The Parable of the Good Samaritan was spoken when Jesus was questioned, rather tested, by a lawyer on the way to eternal life. What he said, is written below, an excerpt from Luke 10:25:37, according to the English Standard Version of the New Testament. And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, ...
Jerusalem is paradise, and Jericho is the world. The robbers are hostile powers. The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ. The wounds are disobedience, the beast [animal] is the Lord’s body, the [inn], which accepts all who wish to enter, is the Church. ….
Why did Jesus choose the road from Jerusalem to Jericho? During the time of Christ, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was quite a dangerous path , and was also known as ‘The Bloody Pass’. It was the road where robbers would often attack travelers and leave them to die. The road was indeed a frightful one to take! Perhaps the reason why the Priest and the Levite didn’t stop by to help the injured man was because: (1) Knowing the location’s true nature, they presumed he was already dead and that the robbers may still be close enough; (2) They thought that the man could possibly be faking it, just to attract attention from travelers and rob them when they came close .
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most famous parables Jesus ever told. The term, good samaritan, has become synonymous with someone who shows mercy. It’s a positive name. Even many organizations use it to show how they care for people. But the good samaritan meaning would have been much different to Jesus 1st century audience.
The term, good samaritan, has become synonymous with someone who shows mercy. It’s a positive name. Even many organizations use it to show how they care for people. But the good samaritan meaning would have been much different to Jesus 1st century audience.
This isn’t the only time Jesus makes this point. He criticizes the Pharisees for only cleaning the outside of the cup but neglecting the inside (Matthew 23:25, Luke 11:39).
Here is the very familiar story of the good Samaritan. A man has been beaten, robbed and left for dead. It is of a story that would have been familiar to Jesus' hearers for it was common for thieves and muggers to hide along the road between Jerusalem and Jericho.
The Jewish lawyer who approached Jesus wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. He was looking at his own works and trying to justify himself. He was thinking that what he did was enough. On one level, Jesus' answer about the good Samaritan pointed out that this man didn't love like he should. It pointed out that he was actually like the priest and the Levite in the story who were only willing to help those they liked. But the story was used to teach this lawyer much more. It also pointed out the inadequacy of the law to actually save a man. Instead, it pointed the lawyer to the One, the despised One... the Lord Jesus, who was the true good Samaritan who went out of His way to save mankind. Jesus didn't cross over to the other side of the road. He saw the problem and didn't look for someone else to sort the problem. He made no excuses. He counted the cost and, knowing it would cost Him His very life, gave up all to bring us back to God.
Luke 10:30-35 NIV In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. (31) A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. (32) So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33) But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. (34) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. (35) The next day he took out two silver coins 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.'
Jericho was cursed in the Old Testament by Joshua. As a type it is a picture of the world. So the picture is of a man leaving the city and presence of God and going downward unto the cursed place. The man: He is robbed and left for dead.
So, Jesus told this story, in response to the question by the lawyer about who he should consider and relate with as his neighbor; in this case, a Samaritan.
Since the lawyer wanted to know “what to do,” Jesus gave him a summary of the law, ““‘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.’”.
The Bible says that the law cannot justify (Galatians 2:16, Rom 3:28), rather it accuses (John 5:45) and gives sin-consciousness (Romans 3:20). We can only receive the righteousness of God by grace through faith. It is not of works, lest any man boasts (Romans 3:22-24,28; Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9). Spread the love.
God in the Old Testament spoke to the people through prophets using parables. Jesus, being a “Prophet”, used this method to communicate certain lessons to the audience of His day. One of such parables that was told by Jesus was that of the Good Samaritan. What was the parable about?
The entire parable is an answer to a question, also understanding the historical political, economic, situation of that time gives a deeper meaning.
Jesus loves his Jewish people and is heartbroken by their rejection, as in later times by his grafted in bride, the “Church.”. So be thankful for his forgiveness, grace, love and salvation, that you will live forever in his presence in the glorious marriage to come. Reply.
He was a King and a Priest. At least twice Jesus affirms the election of the Jews by God through whom salvation for the world comes (himself) to the (Samaritan) woman at the well and the (Phoenician) woman who is willing to accept the leftover crumbs from Jews. Jesus weeps (in love) over Jerusalem.
The Torah, or Five Books of Moses, is the core of that Law. Here’s where it gets tricky, though. A lawyer who was also a Pharisee – as many of them were – would regard the oral law as equally binding. (This oral law eventually became the Talmud after the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.)
The Sadducees were primarily aristocrats. Most were priests , but not all priests were Sadducees. (Emil Schürer points this out in his five-volume History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ .) It was the “aristocratic priests: those who by their possessions and offices also occupied influential civil positions” (Second Division, Volume 2, p. 30) who were the substance of the Sadducee party. This group was highly political, generally more interested in retaining power than in providing spiritual leadership.
The parable of the good Samaritan is all about love. The scholar of the law had asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus answered him as the verse above. The explanation that threw the law scholar off-guard is the definition of who your neighbour is.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, You have taught us how to be good neighbours today. Strengthen our hearts so that we can love others with the same measure as the Good Samaritan did. May we finally get to inherit the Kingdom of God. Amen.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.#N#31 A priest saw him and passed by on the opposite side.#N#32 A Levite came to the place and passed by on the opposite side.#N#33 But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion, lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.#N#36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was a neighbour to the robbers’ victim?”#N#37 He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The scholar of the law had asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus answered him as the verse above. The explanation that threw the law scholar off-guard is the definition of who your neighbour is.
You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself – Luke 10:27 . This verse sums up the commandment of love as given by Jesus. The parable of the good Samaritan is all about love. The scholar of the law had asked Jesus what he needed to do ...