When asked by a man ‘’who is my neighbour’’ Jesus responds with the parable of the good Samaritan. A Jewish man was travelling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes beat him up and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along but when he saw the man lying there he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along and when he saw the man he felt compassion for him. Going over to him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins telling him to ‘’take care of this man, If his bill runs higher than this I’ll pay you next time i am here’’ Jesus then asked ‘’Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by the bandits’’. The man replied ‘’ The one who showed him mercy’’. Then Jesus said ‘’Yes now go and do the same’’ The background to the parable was the question posed by an expert in the religious law known as a Pharisee, the nearest equivalent today would be a lawyer. The Pharisees were critical of Jesus because he frequently challenged them about the nature of God and the religious practices of the day, often asking questions in a way intended to trip him up. The Pharisee had asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded with a question about the law rather than discuss the nature of salvation because it implied that man had to do something, The Pharisee responded by quoting from the old testament ‘’To love the lord your God with all you heart mind and soul and your neighbour as yourself’’. Jesus agreed and added ’’Do this and you will live’’. The Pharisee knew that he fell short in this area of love of his neighbour so asked’’ Who is my neighbour’’ Then Jesus widens the story to include all people not just the person living in the house next door, nor would it have meant Jews only at the exclusion of Gentiles Samaritans Romans and sinners. Jesus widens the definition of neighbour and explains our duty to love all people.
The priest and the Levite although they knew the law well, failed to show love to the injured man yet the Samaritan who was considered the lowest of the low by the Jewish people showed great compassion, going out of his way to care for the man. He literally went the extra mile. The Samaritan just saw the need not race or religion. The Pharisee concedes that the Samaritan showed most love and care, then Jesus challenges him to do likewise meaning that he should start living by the spirit rather than the letter of the law. The lessons to take from the parable are 1) To set aside our prejudices and show love and compassion for others regardless of Race or Religion 2) That all are our neighbour, we are all equal as children of God 3) Keeping the law in order to gain eternal life is impossible without Gods saving grace.
Some see the parable as metaphor. That the injured man represents mans fallen state into sin. The robbers are Satan trying to take away your life and destroying your relationship with God. The Pharisee, priest and Levite represents the limitation of the law on its own which leads to a hardening of the heart without a right spirit. The Samaritan is Jesus as healer, caring and compassionate wanting to save us from death. Regardless of interpretation the Parable of the Good Samaritan represents a challenge to us all in the way that we relate, love and care for all the people around us. Bible passage - Luke10:29-37