live to do.