The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37 NLT
Luke 10:25
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
This parable starts with a legal expert posing a question to our Lord as a means of testing him. Jesus asked him how he interpreted the law of Moses. The man responded by saying, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind. And ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus agreed and told him to do these things and he would live. The man had a follow-up question. “Who is my neighbor?” It is then that Jesus begins his parable.
Samaria was the capital city of the Northern kingdom of Israel until its’ fall in 722-721 BC. It was roughly 42 miles north of Jerusalem and 25 miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. When the 10 tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by Assyria, the Assyrian king sent peoples from various parts of their country to occupy Samaria. “These foreigners intermarried with the Israelite population that was still in and around Samaria.” (1) They combined the idolatry of the foreigners with Judaism which made them much hated by the Jews after the captivity was over. Samaritan’s were considered half-breeds and shunned. Their hatred for them ran very deep causing the Jews to have no dealings with them.
So Jesus told the story of a Jewish man who was attacked and left for dead on the road down to Jericho. “The distance from Jerusalem to Jericho was about 17 miles, descending sharply toward the Jordan River just north of the Dead Sea. The road curved through rugged, rocky terrain where robbers could easily hide. It was considered especially dangerous.” (2)
The first two representatives of Jewish law didn’t dare go near the wounded Jew for fear of contamination. The first was a priest who offered sacrifices in the temple. The second was a temple assistant who maintained the temple and kept everything in order. The third passerby wasn’t just a layman, but a dreaded Samaritan. This was the man who showed compassion toward the Jewish man in need. The first two passersby had no legitimate excuse for avoiding contact with the fallen man. The Samaritan showed love and mercy despite the traditional hostility been Israel and Samaria. Is it not possible that the first two men did not truly recognize their own need of God’s love themselves?
So who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need. Wherever you live, needy people are close by and there is no good reason for refusing to help them. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In his name & for his glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resources: Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament, Copyright 2004; Life Application Study Bible, p. 2221; The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible: The Good Samaritan, Abingdon Press, 1962, 1981.
(1) https://www.gotquestions.org/Samaritans.html
(2) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament, Copyright 2004.
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