The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Mike Johnson
In Luke 10:25, we read about a lawyer who tested Jesus with a question. The question was, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responded by asking the lawyer to tell Him the teaching of the law. This question should have been easy to answer by this lawyer. In his book All the Parables of the Bible, Herbert Lockyer says, “By profession, a ‘lawyer’ was one occupied with the Mosaic Law. It was his official business to interpret the law and guide people on how to relate their life to it.” The lawyers, or scribes, were typically well versed in the law. The lawyer answered Jesus’ question by quoting from the law, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself” (27). Jesus told the man he had answered correctly. However, the lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asked, “And who is my neighbor?”
It seems the Jews had a limited picture of who their neighbor was. Therefore, they would exclude people such as the Samaritans and would not feel compelled to love and do good toward them. Jesus answered the second question by relating the story of the Good Samaritan, which is in Luke 10:30-37.
The Victim
Jesus presented the case of a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, a distance of around 20 miles. The road that connected these two cities is said to have been very dangerous and infested with thieves, and there were many hiding places along the way. While on the journey, the traveler was beaten, robbed, and left half-dead by the thieves.
Priest and Levite
The first man to pass by was a priest who saw the wounded man but would not stop and help. Verse 31 says he passed by on the other side. The second man to pass by was a Levite who was also unwilling to stop and help. These two men might have reasoned that they did not have enough time to stop, or perhaps they felt that it was a dangerous situation as the thieves could still be nearby. Nevertheless, they showed a lack of compassion for this injured man.
The Samaritan
The third man to come along was a Samaritan. Samaritans were looked down on by the Jews. (Most likely, the injured man was a Jew.) In John 4:9, the woman at the well indicates how things were as she asked Jesus, “…How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
Verses 34-36 point out that the Samaritan bound up the man’s wounds and poured oil and wine on them. (People used these for medicinal purposes at this time.) Next, he took the man to an inn and cared for him.
The next day the Samaritan left, but he left provisions for the injured man to be taken care of further. Note that the Samaritan’s help consisted of using his money and time.
Application
Jesus then asked the lawyer which man of the three was a neighbor to the injured person. The lawyer had to reply that it was the one who showed mercy, i.e., the Samaritan.
The answer of Jesus shows us that the Jews were wrong in limiting their love and good deeds only to their fellow Jews. Whoever was needy was their neighbor, and they should be willing to help the person.
Many passages teach us the importance of helping others. Galatians 6:10 points out, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 7:12 has what some call the “golden rule.” It says, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.”
The actions of the Samaritan show such an attitude, and this should be our attitude today. Christianity is a daily religion, and we ought to be willing to have sympathy, show love, put away prejudice and hate, and serve others.