2006-07-12 18:28:28 · 10 answers · asked by CEM 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The parable of the good Samaritan was a response to a question by an "expert of the law" who asked Jesus just who one's neighbour was since we are to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.
The expert of the law was a righteous (self) Jew who view Samaritans as outcasts who have no part of the Kingdom of God. Jesus told this story to illustrate the point that one's neighbour is anyone who is in need and to expose the teacher of the law's prejudices.
The story tells of a pharasee and a teacher of the law, both of whom were supposed righteous men but who had refused to help a fellow jew in distress. But along comes an outcast (Samaritan) who was willing to help. The teacher of the law was then asked just who the neighbour to the man was in which he would be forced to admit that the Samaritan was the good neighbour and not the other two supposedly righteous men. The unspoken message was: "You hate these Samaritans don't you? Well, if you want to be perfect, you have to love them as your neighbours as well"
Brilliant wasn't He?
2006-07-12 18:46:40 · answer #1 · answered by hungryveryhungry 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The priest and the Levite represent the religious elite. These people were characteristically arrogant and hypocritical, treating others they considered to be of a lower class, such as Samaritans, with contempt. Samaritans in particular were looked down upon. For though holding claims on Judaism, they were not pure Jews. They were half-breeds both genetically and theologically, and the Jewish religious elite was also quite racist at the time. Characteristic of Jesus, he loves to humiliate the proud and lift up the humble, and thus he used a Samaritan in his illustration.
2006-07-12 18:37:49 · answer #2 · answered by Jim T 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad you asked this question.
The Jews hated Samaritans. When a Jew asked Jesus who a neighbor was, Jesus replied with an illustration with a Samaritan helping a needy Jew. What does this teach us? Consider Jesus' words on the Sermon on the Mount found at Matthew 5:43-48 (partially quoted here):
"For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing?"
Jesus taught that it's easy to love someone who loves you. Anyone can do that. What makes a Christian is the ability to love someone who hates you.
"For hardly will anyone die for a righteous man; indeed, for the good man, perhaps someone even dares to die. But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:7, 8
True Christianity is based on love. It's popular to see in movies where the hero dies for a buddy or a loved family member. Do you ever see the hero die for the bad guy? That's exactly what Jesus did for us and what he expects us to do for others.
2006-07-12 18:33:52 · answer #3 · answered by johnusmaximus1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because Samaritans and Galileans didn't get along, and He was trying to illustrate that it's not your status or title that determines what is godly behavior, but how you actually behave! the first two people that walked past the injured man should have stopped to help the person but they didn't.
Luke 10:30-37
30In 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. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He 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. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[e] 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.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."-NIV
2006-07-12 18:37:16 · answer #4 · answered by blkrose65 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Samaritans were not well l thought of at that time and he wanted to show that a persons deeds were more important than ones status
2006-07-12 18:36:15 · answer #5 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Samaritans were not held in high regards among the jews, as the jews considered them to be half breeds and below them.
2006-07-12 18:33:42 · answer #6 · answered by nixone2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Samaritans in that day were considered outcasts, and this was to show that we should help anyone in need.
2006-07-12 18:35:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because he was a samaritan
2006-07-12 18:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by Pie's_Guy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He used a Samraritan becuz the Samaratan's were looked as the "outcasts" they were mainly pagans, so Jesus wanted to point out that even "scum" can help out, why can't the top of the totem pole
2006-07-12 18:33:50 · answer #9 · answered by altorn_achm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No matter who you are if you see anyone no matter who they are its our duty to help ,but how many are willing to do it.?
2006-07-13 00:45:04 · answer #10 · answered by grayladygranny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋